Cloud – It’s one of the growing industries in the technology field that still has some confusion lingering around its concept. What are the major benefits? What is the comparison of cost, security, or availability? Let’s go over some of that…

                Security: When provided by one of the professional cloud providers, security can increase when migrating to the cloud. Infrastructure, physical server access, and data-center access are strictly regulated and managed by your provider (I.e. Microsoft Azure, Amazon AWS, etc.) Internal and external network access is fully controlled by the user to allow public traffic or lock it down as tightly as you choose. The variety of cloud providers’ additional software is a bonus with features such as security analytics, periodic updates, and cross-enterprise visibility. When all is said and done, the security provided by the cloud is equivalent if not more secure than your average on-site server infrastructure.

                Availability: “If my servers are not located on-site, how can I be sure my resources will be available?” One of the greatest benefits of a cloud migration is that you only need to monitor your incoming ISP’s connection on-site, everything else will be available and accessible remotely. If you have internet access, whether you are at home, at the office, or anywhere in the world – you have access to your services. Built-in with the high availability of the cloud are the added benefits of logging, backups, and active alerts. All culminating in 99% or higher access of availability.

                Scalability: When working within your environment, there is always the concern of “How long will my current equipment meet our needs?” With Cloud-based solutions, you can adjust resources on the fly. Increasing memory, graphics processing, bandwidth, CPU speed, and much more. This micromanaged control lets your business be as flexible as you need it to be.

                Integration: A Cloud migration allows your business to connect all its services in a high-efficiency network that is kept up-to-date with the newest features. Apps can be hosted independently without a dedicated server, allowing you specific resources for each part of your business. Web servers, SQL servers, Git repositories, and more can be kept in an “always-on” state. Updated regularly and automatically, with dynamic reactions to increased load whether processing power updates or high traffic demands. Services your business needs will be connected, and productivity can rise to its peak.

                Cost: Most businesses’ primary concern with cloud migrations are the cost. In truth, moving to the Cloud may reduce operational costs while improving IT processes. When using cloud services, you only pay for what you use. According to TouchStone Security, 82% of small to medium-sized enterprise businesses report reduced costs as a result of adopting cloud technology and 70% are reinvesting the saved money back into their business.

                So, is a cloud migration right for you and your business? There is always an option that can suit your needs and discovering what you can use to benefit from this growing sub-division of the technology world is simpler than ever. Call us today at 412-244-NETX (6389) to talk about whether a cloud migration is right for your business, and how you can begin the process!