The age of reliance on a local hard drive could very well be a thing of the past. Nearly 85 percent of businesses now state that they are utilizing cloud storage over traditional hard drives to store their data. If your company hasn’t joined the revolution, is it time that you did?
There are nearly a dozen reasons why utilizing cloud storage is right for your business. Here are the first 4.
1. Access your data anywhere
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, more people were taking advantage of the ability to do their job from home. In large part, this is made possible by the ability for a business’ data to be stored on a cloud server, which allows for access anywhere, at any time.
Additionally, this also means that you and your employees are not tied to simply using a desktop computer or a laptop. You’re now free to use cell phones and tablets to access data on the go. This makes it possible to work on the beach or to simply reference a file at a lunch meeting.
2. Cost efficient
One point of contention for cloud storage holdouts is the cost associated with cloud storage subscriptions versus a one-time fee for a hard drive. Yes, you’ll be paying monthly (or annually) but there are plenty of low-cost options available that open up the possibility of cloud storage to even the smallest of businesses.
What’s more, the pricing of cloud storage is typically scalable, which means that you can start out at a lower price point and allow it to grow as your business (and data storage needs) grow.
3. Interface usability
Another concern many businesses owners have associated with cloud storage is its usability. Many worry that it will be more difficult to use cloud storage than storing files on their native computer. Luckily, most cloud storage brands have thought about this and make the process intuitive. Many have even designed their interfaces to look like the file manager you already have on your desktop.
Some storage options, like Google Drive and Dropbox, allow you to download an app for your computer that puts your cloud folder into your current file manager. They both also have mobile apps for access on the go.
4. Multi-user collaboration
When you use the storage on your local hard drive, you often don’t have the option for 2 people to open and work on the same file at the same time. You’ll find that the system won’t accommodate the file being opened twice, or the data is overwritten by both users. However, cloud storage allows multiple users to work collaboratively on the same file with each of their changes being noted in the same file.
Understanding your business’s storage needs is important for any business, but it’s that much more important for small businesses. Check back soon for part 2 where we cover the other 4 reasons your business should consider the switch to cloud storage for your data.
