You may already be familiar with cloud storage and probably use this technology every day on your cell phone. But did you know that this solution is increasingly being used to reduce costs in companies?
If you are looking to optimize investments and focus resources spent on structure and business efficiency, it is time to learn all about the cloud: what it is, how it benefits a corporate environment and how to start planning your migration. Let’s go!
What is cloud storage
Before you start exploring the benefits of the cloud within your company, it is important to clearly define what it means to contract this type of storage. And that’s right, the term here is contracting.
Unlike the traditional physical storage model, in which the owner of the files also owns the structure that holds them (servers, hard drives and removable media), in the cloud model this data is allocated externally.
The idea is the same as personal clouds like iCloud and Google Drive, which store photos and other types of media from your phone or computer. Access them anywhere without the risk of losing information.
The difference is that, in the corporate cloud computing model, cloud storage is done through a service contract that the provider provides to the company.
In addition to the basics for maintaining and editing information on outsourced servers, this partner offers technological solutions for availability, structure according to demand and security in the protection and handling of data that is so important to the company.
What are the advantages of implementing cloud storage?
The cloud storage model is now used in the vast majority of businesses around the world and, increasingly, as a primary solution for dealing with databases and other relevant information.
So that you can understand why it is so popular, we have listed the main benefits that the cloud brings to those who invest in this technology:
Cost reduction
The primary goal for companies migrating to the cloud is to replace investment in capital goods (CAPEX) with service goods (OPEX).
In short, it is a way to free up money that is stuck in your own structure, which requires frequent maintenance and updates, through a contract that always guarantees what you need with the greatest possible efficiency.
Therefore, the cloud is responsible for reducing costs in companies and, more than that, transferring their investment to processes and solutions that really impact the business. It is like an extra breath to compete in increasingly competitive markets.
Structural flexibility
Much of this savings comes from how efficiently a company can manage its service investment to optimize spending.
In the proprietary server model, the IT department needs to plan demands that are very difficult to predict, creating very common scenarios of insufficient infrastructure for consumption peaks or wasted in weak months.
In the cloud model, the company always has exactly what it needs to work. These concepts are scalability and elasticity, making its structure ideal for dealing with both ten and ten thousand customers.
Availability and mobility
Another great advantage of cloud storage comes from the productivity gains it provides. When your company keeps data stored only locally, it is restricting its action to the office only.
Furthermore, if there are power outages or any problems with the servers, work may be completely interrupted.
With data in the cloud, employees can access this information from wherever they are, with uninterrupted availability guaranteed by good providers.
The company becomes flexible in its schedules and frees itself from old productivity models.
Security
There are still some misconceptions about the cloud being less secure than local storage. The truth is that good cloud providers have teams specialized in data protection, in addition to investing heavily in updates and security tools.
Even though a closed internal network may seem like the best option in this case, your company will hardly have the capacity and priority to maintain its own security team within the IT department. It is better to rely on a specialized partner to deal with this issue.
How to use cloud storage in your company
Now that you’ve discovered all the advantages of the cloud for a more competitive business, it’s time to learn some tips to start your research, planning and implementation of the investment. Here are the main points to keep an eye on:
Choose the right provider
There are several options and solutions for cloud storage on the market, from the simplest services to complete cloud computing structures, which involve storage, support and virtualized computing resources.
The best way to optimize your technology investment is to understand exactly what your business needs and find the cloud model that best fits your needs. Hiring a consultancy can be a good idea at this stage.
Choose the appropriate tools
In addition to the structure that will support the cloud in your company, you also need to pay attention to the software and systems that will need to be used to access, view and edit this data.
Generally, the cloud provider offers in the contract the most appropriate tools for this relationship between productivity and storage.
However, when assessing the specific needs of the business, the need for special solutions may arise to maximize cost reduction and increase operational efficiency.
Plan the migration
The cloud is only an advantage when the migration is done well. Therefore, let the IT department be in charge of the investment plan and technology implementation. This is usually a step-by-step process, involving employee training and testing to ensure that the benefits are put into practice. The important thing is to never rush a migration — the more carefully it is done, the better the results.
Count on a security team
If the company does not have the capacity to maintain its own security team, the best option for cloud storage is to outsource support, either through the provider itself or an exclusive partner for this issue.
Just like with your own servers, there is always the chance of human error or data interception on the way between the cloud and terminals within the company that can be exploited by cybercriminals.
Investing in security is what guarantees the reliability of the entire system and reduces the risk of extra expenses in the future.
Scan physical documents
Once your company is in the cloud, it’s time to put an end to physical documents that take up space and slow down employee productivity. With a secure and reliable system, it becomes possible to digitize these files so that they are always available at any time and from any place.
After all, in addition to reducing costs in companies by making investments more flexible, cloud storage is a catalyst for productivity and process optimization, features that can, in the future, make it even easier to invest in new markets and methodologies and increase the quality of delivery.