The Elevation of Business in the Cloud

There’s a transformation going on in the world of business, and if yours hasn’t yet caught on you’re late for the revolution. It’s all based on the cloud – a term that refers to a new way of utilizing the enhanced connectivity brought about by the maturation of networked services.

The business model of a cloud-based software service utilizes the Software as a Service – or simply SaaS model. Offering centrally hosted software accessible from multiple clients in remote locations, it offers a number of advantages over traditional methods of software deployment.

Cutting Costs in the Cloud

You’re undoubtedly familiar with these traditional deployments. They require businesses to license pre-packaged enterprise solutions and rely upon the in-house IT department to deploy and maintain the software. There are a number of drawbacks to this model, virtually all of which are addressed by adopting a cloud-based service.

Traditional software licensing involves a lump sum paid for software that may include components your business doesn’t even need. Alternatively, cloud-based services typically employ demand-based subscription pricing models that ensure you only pay for what you need and use.

There’s tons of examples and Praktika is one of them. This cloud-based dental practice management suite, offers expandable storage and reporting on a month-to-month basis depending upon the needs of the practice. As such, a small practice with fewer clients will pay less than a larger client with more substantial storage needs. This flexibility is simply not possible in traditional software delivery models.

These subscription fees also include software updates and upgrades. This task traditionally fell upon a company’s in-house IT department, adding hours to the payroll as each instance of the software was individually maintained.

Safety and Security in the Cloud

The guaranteed security and integrity of a client’s data could be added to the list of cost-cutting benefits offered by cloud services, but the most significant advantages of shifting these responsibilities to a third-party provider outweigh even the substantial savings that come with them. Put simply, many cloud-based service providers offer better data security than all but the largest companies can afford to offer.

Protecting clients’ data is among the highest of priorities for any respectable cloud service. As such, the subscription fees typically include automated backups that protect against the damage or loss of your data. This alone is less costly and time-consuming than performing and storing your company’s data on local servers, but it’s just the beginning when it comes to cloud security.

Cloud services often employ hardened data centres that virtually guarantee your company won’t be the next headline associated with a data breach. These data centres utilize the latest encryption techniques, monitored firewalls and even armed guards, all of which provide a level of shared security that any one company would find it hard to match on a limited budget.

The Efficiency of the Cloud

While all of the advantages mentioned above offer ample encouragement for any company considering a move to the cloud, they all exist in the budget and behind the scenes. While the enhanced productivity offered by cloud services will find representation in your company’s performance metrics, it will also be the most tangible benefit from the first day forward.

Cloud-based services, by their very nature, allow multiple team members to simultaneously access the same information at the same time from any location (within their allowed access levels, of course). This not only allows employees to work remotely with ease, but also provides a platform for modes of real-time communication like instant messaging and VoIP – Voice over IP – calls and conferences.

Such accessibility and communicability creates a space for remote collaboration that eliminates the need for board rooms and conference tables. Real-time meetings can occur across time zones, and evolving projects can develop as information is acquired.

While the cloud may seem to be a relatively new concept, the principles and technologies upon which it is based have been in development since as far back as 1969. Indeed, the early adopter phase has long been over, and the explosion of successful cloud-based services is evidence that the cloud is here to stay.

More and more businesses are adapting their strategies to include the cloud, and your competitors are sure to be among them. The emergence of the cloud is more than just a trend – it is the beginning of a sweeping change in the way that businesses handle their software and networking needs. The advantages are clear, and there’s never been a better time to consider your company’s future in the cloud.