When anyone talks about one of the most revolutionary technologies that have completely changed the world, then the first thing that comes to our mind is cloud computing. Living in a technology-driven era and not being able to utilize the currently available technological innovations can be one of the worst curses for each and every type of business. And when it comes to using technology for small businesses then cloud computing tops the list. Cloud computing is not a new concept as if you will unearth its roots; you will find this revolutionary technology to be almost 25–30 years old.
The base of cloud computing might have been built almost 25–30 years back but it took it very long to become a complete technological innovation that can be used by businesses and individuals. Now, cloud computing has become such an important part of business procedures and our day to day solutions that we can’t imagine living even a single day without cloud technology. From accessing social media sites to uploading photos on the internet, cloud computing is present everywhere.
But along with affecting our day to day life, cloud computing has completely changed how businesses used to work as well. Because of cloud computing, businesses have started abandoning their old traditional solutions. But things were not like when cloud computing first became popular. During the early phase of cloud computing, it was a very expensive business solution that can be used only by giant firms. But as time passed, this revolutionary technology evolved and it opened its door for small and medium-sized businesses as well.
Nowadays, you can find many cloud computing applications that are currently being used by small businesses. Most of the cloud computing solutions fit like a glove in the tight budget crunch of small businesses and that’s one of the main reasons why it is admired so much by SMBs. In this blog post, we will go through a detailed overview of different cloud applications that can be used by small businesses without spending a fortune.
Cloud Storage
Cloud storage is one of the most popular cloud applications that is currently used by almost all small businesses. Data is valuable for everyone, regardless of the size and type of business. Keeping the data safe and secure should be the no.1 priority of every small business. You will be surprised to know that hackers have now started targeting small and mediums sized businesses more because their data protection system is more vulnerable. Therefore, it has become very necessary for small and medium-sized businesses to use the best data storage system and in the current era, cloud storage is the best option.
Cloud storage acts as a completely safe data storage platform. Instead of using the traditional method of storing data on your local desktop, you should prefer the cloud storage solution. You can save, access and work on the cloud-stored data with different people without compromising on the security of your data. From GoogleDrive to DropBox, there are different types of cloud storage options available in the market. Most of the reputed and popular cloud storage options are completely secure and data is stored in encrypted form. The data encryption on the cloud platform acts as your first line of defense and it keeps your data secure. You can either use the free cloud storage solution or you can also go for the paid version which offers you more space and some advanced options.
Cloud Hosting
Another popular application of cloud computing is cloud hosting. Earlier, before the introduction of cloud computing, people were having no other options than installing their application on the desktop and then using it in the traditional way. Well, everybody used to think that is the best way to use application since anyone didn’t have any other option but soon with the introduction of a cloud hosting solution, everyone realized how limited they were with this traditional form of using business software.
In the cloud hosting solution, businesses started shifting their business solution to the cloud platform and it was hosted on the cloud server which is either private or public. Well, building a private server is a costly affair and that’s why most of the business turned to a public cloud server which was offered by cloud providers. Now, it is estimated that by 2020, more than 80% of the enterprise workload will shift to the cloud. Cloud hosting solutions like QuickBooks Enterprise hosting offers a wide range of advantages and that’s why small and medium-sized business prefer it. Global accessibility, anywhere, anytime access, high uptime, scalability, flexibility, cost-effectiveness, multi-user access, backup, disaster recovery; these are some of the most common benefits of cloud hosting solutions.
But one important thing that you need to know is that your software needs to be cloud compatible if you are planning to shift it to the cloud. For example, all the versions of QuickBooks are cloud compatible and that’s why QuickBooks desktop users can easily shift to QuickBoooks on the cloud.
Backup and Disaster Recovery Management
Now, everyone has realized the importance of keeping backup and having a robust disaster recovery management plan. Where it is a man-made disaster or a natural disaster, any type of catastrophe can lead to complete data loss and such a situation will mean the end of your business. But using the old way of creating a backup is not only complex but it is very costly as well. From keeping physical hardware to sending the hardware to the backup center, every step of manual backup creation is very costly and time-consuming. But you can use the cloud for creating a backup and you can also build a disaster recovery plan through it.
Creating cloud backup doesn’t require you spending even a single dime and it is the best way to create a backup. If you are using the services of a cloud provider then you will get an automatic backup for your data as well. You can also recover your data without any delay after facing any type of catastrophe.
Suggested Read: Here is why your business should use cloud computing?
