6 Essential cloud solutions for small businesses

Posted on Wednesday June 21, 2023

Cloud technology has undoubtedly become an indispensable aspect of computing in recent years. Nevertheless, some small- to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) still face uncertainty when deciding which processes to migrate to the cloud. If you own or operate an SMB and are facing this dilemma, we’ve got you covered. Here’s an overview of several popular cloud solutions that your business should consider implementing.

Email

In the past, businesses seeking personalized email addresses had to host their email clients on internal servers. This required having an in-house IT team managing such servers and investing in dedicated email servers, which were often beyond the means or capabilities of many businesses.

Fortunately, cloud technology provides a more efficient and cost-effective alternative. Now, businesses can shift their email hosting to cloud-based solutions, eliminating the need to manage or invest in hardware for email operations, as the responsibility lies with the hosting service.

File storage

The term “cloud” is often associated with cloud storage services. Such services are abundant and widely used by businesses, making them one of the most popular types of cloud solutions.

Luckily, there is a multitude of cloud storage services specifically designed for businesses. These services offer generous storage capacity and robust security measures to safeguard critical data both during transit and while stored on the cloud.

Similar to email services, many of these cloud storage services are overseen by IT professionals who ensure the systems remain updated and secure. Some providers even offer storage rates that are comparable to, or even more cost-effective, than physical hard drives.

Hosting servers

For certain businesses, the need for multiple servers to support operations is crucial. However, physical servers come with their own challenges, such as the requirement for in-house IT staff to manage them and their resource-intensive nature, which can lead to skyrocketing IT expenses.

For this reason, many small businesses are increasingly adopting cloud-based servers, which deliver the same server capabilities over the internet, eliminating the need for on-site physical servers. Without on-premises servers to maintain, you can save physical space and your resources are easier to manage.

eCommerce

Ask anyone running an eCommerce business about the resource intensity involved, and they would likely highlight the high costs and inefficiencies associated with managing an in-house solution, particularly when attempting to scale the online store.

The good news is that several robust cloud-based eCommerce platforms have emerged. These platforms have simplified online store management and eliminated the need for substantial hardware investments when scaling operations. Moreover, as these cloud solutions leverage pooled server resources, you can ensure the continuous availability of your store, even during periods of heavy traffic.

Document creation and collaboration

Traditional document creation systems, especially in companies with remote workers, often result in time wastage due to the back-and-forth exchange of different document versions and the need to ensure everyone is working on the same version.

Cloud-based document creation services for businesses are the answer to this problem. These services promote seamless collaboration with features that ensure that documents are consistently updated across all systems. And because these services are accessed through the web, it’s not necessary to purchase expensive licenses for individual users. Instead, businesses can opt for a minimal monthly fee.

Backup and recovery

By leveraging cloud data backup solutions, you can securely store backups of your data and systems off site, ensuring their availability in the event of a disaster that restricts access to your data. Many backup solutions offer automation capabilities, enabling regular backups of systems and data while also providing fast recovery times. Some businesses have witnessed critical systems being back online within just half an hour after re-establishing network connectivity.

If you are considering transitioning your business to the cloud, reach out to us today to explore our array of products and cloud services for more information.