When companies depend heavily on their IT systems, it is vital that competent IT support is on hand to deal with any problems. If businesses are to stay productive when IT issues arise, it is of the utmost importance that service disruption is minimised. However, IT support can quickly become a headache for many companies, especially those who carry out extensive computing operations.
Cloud computing is starting to revolutionise the world of business IT. Having the ability to centralise IT systems in the cloud confers many advantages to companies both big and small. Here are some ways in which cloud computing helps to take the sting out of IT support.
Centralise in the cloud
One of the excellent features of cloud computing is that it enables companies to centralise their IT systems remotely. This allows companies to access their IT resources any time of the day, across the world, with the only requirement being an internet connection. Being able to access computing resources in this way can be invaluable when travelling abroad or to another region of the country.
Centralising IT services within the cloud takes a massive amount of pressure off companies with regards to IT support. Instead of companies having to constantly maintain and upgrade computing hardware, this task is taken care of by the cloud service provider. Without needing to worry about such maintenance, substantial savings can be made with regards to in-house IT support and outsourced engineers.
Scalability
One of the main hurdles to overcome when it comes to company expansion and modernization is the scaling of computer resources. Deploying things like extra servers and networks to meet a growing demand is both time consuming and expensive. The beauty of cloud computing is that resource can be allocated and scaled to meet business demands almost immediately. This means that instead of companies having to pay for new hardware and the personnel to install it, the cloud service can simply increase the available resources as required.
This scalability is also beneficial for companies who wish to decrease the size of their computing operations. As opposed to being left with redundant surplus hardware, consuming space and power, companies can simply adjust their resource allocation through the cloud accordingly.
Security and maintenance
Using cloud computing as the primary basis for IT services provides benefits in terms of both security and maintenance. When it comes to handling large volumes of data especially that of a sensitive nature, security is paramount. Making headlines increasingly often are stories of how companies have embarrassingly had their IT security breached, leading to data being leaked or stolen.
With the constant threat of external intruders or hackers trying to gain access to company resources, having strong preventative measures in place is extremely important. When using cloud services, companies don’t need to worry as much about these security measures, as the cloud service provider will strive to keep their clients’ data secure. This means that companies can save money on hiring security experts and extra IT support staff, as the cloud has them covered.
When key systems fail, having a comprehensive backup and recovery system is vital in ensuring that data isn’t lost. If a company has their data located in a single location, such as a server centre, unforeseen events like fires or floods could wreak havoc with data integrity. With cloud computing, the provider will have the necessary measures in place to ensure that data and services are safe and secure.
Conclusion
For companies who think they would be able to benefit from an IT platform with high performance, storage and flexibility, cloud computing is the way to go. With the ability to simplify IT support and many more advantages to boot, it is no surprise that the future of business computing is in the cloud.
About the Author: By Bradley Houston, on behalf of Cloud Computing and IT Support provider, Cheeky Munkey, London.
Image License: Creative Commons image source
