With more and more applications that offer cloud computing services, many small businesses have made the move to adapt their operations to this trend. Cloud computing offers a wide range of benefits, such as increased collaboration, communication, and flexibility. While cloud computing has revolutionized the way we do business, it also brings its own fair share of complications and challenges. Before integrating the cloud into your everyday operations, you may want to consider the following to determine whether it’s right for your business:
1. Compatibility
When choosing a cloud computing service, you’ll want to make sure whether your current system is able to meet its system requirements. It can be a waste of time and money to install a program, realizing too late that you’re unable to access the service. In addition, you want to make sure whether you and your team are able to utilize the tools. For example, if your employees are undergoing linux training for their new operating systems, you may want to see if your services integrate with your existing systems.
2. Type of Service
Cloud computing isn’t restricted to a single type – in fact, there are many different forms of cloud computing, all which benefit your business in unique ways. For example, public cloud computing are made available by a single provider and can be used by nearly anyone. On the other hand, a private cloud model is designed specifically for a single organization, and can be customized to meet the business’s specific needs. Before making a purchase, you’ll want to understand the different types available and determine which is best for your business.
3. Security
One of the major concerns of cloud computing involves the issues of security, and the safety around sending files to a remote access server. When deciding among cloud computing services, you’ll need to carefully examine each vendor and their standards for safety. Check whether their security standards and expectations are similar to yours, and whether they’re compatible with your computing systems. Given that you’ll be entrusting your files and information with the service, it’s vital to ensure it is as safe as possible.
4. Scalability
For all businesses, it’s important to maintain operations with growth in mind. You’ll want to make sure that operations are able to accommodate new members, and can scale in conjunction to future growth. Therefore, you’ll want to choose a service that can scale alongside your own business. For example, if you’re looking for a file-hosting service and will add more employees in the future, then you may want to choose a service that can increase storage size and capability.
5. Price
As with any service, you should carefully consider whether the price of the cloud computing service is well within your budget. Many companies offer their products for free, but will frequently charge for their business applications. In addition, some services operate under a freemium model, where accounts are free to set up and subscriptions are offered for larger capability. If you decide to go with this model, take a look at whether their offered prices fall within your budget in the case of growth.
