Innovation is moving at breakneck speed. Just about the time you get used to one way of working, something new pops up. In the last few years, that something new has been the cloud.

The cloud is changing how business is done. As of this writing, nine out of ten companies use some kind of cloud service. In fact, one recent survey found that half of the responding companies have a “cloud-first” approach. If there’s a cloud solution out there, that’s their preference.

What about your organization? Are cloud services right for you? If you’re not sure, just answer the following three questions.

Are you a fan of flexibility?

This is one of the top selling points of cloud solutions. When you work in the cloud you tap into flexibility in two ways.

Scalability: Cloud solutions are great for growing companies. They’re designed for organizations of all sizes, so they work well if you have a team of 10 or 200. As you add to your staff, just increase the number of subscriptions you need.

Mobility: Remote access is a big deal for good reason. For business leaders, it means staying connected even as you visit clients on site or travel. For your staff, it means the ability to work from home when needed.

Keeping up with a growing business is a big enough challenge by itself. Use cloud services to make it a little easier.

Do you think efficiency is effective?

Running all your services on-site is a tall order. It means setting up and maintaining your own server, handling updates and upgrades, and making repairs when something breaks. If you go that route, expect delays. Also be sure to budget for IT staff dedicated entirely to keeping you online and operational.

Or . . .

There’s another option.

Instead of taking on the lion’s share of the work yourself, implement cloud solutions where you can. There’s no on-premise equipment to monitor aside from the desktop machines you use to access the internet. The cloud provider will handle all updates and upgrades. And you won’t have to hire extra IT staff just to babysit a server.

The end result is a more efficient operation on your end. Spend less, work less, and produce more.

Is peace of mind preferable?

Downtime is more than just inconvenient. It’s expensive, even for small businesses. The Aberdeen Group estimates that every hour of downtime costs SMBs as much as $8,600. If your system is offline, you’re losing money.

Reputable cloud service providers have high standards for uptime. You can rely on cloud solutions to be online and working, 24/7. Not only that but if you have any kind of local issue, you can still work. All you need is internet access and you’re good to go.

Another advantage comes in the form of additional security. Because your data is in the cloud, it’s backed up.

No, it’s not a complete security plan. You should absolutely have a more robust backup strategy in place. But think of using cloud solutions as one more layer of protection. You’re even less likely to lose data.

Add it to your to-do list.

It’s confession time. Chances are, you answered “yes” to all those questions. They may have been a tad bit leading.

But that’s the power of cloud solutions. The strengths of working in the cloud are genuinely compelling. So much so that there’s near-universal appeal. No wonder it’s the direction most companies are headed in.

What about you? Have you adopted any cloud services yet? If so, do you have a comprehensive strategy for integrating those services? If not, is it time to move your business to the cloud?

We believe cloud solutions have a place for almost every business. What’s more, we have the experience and the knowledge to help you implement the right services for your business. There are a lot of options out there. We can steer you toward the ones that will benefit you most.

If you’re ready to embrace the power of the cloud, HC Tech Guys get you there. Contact us today to take the first step in your journey.