According to Gartner, the cloud shift impacts all markets. Before the digital revolution, we would store contact information in a Rolodex, photographs in large tomes, and movies in large DVD (or VHS) racks. The cloud has transformed data storage to the point where physical data storage is no longer necessary, and most people no longer have physical copies of their data. But while the cloud has become almost integrated into everyday personal life, are there practical applications for businesses and enterprises to bother with on-premise to cloud migration?
What is the cloud?
Like a computer’s hard drive, the cloud stores applications and user data on servers accessible through the internet. For home users, it’s a convenient way to keep files and information readily accessible across all devices. For businesses, the cloud is not only useful but can save a company both time and money. With cloud vendors, it’s easier, and safer, for companies to compete and stay up-to-date with the latest information technology. According to a recent study by Microsoft, nearly 80% of businesses who attempt to migrate to cloud computing on their own fail. That is why relying on a partner, a cloud service vendor, to assist with migration and manage your accounts is so vital to business survival.
Benefits of Cloud Computing
Technology is ever-changing, with new applications, hardware schematics, or networking systems continually disrupting the flow of existing business methods and making it difficult for any company looking to remain competitive. In the past, keeping up with the changing technology was costly and time-consuming. Companies had to maintain their servers and employ on-site IT experts to support the infrastructure. Thanks to on-premise to cloud migration, there’s no longer a need for every business to worry about IT needs or keeping up with changing technology. Cloud-based service providers can offer a wide range of benefits for any business that include, but are not limited to:
- Cost-Effective
- Flexibility
- Recovery
- Scalability
On-Premise to Cloud Migration Is Cost-effective
Having an on-site data center can cost thousands of dollars to not only install but to maintain, not to mention the need for added cybersecurity. Most small to medium-sized companies don’t have space or the initial start-up costs to embark on such an undertaking. And it’s estimated that nearly 40% of an IT budget is spent on salaries, when the money could be going to maintain infrastructure and staff redistributed to support other aspects of the company. Allowing a third-party company to host applications and user data frees up time for employees to focus on their daily tasks. In contrast, the company maintains its competitive edge with up to date technology.
Flexibility
With our new COVID paradigm, businesses realize more than ever how important it is to remain flexible. Having static desktop systems and on-site servers that require a physical connection to access kept employees stationary and made remote working virtually impossible. Moving from on-premise to cloud migration allows users to work from almost anywhere using any device. Employees can access their emails, user files, and, a lot of times, even software applications from their own homes, using a laptop or a mobile device. Offering employees the flexibility of working from anywhere opens up a talent pool otherwise not accessible to a business and enables employees the freedom to take care of emergencies and still get their work done.
Recovery
Data centers require maintenance to ensure reliability, and even then, it’s not guaranteed. There is only so much investment that can be made into securing your hardware and network against unforeseen malfunction. According to recent studies over 90% of all desktops are not being backed up, meaning, if there’s a malfunction all data on that machine will be lost.
On-premise to cloud migration has the added benefit of making broken hardware challenges relics of the past. Files and data are stored on online servers, so they’re accessible from any compatible device and are unaffected by local hardware failures.
Scalability
In the past, a company’s scalability was contingent on what hardware could be purchased and when which usually meant that most businesses were using out of date technology. Companies can scale up or down based on their needs with little on-site purchasing. Moving an IT infrastructure from on-premise to cloud-based allows a company to focus on daily operations, keep overhead low, and remain competitive while benefiting from the most up-to-date technology.
While it is certainly conceivable for a company to take care of its own IT needs, a cloud-based system offers scalability and fiscal advantages unmatched by less efficient on-premise data storage. With technology ever-changing, adapting to the changing world quickly will keep a business’s overhead low and flexibility high. The more flexible, the more competitive your business can be.
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