Small businesses…top FIVE reasons for considering cloud computing
“Cloud computing” seems is infiltrating our society, yet many entrepreneurs seem confused and speculative as to whether or not it is worth their time an energy. In an effort to help showcase some of its general benefits, here is a list of top 5 reasons you might want to give it a second thought…or investigate it further.
1. Circumvent costly disaster impact with remote, secure data storage
Have you ever experienced a computer crash? Have you ever experienced a nasty virus hit? Have you ever lost all of your information?
Aside from the sick feeling in the pit of your stomach, recovering that information is expensive and time-consuming – assuming that you can recover it, of course. If it isn’t accessible, well…that sick feeling will intensify. Many entrepreneurs operate with one PC, perhaps with a smart phone or tablet as well. But do you save your information to a separate hard drive? Consider loosing accounting, finance, customer, new product/service information – all in one fell sweep.
2. Peace of mind from automatic backup scheduling
Automatic backup is the key phrase here. Many people have a separate backup system – I’m thinking about those handy USB hard drives here – but how often do you save your data to them? Maybe once a week? When you remember to do so? This isn’t always a top-of-mind activity. Consider setting up an internet/cloud based system, so that your information will be backed-up regularly – without your having to remember to do so.
3. Predictable monthly billing options
Running a business – any business – has hidden costs associated with it, not to mention surprise costs, like recovering lost data. With a low-monthly fee – something affordable – you can buy yourself peace-of-mind, plus the knowledge and comfort that your information is safe and protected from attack.
4. Fast and guaranteed data recovery capabilities, with minimal downtime.
If your system is hit by an attack – and I don’t mean to foster fear mongering, this is just a basic fact of life in the online world. Sooner or later, we will all get hit by an attack. It might be an innocuous email, it might be a website we shouldn’t have visited, but our information and identities are valuable to someone – who will try to access it. When this happens, instead of waiting for a specialist to restore our system, be assured that you will be able to access your data – saved from the last automatic update – quickly and securely.
5. And perhaps the number one reason: Easy access, easy set-up, and no training required!
Entrepreneurs and small business employees wear many hats. A basic fact is that IT security, data management, data storage, and data recovery aren’t typical hats. Storing information in the cloud means that you don’t have to know how the inner workings of data storage and security actually work. Leave that for the professionals. Focus on your key business practices, with the knowledge that someone else is taking care of your data.
Tags: cloud computing, data management, data storage, security
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March 9, 2011 at 11:18 AM
Very interesting note. Have you heard about Dropbox?
Also, Google and Microsoft have had some incidents with their cloud users, more info here: http://www.ghacks.net/2011/02/28/gmail-resets-150000-email-accounts-loses-everything/
Thanks.
March 9, 2011 at 2:54 PM
I have heard of Dropbox. It is quite popular amongst entrepreneurs and small businesses. Thanks for raising the point.
And yes, Google and Microsoft. I suspect, as the kinks are addressed, that we will continue to hear similar stories. Hopefully, not too many of them!