As the world of technology evolves, cloud computing is seeing a considerable rise in popularity, and many businesses are now considering this option to increase their efficiency, speed up operations, and reduce costs.

Here at Freestyle, we believe that cloud computing is an essential tool for businesses of all sizes – and we have the skills, experience and expertise to ensure that your company is making the most of this powerful technology.

Why is cloud computing so crucial, and how could it benefit your business? We took a closer look at all you need to know.

What is Cloud Computing?

The term ‘cloud computing’ refers to the use of technology to deliver services on demand over the internet, such as software, databases and storage. These services are housed on remote servers hosted by a third-party provider and are accessed through the web or an API.

In terms of business operations, cloud computing helps to streamline processes and offers unlimited storage capacity. This means that businesses can store large amounts of data without the need for physical space or hardware, making it an ideal solution for businesses with limited resources. Read our latest blog to learn more about how cloud computing works.

What are the different types of cloud computing?

It is important to note that there are different types of cloud computing available, each offering a range of features and capabilities. The main types include:

• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) 

IaaS provides businesses with access to servers, storage, networks and other hardware resources in the cloud. This is an excellent option for companies that need to scale quickly or those that have limited IT resources.

• Platform as a Service (PaaS)

PaaS offers businesses a framework to develop, run, and manage applications in the cloud. It is ideal for businesses that need to quickly develop and deploy applications without maintaining underlying infrastructure.

• Software as a Service (SaaS)

SaaS provides access to software applications hosted on remote servers. Businesses can use these applications as needed without having to install or manage them independently. Dive deeper into the different types of cloud on our blog.

What are the benefits of Cloud Computing for Businesses?

As you would anticipate, cloud computing offers a significant number of benefits to all types of businesses, and these include:

Enhanced Flexibility and Scalability

Using cloud computing offers businesses the flexibility to rapidly scale up or down their operations, depending on their needs, without investing in additional hardware or infrastructure. It is also easier for businesses to adapt to changing market conditions, as cloud computing allows them to quickly adjust their operating strategies.

Improved Collaboration

Cloud computing also makes it easier for teams to collaborate, as they can access the same data and applications from any location. This increases productivity and efficiency without compromising security.

Cost Savings

Opting for cloud computing also offers businesses the opportunity to significantly reduce their costs on hardware and software by eliminating the need to purchase, install and maintain physical hardware – a move which allows companies to dramatically cut down their IT expenditure.

In addition, as all applications are hosted in the cloud, cloud computing allows businesses to focus on their core operations rather than spending time and money managing hardware and software – advantages that can really help to drive business growth. Learn more about why your business should consider the cloud.

The Limitations to Cloud Computing

As with any new innovation, there are also some potential drawbacks to cloud computing that businesses should consider, and these include:

Security and Data Loss

As cloud computing involves storing data in an offsite environment, businesses must ensure their data remains secure. With the proper security protocols in place, this should not be a significant issue. However, if these are not adhered to, there is a risk of data loss or theft.

Reliability and Uptime

Another potential issue with cloud computing is that there may be the possibility of downtime if the provider’s systems are not reliable – companies should ensure that they choose a provider with good uptime and reliability guarantees.

There is also a risk that scheduled updates and maintenance could result in service disruptions, and this could cause issues, as workflow can be interrupted. It is essential, therefore, that you choose the right provider – here at Freestyle, we work tirelessly to minimise disruption and do our best to guarantee that your systems are always available when you need them.

Costs

One advantage of cloud computing is that it can save money – however, if a business starts to use more and more cloud services, this could result in costs spiralling. As such, companies should ensure that they have a good understanding of their IT requirements before investing in cloud technologies.

Cloud Lock-in

Finally, businesses should also consider cloud lock-in when evaluating their options. This refers to the fact that some providers will make it difficult for customers to switch to another provider, and so companies should make sure that they fully understand the terms of their contract before signing up. Read more about our complete guide to advantages and disadvantages to cloud computing on our blog.

Why is it Important Your Business Uses the Cloud?

So, now that we have explored some of the potential limitations of cloud computing let’s take a look at why it is so crucial that your business makes use of this technology.

5 Reasons Why Your Business Should Move to the Cloud

1. You Can Cut Costs 

As we noted, cloud computing offers a number of cost-saving benefits, from removing the need to purchase and install physical hardware to reducing the amount of time and money spent on managing systems. By transferring applications and data to the cloud, businesses can cut their IT costs significantly, freeing up finances that can be used to invest in other areas of the business.

2. You Can Tailor to The Needs of Your Business

Every business is unique, and cloud computing can help to tailor systems to the needs of each individual company. With cloud computing, you can ensure that you pay only for the services they need rather than investing in hardware and software that may not be used. This helps ensure that you are not overspending on IT and that your systems are optimised for your specific requirements.

3. You Can Scale on Your Own Timeline

As your business grows, the amount of time and money spent on IT can quickly spiral – however, cloud computing offers scalability advantages that can help to reduce costs. By quickly being able to add or remove services as needed, businesses can adjust their IT systems in line with their growth plans.

4. You Can Improve Productivity

As applications are hosted in the cloud, you can access them from anywhere with an internet connection, and this helps to improve productivity, as staff can work on the go. This is a particularly useful advantage in the current climate, as it allows businesses to maintain operations when staff are forced to work remotely.

5. You Can Improve Security

Finally, cloud computing helps businesses keep their data secure. By utilising the security protocols offered by providers such as Freestyle, businesses can ensure their data is safe and secure.

How Freestyle TS can help make the switch seamless for your business.

Moving to the cloud can be a daunting task for businesses, so it is vital to ensure that you have the right support in place. Here at Freestyle, we specialise in helping businesses move their data to the cloud, and our team of experts are on hand to provide advice and assistance whenever needed.

With over 20 years of experience, we fully understand that every business is unique, and so we tailor our IT services to meet your unique business requirements. Whether you are looking for an off-the-shelf solution or a customised package that is tailored to your business needs, we can help and have worked with businesses across Surrey and the surrounding areas to ensure that your transition to the cloud is smooth and seamless.

Our focus is on providing reliable, secure and cost-effective IT services and so you can trust that your data is in safe hands. So, if you are considering making the switch to cloud computing, why not get in touch? Our team will be more than happy to discuss your requirements and provide the right advice for your business.