It’s no secret that companies who have not yet transferred to the cloud are already multiple steps behind. The question is, why? In this post, we’ll examine three of the most crucial reasons that your system should be in the cloud – and why it’s so important.

In today’s business world, “the cloud” is long past the point of being only a buzzword – it’s real. But what exactly does it mean when something is located in the cloud?

Simply put, the cloud is the physical location of where an IT resource (such as an operating system, computer hardware, software applications, database, etc.) is stored and can be immediately accessed through the Internet. Gone are the days of storing that big beige box under your computer and purchasing and installing everything on your hard drive. That expensive, time-consuming process is a thing of the past. In fact, with the cloud, you don’t even have to think twice about dealing with your hardware and the software that runs on it – you can just focus on your job.

Here’s why it’s time to integrate your old system into the cloud if you haven’t already.

Improve Data Sharing

Data sharing is a staple in the majority of businesses – and is often seen as one of the most distinguished benefits of using the cloud. Data stored in the cloud is maintained, managed and backed up remotely and can instantly be made available to users over the Internet.

Taking call centers as an example, cloud data sharing is a major asset to representatives due to the improved turn-around time and access they have to that data. Call center representatives need a system that ensures the customer information they’re receiving is transferred into the contact center immediately. The timing and accuracy of that data can make or break a sale. “One key business benefit to data sharing is data monetization, which is particularly compelling for any business with high-volume customer data like retail or telecom,” says one tech expert. Having access to data at the touch of a button turns something that was once a considerable expense into a potential for profit.

Being that all applications in the cloud are in-sync, users from any location or department are given access to the most recent data and information needed in an instant.

Increase Productivity

Productivity is a measurement of efficiency for a single employee or company, something that is continuously sought after and desired. A majority of cloud-based programs encourage collaboration between departments and employees – therefore, increasing productivity. Having a single shared service allows teams to interact and engage on specific projects and ideas, whether they’re in the same office or entirely different locations.

When companies rely on a digitalized process rather than a manual one, accuracy levels are improved across all operations. “Whether you need more resources or fewer, using cloud can almost instantly come to your aid and adapt to your needs. This, unlike the infrastructure on the premises that can take days, weeks and sometimes, even months. Purchasing and setup of the latter can also disrupt the workflow,” says one article.

Aside from its collaboration and time-saving abilities, the cloud has given employees remote access to their business from any location. Not only is this beneficial to the employee who can work inside or outside of the office, but it also offers benefits to the employer who can now outsource remote work rather than enduring the expense of an on-site employee.

Minimize Risk

In the beginning stages of the cloud, security was a significant concern. However, now that the technology has matured, the reality is that the cloud actually minimizes security risks. In fact, it’s one of the safest ways to store your data today.

To sum it up, data in the cloud is stored safely through encryption. For hackers to decipher encrypted files, they would need a key – which would require a large amount of computer processing power, forensic software and a lot of time. On top of that, each individual employee has their own username and password in order for them to gain cloud access. Users can enact additional security protocols so that information cannot be modified or altered by someone who doesn’t have access to them – and this is only the beginning.

So, can your data be hacked in the cloud? Of course, it’s possible. Is it likely? No. And it is generally safer than your remotely stored data. “Cloud services utilize more complex security methods than the average computer owner is able to devise, giving your cloud-stored data an added level of protection. The biggest concern with cloud storage is lost data, not hacked data. But that issue is eliminated if the cloud is used more as a “sharing” platform instead of a “storage” platform.”

By employing a cloud-based program, you can be confident that your security risks are minimized. The worry of having all your information taken if your laptop gets stolen is no longer necessary when all of your data is stored in a safe, universal environment.

Conclusion

With today’s digitalization and continuous innovation, moving to the cloud is a no-brainer. Between improved data sharing, increased productivity and reduced risks, business owners can finally focus on the importance of their business rather than worrying about servers and security.