This is a guest blog post from Megan Totka of ChamberOfCommerce.com. It is the first in a monthly series whereby she will write for me and I will write for her. I hope you enjoy.
As an advocate for small businesses, I am always looking for resources and innovations that can help them to compete and succeed. While cloud computing is not a recent development – in fact, it’s actually been around for quite a while – it is something that offers increasingly viable and affordable opportunities for small businesses.
Though you may not be familiar with cloud computing, you’re probably already using it. For example, if you access your email through a service like Gmail, Yahoo! mail, and Hotmail, you are using the cloud. In essence, cloud computing involves accessing your data and applications not from your computer’s hard drive or a local server but via the Internet from the set of servers, computers, and data storage systems that make up the “cloud.”
There are, of course, potential pitfalls involved in the use of cloud computing. Concerns about privacy and security, proprietary formats, and access issues must be addressed by any company considering a significant shift to a cloud system. Yet even taking into account these potential drawbacks, I see several clear advantages to adopting cloud computing.
Lower costs
With the use of cloud computing comes significant decreases in hardware and software investment on the user side. For example, rather than frequently upgrading hardware to the newest and fastest versions, small businesses are able to retain older computers while the cloud system becomes responsible for upgrades in things like processing speed, storage space and online backup.
User responsibility for software purchasing and licensing is replaced by a use-based fee for access to applications via the Internet.
Innovation and scalability
These two areas are closely related to cost.
Small business cloud users can save money by not having to continually upgrade and search for the right computer systems. Meanwhile, with the cloud computing provider responsible for innovation, the user benefits from that provider’s investment in the latest technology. Scaling services up or down is also significantly easier when a user is no longer required to purchase software licenses for each user.
Ease of access
With cloud computing, users aren’t tied to a single location or computer. When the programs and data used by a small business are stored remotely, employees are able to access everything they need from any web-connected device.
Cloud computing also simplifies collaboration by making your tools and data available to authorized users located anywhere in the world.
Cloud computing offers clear advantages in cost, innovation, scalability, and flexibility. It is no wonder that many small businesses have already made the move to the cloud.
Though it is certainly worth considering potential privacy and availability issues when making a decision about adopting cloud computing, speaking with several companies that offer cloud computing services may alleviate your fears. Additionally, weighing your concerns against the opportunities and advantages offered by this technology – and remembering that you’re probably already using it – will likely make it clear that a move to cloud computing is a great step forward for your small business.
About Megan Totka
This is a great rundown of some of the most attractive features of cloud computing for small businesses. I believe these benefits outweigh the drawbacks. Security with most cloud space providers is heavy and multi-layered. As for accessibility, most also have dedicated mobile apps and offline options as well. As you said, it’s best to talk to the companies that appeal most and address your specific concerns with them directly.
Great points. I LOVE the cloud and have Google Drive and Amazon cloud services. I know that Google is boasting about have the fastest internet connection. How I am hoping they offer some sort of ISP service worldwide via the cloud because seriously, I’d be all over it! Thanks
Thanks for the comments! D. Dixon- I couldn’t agree more!
Hey! that’s great information, especially when there is nothing very much available on the matter of cloud computing on the internet. You have well related them to the small businesses.
I’ve got say the most appealing aspect of cloud computing from a small business point of view has to be portability and ease of access. The drawbacks would be functionality of online cloud services versus regular software. For example I would rather access my email through Outlook than Gmail.