The cloud is one of the most popular business resources of recent years. It shifts processes, resources and data storage onto servers that are accessible via the internet, allowing you to use and make changes to them in real time from any device with authorization. So why is the cloud such a useful resource for modern organizations, and how might it benefit your company? In this article, we'll explore some of the reasons why you might consider using this tool for your future practices.

Remote Capabilities

The trend for remote working is gathering significant momentum across the globe month on month. If you intend on harnessing this approach for your own team of employees, there are certain factors that you must consider first. One of the main issues is that of access. It is vital that your remote staff are able to use their phone and emails, access relevant specialist systems and make changes and updates to documents from any location. By enabling them to perform these vital aspects of their work via the cloud, you can ensure that the transition can be as smooth and effective as possible.

Data Backup

It can be dangerous to rely on a central system within your office to store all of your company's vital data and keep your systems running smoothly. The simplest of malfunctions can result in data loss or severe system damage, which can prove extremely costly. By storing vital information in the cloud instead, you know that it cannot be lost - so even if you don't rely on the cloud for your day to day operations, it can prove an invaluable backup and recovery solution that could save your reputation as well as your data.

Improved Security

By creating an independent cloud network for your business that is accessible by authorized personnel only, it's easy to keep all of your data protected. It's possible to use any number of secure approaches to set up a platform of this kind and, because the information is not stored on any particular in-house machine or network, it can be harder to trace or hack.

Cost Savings

Many cloud-based tools, such as Google Docs or Google Sheets, are entirely free to use. Of course, there are other more specific platforms that come with a cost, but because the cloud does not rely on any particular device in order to function, your company can make significant savings when using this resource as there is no physical maintenance required.

Simplicity

The cloud will integrate automatically with any device that has internet access, so there will be no need for lengthy IT intervention in order to get it working on a new computer, tablet or phone. Most of the time, all that is required is an internet connection, a username and password. Depending on the platforms and networks you use, it's often possible to share individual documents with outside users - such as freelancers and contractors - simply by giving specific permissions. This saves you the trouble of having to set each party up with a special account.