Cloud computing can save you money and time, you may be able to reduce capital investment on hardware and cost, as well as deployment time. Cloud systems instead are cheaper and upgraded reglularly. You may be able to cut back a lot of space and maintenance efforts.

Here are some of the ways small businesses can use the cloud. Review this list and how it applies to your business as you explore how the cloud can help you use technology to do more with less.

1.  File storage 

Many small businesses use images, audio, and video to enhance their business activities, and these files often take up a significant part of your hard drive space, which can be costly. The cloud allows you to shift the storage of large files off of your local system, saving local storage for the files you need to access every day.

2.  Cloud hosting

This facilitates all types of internet or intranet information sharing, such as website, email services, application hosting, web-based phone systems and data storage.

3. Data backup

Cloud simplifies the process by allowing your data to automatically update as you work, it also creates copies of your data off-site where it will be safe from any local natural disaster, theft, or malfunction.

4. Cloud software as a service (SaaS)

Software on cloud runs as as a service from small apps such as website to large enterprise apps. A great benefit of technology is the ability to create fully functional mobile offices. The cloud fits in perfectly with this because it allows you to access and sync your data from wherever you are, allowing you to take your office with you on the road.

5. Remote workspaces

Cloud-based office systems also drive location-independent office environments. The ability to collaborate over cloud services allows employees the flexibility and support to work remotely or to continue projects while away on conferences and trips. Other cloud-hosted services such as messaging keep lines of communication open between collaborating groups and managers.

How can you choose the right cloud services for your business?

There are countless combinations of cloud services to implement into your business, so it’s important to go into the process with a solid game plan in mind. Choosing the right cloud solutions for your business will be critical for seamless growth and long term success. Here are a few must-do steps:

1.  Develop a cloud strategy that ensures your requirements such as infrastructure, compliance policies, data protection policies, development practices and data classification are met.

2.  Work with cloud providers that allow your services to be managed at the right service level agreement.

3. Build your security boundary with correct risk management policies, audit compliance record and vulnerability analysis.

4. Ongoing monitor and manage the service such as up-time, performance, bandwidth and data transfer to keep your services running smoothly and efficiently.