As you consider going digital, it’s important to ask this fundamental question: is cloud technology right for my business? Let’s examine the pros and cons.
Cloud technology refers to apps and services you access through the Internet. As more businesses switch on to “going digital”, the use of cloud technology has seen massive growth in recent years.
To help you determine if going digital is right for your business, we thought we’d explain just what “going digital” means as well as weighing up the pros and cons – so you can make informed decisions about the IT solutions, best for your business.
What Does It Mean To ‘Go Digital’?
Going digital encompasses the idea of making business easier through streamlined IT solutions. This is typically achieved through cloud-based IT services, such as collaborative document management, online data storage and online services. Mobile devices have also experienced tremendous growth as business tools too and technology has adapted to pair the two. Going digital also refers to better practices and infrastructure for online security, reducing the likelihood of cyber-attacks resulting in damage to your systems or data loss.
The Pros of Going Digital
- Anytime, Anywhere Access – “Going digital” means you are no longer tied to a particular computer or geographic location to complete daily tasks.
- Simplified Infrastructure – Replacing expensive servers and desktop software with online services that can be accessed through a variety of devices, frees up budgets for other IT solutions and decreases the stress and burden of Involuntary IT Managers.
- Resilience & Business Continuity – You don’t have your business tied to server in the office. If there’s a physical problem with the server or the office, your whole business is not put on pause until it’s fixed. You have readily available off site options.
- Agility – Not tied down to expensive hardware/software, you can more easily adapt and migrate to new systems.
- Streamlining Your Operations – Automating and integrating systems frees up time for more pressing activities and makes your business easier to manage and more responsive.
- Improving Customer Experience – Simpler processes make it easier and more convenient for your customers to engage with your business. Which in turn helps build loyalty and lifetime values.
The Cons of Going Digital
- The Vetting Process – comparing and contrasting prospective providers can be a laborious and hugely time consuming and frustrating activity, especially if you are unfamiliar with IT.
- You Could End Up Working With A Disreputable Service Provider – You need to be very careful. In an industry full of unknowns, the cost of an ill-informed decision can leave you high and dry.
- Potential Loss Of Data through:
- Data breaches – Any system connected to the internet is a potential victim to cyber attacks
- Data Lock-In – A by product of 2), data is stored in the service provider’s database but they don’t make it easy for you to export it, holding it hostage – which could cost you time and money. Some will make it available but will hold it for ransom (consequently Aerorock make sure the systems recommended allow you to export data freely).
Myths about Migrating To Cloud Services
- Cloud Technology Is Expensive – False. In most cases subscription-based computing actually works out cheaper in the long run than having an in-house system. Most people think that buying hardware and software is a one time expense and then that’s the end of it. No so. Physical products require lots of time and money to keep up to date with upgrades and maintenance. And then there’s the cost of unexpected faults. Another overlooked cost of missing out on new security and functionality features that reduce risk and improve productivity.
- “I have better control of my data if I keep it in house” – the classic justification for an in-house server. “I can see it, therefore I have better control”.
- In reality, the server is often not kept up to date with the latest security software. This makes it vulnerable to attacks. Virtually all servers can be accessed from the internet. If not directly, then indirectly through compromised computers on the same network. If a good hacker wants to access information on a company server, they can. Remember the Sony Pictures hack? You can’t afford to be complacent – this stuff is real!
- Online systems from reputable providers are better protected than your in-house system – their reputation depends on the security of their system. They take extensive measures to protect the system from intrusion, far more than any small business can take in-house. For example, see these security statements from Microsoft and Google.
Although it’s counter-intuitive, your data is safer in the cloud than it is in-house!
In the next article, I’ll cover a few things you need to consider when moving to a cloud based system.
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