Cloud computing has become a common buzzword in the business world. While those in the technology sector have long known about and used cloud computing services, it’s only in recent years that there’s been a surge with other businesses.
For small businesses, there can be a lot of pressure to convert. Many have only recently switched from physical books to computer files, and now they’re supposed to store their information in the cloud.
If you’re struggling with the decision between keeping your records where they are or opting for cloud computing, here’s a quick overview of some of its benefits and risks.
The benefits of cloud computing
Here are some of the benefits that cloud computing can offer your business.
- Less IT spending: In addition to spending less money on things like drives and servers, many cloud computing platforms include IT assistance in their package, so you won’t have to pay extra to get help when needed.
- Greater efficiency: Because cloud computing allows you to easily share and view documents almost anywhere, they make your company more efficient. You and the members of your team have constant access to information, even when outside the office.
- Better disaster recovery: When your information is only on a hard drive, it’s gone if the drive crashes. With cloud computing, you can expect that your information will be safe in the event of a disaster.
The risks of cloud computing
While the benefits of cloud computing are many, there are also risks. Are they reason enough to not use cloud computing? For most businesses, the answer is no, but you should understand the possibilities:
- Attacks on the server: Cloud computing servers are targets for hackers. Some of them are just looking to have fun and see what nuts they can crack, while others are looking to exploit your information for their own personal gain.
- Different perceptions of privacy: When you sign an agreement with a cloud computing provider, there will be plenty of fine print. However, in some cases, that fine print may mean you are giving them access to your information, or even giving them ownership of it.
- The cloud goes down: Depending on the services you use, they may or may not have backups in place in case their own internet connectivity goes down. If you do not want to risk ending up without access to your files, be certain your service has backups in place.
While these risks are important to consider, you can mostly negate them by selecting the right service.
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