Around 77% of businesses work with cloud computing in at least one respect. Clearly it’s an important tool, but what can the cloud do for your business?

Cloud computing has been steadily transforming the way we work for the last decade. And it’s crucial that your business gets on board. We live in competitive times and even the tiniest of edges can have a significant impact on performance. But what can you use the cloud for? And how can it transform your business? These are good questions and ones that you need to know the answers to.

To help you understand how you can harness the power of the cloud we’re going to demonstrate what it can do.

How Can You Use the Cloud?

Despite the complexities behind the infrastructure, cloud computing is a relatively simple concept. The cloud is a digital infrastructure which is available to multiple users over the internet. It’s your existing physical network, but transcribed into binary code. And, thanks to the possibilities of the internet, it can be connected to from anywhere in the world.

Cloud computing has been a revolution in business computing. It’s a methodology which brings a seemingly endless series of benefits to its users. And who wouldn’t want to sign up to that? But what exactly can the cloud do for you? Let’s take a look:

  • Remote Working: Physical space within organizations is a valuable commodity. However, employees take up a lot of physical space. And this can lead to a lack of space for stock and equipment. But the flexibility offered by the cloud solves this problem. As long as an employee has an internet connection they can connect to your infrastructure from wherever they way. This setup grants you the opportunity to maximize the space you have and offer more flexible working conditions to your employees. 
  • Data Storage: A lot of data is currently stored in the cloud and this amount is set to skyrocket over the next few years. It’s a modern phenomenon of data storage and one that is vastly different to past methods. Previously the norm had been to archive endless optical media and record data to huge hard drives. While this provided an immediate source of data for organizations it was all rather fiddly and bulky. Cloud computing consigns this to the past. And it does this by allowing you to store huge amounts of data in remote data centers which is instantly accessible. 
  • Shared Data: We’ve all experienced the pain of a lengthy download time. But now there’s no need to be frustrated. The cloud has seriously updated data sharing for the 21st Now you can back your data up to hard drives on the cloud and provide instant access to whoever needs it. All you need to do is send them a link and the data will be readily available. And, without having to sit through an agonizingly slow download, the recipient can become more productive. 

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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Data is getting increasingly bigger and, while this allows us to analyze data more effectively, it’s also putting a major strain on our storage.

And that’s why so many organizations are looking to improve their storage options. After all, data is crucial for your organization to operate and remain competitive e.g. storing customer details and monitoring their purchasing history etc. Naturally, data storage has become a huge industry, so the options available for storing data have multiplied significantly.

Understanding which option is best for you, however, isn’t always straightforward. Therefore, to help you get started, we’re going to take a look at the best data storage options for your organization.

  1. Network Attached Storage

Network attached storage (NAS) allows large amounts of data to be stored in a central point which can be easily shared across an entire network. The most common form of NAS is an external hard drive which comes complete with Ethernet ports or built in WiFi. These devices can easily be integrated into your network and, with capacities now exceeding 4TB, can store huge amounts of data.

  1. Cloud Storage

Cloud storage is the new kid on the block when it comes to data storage and is being readily adopted by organizations. With cloud networks managed by third parties and all hardware being kept in central hub offsite, cloud storage allows your organization to save physical space while providing quick access to your data. An added bonus of cloud storage is that it provides amazing accessibility when it comes to accessing your data. Not only can your in-house staff access data immediately, but remote workers can log on to the cloud network from anywhere with an internet connection.

Accessibility is vital when it comes to sharing data, so many online services have sprung up which allow you to store and share data securely. Services such as Google Drive, Dropbox and Microsoft Drive grant you a set amount of space online to upload data and provide sharing links to colleagues and clients. While the initial (and free) storage space is limited, it provides a useful option for storing small sets of data online which take the strain off your internal storage capacities.

  1. Direct Attached Storage

Direct Attached Storage (DAS) devices are, as their name suggests, a form of storage which attaches directly to a computer. The most well-known forms of DAS are external hard drives and thumb drives. Capable of holding large amounts of data, DAS devices provide a useful storage option for new businesses that are looking to minimize storage costs, but not run out of space for their data.

  1. Offline Storage

Data is certainly getting bigger, but one of the oldest forms of data storage still has a place in modern business. Offline storage has been around for decades and involves using optical discs such as CDs and Blu-Rays to archive important data. And, although the data is not immediately available as it is with more modern storage options, offline storage is incredibly secure while also being available in the case of a network failure.

For more ways to secure and optimize your business technology, contact your local IT professionals.

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