Five reasons to swap cloud caution for cloud confidence

The cloud revolution is upon us–from online banking and limitless picture storage to CRMs and shareable docs that drive collaboration.

With more software solutions and SaaS applications providing products exclusively in the cloud, many of us are headed there. While data legislation prevents some organisations from being completely cloud-oriented, others might be slightly cautious for other reasons. Here, we take a closer look at some of the immediate and long-term business benefits of embracing cloud services and software.

Cloud computing is all about delivering services over the internet. From software and databases to servers and networking, it allows your people to access what they need to do their job from just about anywhere (desert islands included, as long as there's good WiFi).

Most of us are already using the cloud to store personal data, share our experiences on social media, and do our banking. We’re reaping the benefits of not needing physical storage for all that information and interactivity.

But what about at work? You might be using Google Drive to collaborate on projects or connect with your customers on software like Salesforce, but could you get more out of the cloud?

Let's take a look at some of the significant business advantages you won't want to miss.

If growth is your goal, you will need technology to scale with you.

That means you need all the computing power, server space, and resources right when needed. An onsite system relies on IT teams manually upgrading it – it's slow and expensive, so if you see a sudden spike in users or sales, you'll unlikely have the power to support it there and then. Slow speeds lead to customer frustration and lost sales–something businesses can't afford.

Cloud systems, on the other hand, can scale vertically (adding more computing power) or horizontally (adding more servers and machines), with unlimited capacity to meet bandwidth demand.

Ideally, growth would be one straight arrow on an upward trajectory. But it rarely looks like this in real life, and most businesses see spikes throughout the year. Cloud systems give you much more flexibility than onsite infrastructure, increasing power and space when needed and reducing it when you don't.

This concertina offering means you can make hay while the sun shines but pay less if demand dips. It is ideal for agile businesses that need to adapt quickly.

While monthly subscription costs for cloud services might seem expensive compared to software licencing, there are a host of significant savings to be had by cosying up with the cloud long term.

First up, with your cloud vendor taking care of all the nitty-gritty, your IT team will be freed up to focus on strategic tasks and urgent issues. No more wasting precious time on scheduled upgrades, server replacements, and incident management. And you'll also cut costs on servers and storage, software licences, maintenance, asset management, and energy bills–all while gaining access to enterprise-grade technology.

Conflicting file content, endless email attachments, and one-at-a-time workflow are some pain points you can bid goodbye to.

With cloud computing, everything is stored centrally and can be accessed simultaneously by those who need it and edited in real time. Business continuity fosters greater visibility, faster turnaround, and much more collaboration between team members. For remote and hybrid workers, the cloud offers even easier access and file sharing options for organisations, regardless of where their staff are.

Not all businesses have the capital or expertise for top-notch security. But with cloud computing, that's not a problem.

Services like Atlassian Cloud, powered by AWS, offer standard security testing, encryption, and disaster recovery plans–this means secure login, frequent checkpoints, and access controls. And if your computer gets damaged or stolen, you can still access all the data you need. Cloud technology ensures you have peace of mind knowing your business is protected without all the stress of server maintenance.

If you’re cautious about moving to the cloud, our team offers the advice, support, and tools you need to make the switch confidently.