A Few Ways Small Businesses Can Use the Cloud

A lot is made about cloud computing and its cost and time saving benefits, but when your business is small, a lot of times, it could just be looked at as an unnecessary addition to your computing infrastructure. Today, we thought we would go through a few ways that even the smallest of businesses can utilize cloud computing. 

Data Redundancy

As a small business owner, you probably are aware of the importance of having a redundant copy of your company’s data. The cloud simplifies the backup process by incrementally updating your backup as you change files. By providing a copy of your data off-site, you also gain peace of mind should something happen to your in-house infrastructure.

Remote Working and Mobility

Since businesses gain the flexibility of accessing files and data from anywhere with an Internet connection by using the cloud, these platforms fit in perfectly for small businesses who have people working remotely. 

Collaboration

Whether your team works in one location or many, the cloud can really help fuel collaboration. Sending and receiving files is a snap, and many cloud-hosted applications provide the ability for multiple users to access one file and work together on it. 

File Storage

With the cost of a centralized server prohibitive for most small businesses, cloud computing can provide storage space and access for much less. The cloud also allows you to shift the storage of large files off of your local system if you already have one in place. This saves local storage for the files you need to access every day.

Scalability

Cloud computing is very scalable, making it a great platform for project teams that expand and contract rapidly. It also doesn’t come with large upfront costs, so when you need to add user profiles, your business isn’t on the hook for a massive upgrade cost.

Communications

Today, there are cloud-hosted communications platforms that can save businesses a lot of money. Solutions like VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) can provide a business an enterprise-level business telephone system, with mobile support, for a fraction of the cost using traditional services. 

The cloud is one of the most useful solutions for small businesses and startups. If you would like to talk about all the options you can gain by using cloud computing, call Directive today at 607.433.2200.