12 advantages of cloud computing and its benefits (2023)

All of which seems to indicate that, given the obvious direction the industry is heading, there has never been a better time to stick your head in the cloud.

Cloud computing is a term that has become very widespread in recent years. With the exponential increase in data use that has accompanied society's transition to the digital 21st century, it is becoming increasingly difficult for individuals and organizations to keep all of their important information, programs and systems running on internal computer servers. The solution to this problem has been around for almost as long as the Internet, but only recently has it been widely adopted by businesses.

Cloud computing works on a similar principle to web-based email clients, allowing users to access all system resources and files without having to keep most of that system up. their own computers. In fact, most people are already using a variety of cloud computing services without even realizing it. Gmail, Google Drive, TurboTax, and even Facebook and Instagram are cloud-based apps. For all of these services, users submit their personal information to a server hosted in the cloud, which stores the information for later access. And while these apps are useful for personal use, they are even more valuable for businesses that need to access large amounts of data through a secure online network connection.

For example, employees can use cloud-based CRM software like B. access customer informationmortgage's trialfrom your smartphone or tablet at home or on the go and can quickly share this information with other authorized parties anywhere in the world.

Still, some executives are reluctant to commit to cloud computing solutions for their organizations. Let's take a few minutes to share with you the 12 business benefits of cloud computing.

1. saving measures
2. security
3. flexibility
4. mobility
5. discernment
6. enhanced cooperation
7. QA
8. Disaster recovery
9. loss prevention
10. Automatic software updates
11. Competitive advantage
12. sustainability

1. Saving measures:If you're worried about the price tag of moving to cloud computing, you're not alone. 20% of companies are concerned about the initial cost of implementing a cloud-based server. But those trying to weigh the pros and cons of using the cloud need to consider more factors than just the upfront price required for ROI.
   Once in the cloud, easy access to your business data saves time and money when starting projects. And for those worried that they'll end up paying for features they neither need nor want, most cloud computing services are pay-as-you-go. This means that if you don't take advantage of the cloud, at least you don't have to spend money on it.
   Pay-as-you-go also applies to the data storage space you need to serve your stakeholders and customers, which means you get exactly the storage space you need and you won't be charged for unnecessary storage space. t. Together, these factors result in lower costs and higher returns. Half of all CIOs and IT leaders surveyed by Bitglass reported cost savings in 2015 using cloud-based applications.
2. Security:Many organizations have security concerns when it comes to adopting a cloud computing solution. After all, if your files, programs, and other data aren't stored securely, how do you know they're protected? If you can access your data remotely, what's to stop a cybercriminal from doing the same? Well, actually a lot.
   For example, a cloud host's full-time job is to carefully monitor security, which is much more efficient than a traditional in-house system that requires an organization to spread its efforts across a variety of IT concerns, security being only one of them. And while most companies don't openly consider the possibility of internal data theft, the truth is that a shockingly high percentage of data breaches are internal and perpetrated by employees. If that's the case, it might be much safer to keep sensitive information off the site. Of course, this is all very abstract, so let's look at some solid statistics.
   This is what RapidScale claims94% of companies saw an improvement in securityafter moving to the cloud, and 91% said the cloud makes it easier to meet regulatory requirements. The key to this increased security is the encryption of data transmitted over networks and stored in databases. Using encryption makes information less accessible to hackers or people who don't have permission to see your data. As an added security measure, most cloud-based services allow you to set different security settings based on the user. While 20% of cloud users report disaster recovery in four hours or less, only 9% of cloud users can say the same.







