8 reasons why you should use cloud solutions
Storing your files on a local hard drive alone is fast becoming a thing of the past. An estimated 85% of businesses worldwide are making use of cloud storage. It may be time for your company to join the cloud.
In this article, we explore eight reasons that cloud storage could work for you.
1. Anywhere access
With hybrid and working from home now the new norm, businesses aren't restricted to one central office. It would be impractical for every employee to have a hard drive containing all the company's files. With the business's documents on a cloud server, employees can access them from anywhere, which simplifies remote working.
It's also possible to access them from a variety of devices – not just desktop and laptop computers, but mobile phones and tablets too, over either Wi-Fi or mobile data. This means you can access your files on the go, such as on the train or at a lunch meeting.
2. Usability of interfaces
Some people are concerned that cloud storage systems may be complicated to use compared to the simple task of storing files on a computer's hard drive. However, most popular cloud storage services are well-designed to make it easy and intuitive to get started. They often have interfaces designed to be similar to desktop file managers, so new users will find its operation familiar.
With many cloud service providers, you have the choice of accessing the folder structure via a web browser or downloading an app that integrates the cloud folders into your existing file manager. There are also mobile apps available, which make it easy to organise and access your files on the go.
3. File-sharing options
Besides giving multiple users access to all your files, many cloud storage providers make it possible to set different privacy levels on different folders and files, so you can manage who can access what. This is usually a simple matter of selecting a file or folder in your cloud service app and clicking on an option to adjust the privacy settings.
Many cloud storage providers make it possible to set different privacy levels on different folders and files, so you can manage who can access what.
For example, if you want to give your employees access to all the company's files except one folder restricted to management, you can. Or, you can give each team within the company their own folder, which only they can access. You can even make individual files publicly accessible or grant access to specific people outside the company, all from within your cloud server.
4. Multi-user collaboration
With local hard drive-based file storage, having two users open a file at the same time can cause serious problems. Either the system simply won't allow it, or the users risk overwriting each other's changes. But with cloud storage, it's possible for multiple users to not only see but also edit the same file in real time, even if they're in different parts of the world.
This can be useful in many situations, such as when multiple people need to work together to write a report or when a company's entire sales team needs to modify a spreadsheet to log their clients. Most services keep track of who has made what changes.
5. Time-saving synchronisation
One thing that can slow down your work processes when using hard drive-based storage is the time taken to copy files over to the device that you need them on. With cloud storage solutions, you can synchronise your files across devices, which significantly reduces such delays.
With your device connected to your cloud server, you can immediately access any new or updated files over an internet connection. You can even set it to automatically download files, so you can access them when you're not connected to the internet. You can choose which files and folders you want to be accessible offline, in order to avoid using up too much space on your device.
6. Security
You may be worried that by putting your files in the care of an outside company, you're making them accessible to hackers. But in fact, cloud service providers take security quite seriously, and the data that you've stored in the cloud is probably safer from cyber theft than what's stored on your local hard drive.
Many services will securely encrypt your files when you upload them, as well as store them behind a sturdy firewall, consistently apply security updates and even use AI to locate vulnerabilities in the system. When seeking a cloud service provider, make sure to pick one with strong security. It's also worth turning on two-factor authentication, which most services offer, as an extra layer of protection.
7. Safety from disasters
It's not just hackers that you might be worried about: What about accidental data loss? Some level of technical failure is inevitable in any system, and if the drive containing your files is damaged, the data loss can be disastrous. Again, cloud storage is the safer option compared to a local hard drive.
Most cloud service providers enact what's called redundancy: They make several copies of your data, which are stored not only on different drives but also in multiple data centres in various geographical locations. So, even if one data centre suffers from a power outage or a natural disaster, your data will still be safe elsewhere.
8. Cost efficiency
One concern of committing to cloud storage is that the subscription fee will build up over time, which can be expensive compared to the one-off cost of buying a hard drive. However, many services offer affordable lower-cost options.
The pricing structures are often scalable, so you can start on your provider's cheaper option, and if your business grows to the point that you need more storage, it just takes a few clicks to upgrade to a larger plan, without any change in hardware required. Also, there are no additional maintenance costs, so cloud storage can be quite cost-effective, especially when you consider all the additional advantages that it has over local storage.
Conclusion
For businesses, there are many benefits to using cloud storage: It enables you to access your files wherever you are, you can manage whom they're shared with and multiple users can edit them. Contrary to the concerns that many people have, it's also a secure, safe and cost-efficient option.
