Are Cloud Servers Right For Your Business? 5 Things To Consider
There is a lot of hype nowadays about moving your business ‘into the cloud’. (Even the government introduced a Cloud Computing Policy)
Moving ‘into the cloud’ refers to the process of transferring the storage of your files and documents to remote servers accessed via the internet. Basically, your data is stored in a virtual environment rather than a physical one.
So is a cloud server the right place to store your business’ important data? There are many options to weigh up, so let’s take a look at five things to consider before you make the decision.
- Your security or data needs may favour a dedicated server instead of a cloud server.
As its name implies, a dedicated server refers to a one whose function is dedicated exclusively to a single client. If you choose a dedicated server, you effectively purchase or rent a single machine that will manage all your data.
If your business wants the ultimate level of security, you may decide to select a dedicated server instead of a cloud server, whose virtual environment doesn’t provide quite the same peace of mind.
Furthermore, if your business has particularly large or complex data sets and requirements, a dedicated server may be your best option.
- There’s also the option for a VPS.
On the other hand, a VPS, or Virtual Private Server, involves multiple clients sharing one host machine. The cost may be lower for this service due to its shared aspect, even though its performance will usually be much the same as a dedicated server; but again, there are security concerns involved here.
If scalability isn’t an issue, a VPS may be your best bet. It allows less room for expansion and back-up than a cloud system, but if you don’t need this, a VPS may be cheaper and/or more efficient than the other options.
- With a cloud server, you may have to consider installing security measures, such as a VPN.
The remote aspect of cloud servers means that you may need to install extra security measures. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is one such measure and involves creating an encrypted connection whenever you are using a potentially less secure network.
If you’re dealing with especially sensitive data, which will be accessed in the cloud via multiple different points and over different public networks, a VPN will ensure your data’s security. VPNs are relatively easy to obtain and manage, but they do add another aspect to be considered when making your decision about converting to cloud storage.
- Cloud storage is easy to use.
Forget trying to locate information and documents in a messy, complicated paper or internal storage system: cloud storage is by far one of the easiest solutions for your business!
Storing data ‘in the cloud’ allows great ease of accessibility. Files and documents can be accessed by employees from anywhere, even tablets and smartphones, provided there is internet access. Collaboration on documents is made much easier by cloud storage; files are synced automatically across all devices, meaning that everyone has access to the exact same documents at all times.
- Cloud servers may help you reduce your business’ carbon footprint.
If you’re environmentally savvy, as more and more businesses are these days, you may want to consider the implications of your carbon footprint.
Cutting down on paper waste is a vital step to reducing your carbon emissions, and by activating a cloud storage system, you can do just that. Where previously businesses may have kept a hard copy of every single document or file, now you’re able to store this data safely and securely as digital copies on a cloud server.
Furthermore, if you’re running multiple internal servers to manage all your data, your carbon footprint will be larger than if you channel your data into a single cloud server system.
