Cloud migration brings a host of benefits to businesses including improved performance, scalability, agile work processes, increased change control and more effective monitoring – all without compromising security.
Using cloud services means that companies can reduce costs by only paying for what they use. It also helps with business agility by allowing them to prototype new applications and test out concepts quickly.
1. Reduced Costs
The cloud shifts the work of crunching and processing data away from your devices and physical IT infrastructure, to huge computer clusters in cyberspace. This reduces the need to invest in costly onsite hardware, software and IT staff.
Cloud applications also require a much smaller upfront investment than traditional IT solutions. Businesses can upscale or downscale their storage capacity as needed and only pay for what they use.
Moving to the cloud also cuts software deployment times, allowing employees to spend less time waiting on software and more time working towards new business initiatives. This is especially beneficial for remote workers, whose productivity is improved by the ability to access the cloud from any device with an Internet connection. This includes smartphones, laptops, and tablet computers.
2. Improved Security
In addition to lowering IT costs, cloud computing can also improve security. Companies can easily control access to their applications, files and data. They can also scale up or down capacity based on needs without having to worry about upfront infrastructure costs.
The cloud can also help with compliance and regulatory issues. For example, a company can use the cloud to store data in a highly encrypted format to protect against hackers and other threats.
Finally, the cloud can also enhance innovation. For example, a business can use the cloud to create customer self-service solutions such as chatbots that answer questions and direct customers to live support agents when necessary. The cloud can also be used to develop new products and services that leverage the power of AI and machine learning.
3. Increased Mobility
Rather than relying on a central data center, businesses can replace expensive IT hardware with fast Internet connections and laptops. This makes it possible for employees to work remotely without sacrificing productivity or security.
The cloud structure also allows users to save space on their devices by accessing applications via the web rather than through tangible methods like discs or flash drives. For example, Adobe saw a need to upgrade its software and moved to an Internet-based subscription model, Adobe Creative Cloud, which has made it easier for users to access new innovations and capabilities.
Even small, local companies can benefit from the cloud. By shifting barriers to entry from scale to skill, the cloud can help small business take on multinational competitors. Nonetheless, there are still challenges that need to be overcome before this transformation can be complete.
4. Enhanced Collaboration
Rather than storing data and applications on desktops or laptops, cloud computing shifts processing to large computer clusters in cyberspace. This makes data and work accessible from any device capable of connecting to the internet. It eliminates the need for employees to carry USB drives and external hard drives, reducing clutter and increasing portability.
Cloud services enable collaboration between teams and across departments — and even locations — to improve team productivity. From integrating PBX systems to host conference calls for call centre training online to providing video conferencing platforms to connect employees, the cloud has made it easier to share information and documents across the globe.
Storing data in the cloud also provides for quicker backup and recovery if devices like laptops or smartphones are damaged or destroyed. This helps organizations avoid the costs of replacing hardware or software and speeds up the process of bringing new products to market by using agile work processes and composable architecture.
5. Enhanced Analytics
The cloud underpins a wide range of services, from the photos stored on your smartphone to the video-streaming service Netflix. It also makes it possible to host many business applications.
Companies only pay for the cloud resources they use, which helps lower costs and run infrastructure more efficiently. They can quickly scale up to meet peak demand and down when resources are not needed.
For example, the cloud enables a bank to automate customer-service calls using voice recognition and cognitive agents (AI-based online self-service assistants that direct customers to answers) while enhancing data analytics (for fraud management and debt collection). This helps improve customer loyalty and reduce churn. It also enhances data integration across multiple systems and allows for more sophisticated machine learning and AI solutions.
Joana Benedetich