It’s human nature to be wary of something new, something different – something that seems too good to be true. Especially when it comes to your precious business dollars. After all, that business is your baby and you wouldn’t throw that baby on any old bandwagon.
The cloud is only a fad, right? Not even close. Cloud services are here to stay and are constantly evolving. Cloud computing – in the 10 short years since its inception – has gone from a clever idea and morphed into a business-critical core technology. A Forbes study launched at the end of 2017 projected that cloud computing would be a $162 billion industry by 2020. And at its current compound annual growth rate of 19%, Forbes is right on the money. They also reported that 74% of IT CFOs attribute most of their most measurable growth impact to cloud services.
So what is the cloud exactly? At its intrinsic level, the cloud is a collection of computers, servers, and databases that are connected together in a way that users can lease access to share their combined power. Cloud computing is scalable so that buyers can choose to increase or decrease the amount of computing power they need. It’s a set of very complex infrastructure technologies that keeps your data safe and secure.
Of course, not everyone buys into something just because the rest of the crowd has. The cloud and its services still has some mystery surrounding it. We’re going to put to bed some of those myths and show you how to get the most out of moving to the cloud, angst-free.
Myth #1: Data isn’t secure in the cloud.
The Truth: The cloud’s security architecture is multi-layered, and there are multiple safeguards against cyber attacks. Deterrent and preventative controls harden your network against threats and require strong end user authentication. Detective controls ensure that the system is monitored 24/7/365 and respond appropriately if a threat is suspected. Corrective controls manage the damage should a data breach occur. All of these things work in unison to protect your sensitive information and intellectual property, especially where federal compliance regulations are an issue.
Myth #2: The cloud is just a passing trend.
The Truth: According to research and analyst juggernaut Forrester, over 50% of enterprises across every industry worldwide will be using a public cloud platform by the end of 2018. Cloud computing’s impact is global, and has permeated companies of all sizes across all industries and geographies.
Myth #3: Migrating to the cloud is expensive.
The Truth: Given the breakneck speed of cloud growth and accessibility, it’s become easier, faster and less expensive for software developers to roll out applications in the cloud as compared to traditional onsite platform development. That cost savings gets passed on to users. You don’t have to buy hardware until you need it, and you don’t have to plan for peak usage, since most traditional servers are only used at 15% of their capacity.
Myth #4: We don’t need the cloud. Our servers and network are just fine.
The Truth: Until you outgrow them, and then they become legacy hardware. If you want to future-proof your business and ensure any kind of longevity in this economy, then you need to take advantage of cloud computing. The cloud gives you a flexible computing environment that greatly ramps up your productivity, streamlines efficiency and promotes real-time collaboration no matter where your staff is.
Myth #5: Migration takes too long – we can’t afford the downtime.
The Truth: To get the most out of your cloud services, you need to partner up with a managed IT services provider (MSP). With an MSP there is very little to no downtime for data migration. Not sure which cloud computing services are right for your company’s needs? An MSP team of experts will evaluate your servers and network and consult with you to come up with the perfect plan for cloud migration minus the worry. Seamless implementation without the hassle.
That’s where we come in. Give us a call and we’ll help you take that leap into the future. Come join us in the cloud – life is better is up here.
