By Mark Lovett
Cloud computing is considered one of the biggest innovations in recent times, and for many businesses, it’s become critical to their success. Modern cloud systems like Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud offer a powerful synergistic force for managing all elements of a business, from collaborative planning to vast storage solutions.
That said, do you really need it for your business? Read on to find out!
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First Things First: What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing represents computing services that the world has already become accustomed to, such as large-scale storage, software, and networking, delivered wirelessly over the internet. This has the potential to significantly reduce costs, because it means that businesses don’t need to shell out for huge server rooms and other expensive hardware like they did in the past.
Instead, they can subscribe to a package like Google Cloud, which aims to have everything they’d ever need within one cohesive system.
What’s the Cost?
While cloud computing can offer the perfect solution for many businesses by significantly decreasing costs and increasing efficiency, this isn’t always the case. Cloud services are not automatically cheaper, and in many cases, companies are paying a premium for elements they’re not really using.
Cloud computing typically costs thousands to maintain. Many packages, such as Microsoft Azure, have built-in cost calculators to help you determine which services are best for your situation, but unfortunately, they don’t account for the necessary nuance. You’re better off using a dedicated Azure cost review platform, which can dig deeper to find out exactly what sort of packages you require.
Of course, the real determinant as to whether you need these services is the size and scale of your business. Smaller businesses may not need to shell out for premium cloud packages, as they’d simply never make use of even the smallest storage plans or software catalogs.
Questions to Ask Yourself
When considering whether or not cloud computing is right for you, it’s a good idea to ask yourself the following questions:
How Scalable is my Business?
You’ll need to do some forecasting to determine how fast your business is predicted to grow, and whether you ever expect it to grow to the extent that you could justify major cloud solutions.
Would My Team Benefit?
Next, consider your staff. How are they getting by currently? And do you even have anyone onboard who would benefit from using the sort of software you’re looking at? Also, would you need to contract third-party services to maintain it? Or could you do it in-house?
Am I Prepared for the Maintenance Demands?
While cloud computing is designed to maximise convenience, it still needs to be constantly monitored. You need to be prepared to stay on top of usage, constantly analysing what’s working and what isn’t, and conducting regular audits to continually assess the cost-benefit ratio.
Wrapping Up
There’s a lot more that goes into cloud computing than what’s been covered in this article, so use the above as a springboard to get started. Take your time, don’t make any big decisions without consulting people you trust, and you’ll get there.
About the Author: Mark is a tenured writer for NewsWatch, focusing on technology and emerging trends. Mark gives readers insight into how tomorrow’s innovations will transform our relationship with technology in everyday life.