3. Flexibility:Your company only has a limited amount of focus to divvy up all your responsibilities. If your current IT solutions force you to focus too much on computing and data storage issues, you won't be able to focus on achieving business goals and satisfied customers. On the other hand, if you rely on an outside organization to handle all your IT infrastructure and hosting, you have more time to focus on those aspects of your business that directly affect your bottom line.
   In general, the cloud offers businesses more flexibility compared to hosting on a local server. And when you need additional bandwidth, a cloud-based service can meet that demand instantly, instead of going through a complex (and expensive) upgrade to your IT infrastructure. This increased freedom and flexibility can greatly improve the overall efficiency of your business. A 65% majority of InformationWeek respondents said "the ability to respond quickly to business needs"it was one of the main reasons why a company should move to a cloud environment.
4. Mobility:Cloud computing enables mobile access to company data via smartphones and end devices, for example.More than 2.6 billion smartphones are used worldwidetoday is a great way to make sure no one is left out of the loop. Employees with busy schedules or who live far from corporate headquarters can use this feature to instantly stay up to date with clients and colleagues.
   Through the cloud, you can offer street vendors, freelancers or remote workers easily accessible information for a better work-life balance. So it's no surprise that organizations that prioritize employee satisfaction are up to 24% more likely to expand cloud adoption.
5. Discernment:As we move further and further into the digital age, it becomes increasingly clear that the old adage "knowledge is power" has taken on a more appropriate modern form: "data is money." Hidden in the millions of bits of data surrounding your customer transactions and business processes are actionable and invaluable nuggets of information just waiting to be identified and acted upon. Of course, unless you have access to the right cloud computing solution, it can be very difficult to parse through this data to find these cores.
   Many cloud-based storage solutions offer built-in cloud analytics to get a bird's-eye view of your data. Since your information is stored in the cloud, you can easily implement tracking mechanisms and create custom reports to analyze information across your business. Armed with this information, you can increase efficiency and create action plans to achieve business goals. The Sunny Delight beverage company, for example, managed to do just that.Increased profits by approximately $2 million per year and reduced labor costs by $195,000through cloud-based business insights.
6. Enhanced Cooperation:If your company has two or more employees, you should make collaboration your top priority. After all, a team is of little use if it doesn't function as a team. Cloud computing makes collaboration an easy process. Team members can easily and securely view and share information through a cloud-based platform. Some cloud-based services still offercollaborative social spacesto connect your company's employees and therefore increase interest and engagement. Collaboration may be possible without a cloud computing solution, but it will never be as easy or as effective.
7. QA:There are few things as detrimental to the success of a business as poor quality and inconsistent reporting. In a cloud-based system, all documents are stored in a single location and in a single format. Because everyone accesses the same information, you can maintain data consistency, eliminate human error, and clearly document any revisions or updates. On the other hand, managing information in silos can cause employees to inadvertently store different versions of documents, leading to confusion and diluting data.
8. Disaster recovery:One of the factors that contribute to the success of a business is control. Unfortunately, no matter how much control your organization has over its own processes, there will always be things that are completely out of your control, and in today's marketplace, even a small amount of unproductive downtime can have a profoundly negative effect. Downtime of your services results in lost productivity, revenue and brand reputation.

   But while there's no way to prevent or even anticipate the disasters that could cripple your business, there are things you can do to speed your recovery. Cloud-based services provide fast data recovery for all kinds of disaster scenarios, from natural disasters to power outages. During20% of cloud users say they need disaster recovery in four hours or less, only 9% of non-cloud users could claim the same. In a recent survey43% of IT leaders said they plan to invest in or upgrade cloud-based disaster recovery solutions.








9. Loss prevention:If your business doesn't invest in a cloud computing solution, all your valuable data is inseparable from the office computers hosting the problem, you may end up losing your data permanently. This is a more common problem than you might think, as computers fail to function for a variety of reasons, from virus infections to aging-related hardware degradation to simple user errors. Or, despite the best intentions, they can be lost or stolen (more than 10,000 laptops are lost at major airports every week).
   If you are not in the cloud, you risk losing all the information stored locally. However, with a cloud-based server, all the information you upload to the cloud remains secure and easily accessible from any computer with an Internet connection, even if the computer you use regularly is down.
10. Automatic software updates:For those with a busy schedule, there is nothing more annoying than having to wait for system updates to install. Cloud-based apps update automatically, instead of forcing an IT department to manually update across the enterprise. This saves IT staff valuable time and money for external IT consulting. PCWorld lists that 50% of cloud users report requiring fewer internal IT resources as a benefit of the cloud.
11. Competitive advantage:While cloud computing is growing in popularity, there are still those who prefer to keep everything local. This is their choice, but it puts them at a serious disadvantage when competing with those who have the benefits of the cloud at their fingertips. If you implement a cloud-based solution before your competitors, you'll be further along in the learning curve until they catch up. This was demonstrated by a recent study by Verizon77% of companies believe that cloud technology offers a competitive advantage, and 16% believe this benefit is significant.
12. Sustainability:Given the current state of the environment, it is no longer enough for organizations to put a trash can in the break room and claim they are doing their part to help the planet. True sustainability requires solutions that address waste at all levels of an organization. Cloud hosting is greener and has a smaller carbon footprint.

    Cloud infrastructure supports environmental proactivity, supports virtual services instead of physical products and hardware, reduces paper waste, improves energy efficiency, and (by allowing employees to access anywhere with an Internet connection) reduces travel-related emissions. A Pike Research report predicts that data center energy consumption will decrease by 31% between 2010 and 2020 based on the adoption of cloud computing and other virtual data options.