Can you hear that? That’s your server informing you the time has come to move on (and up) to the cloud. It may have given you a solid run for years but now, applications are running slowly and data isn’t being processed at the same speeds it once produced. So, what’s the next move to guarantee your Cincinnati-area business continues to grow and digitally transform? Aside from investing in a newer, faster, on-premise server, the benefits of cloud migration can significantly help you reduce costs, improve scalability and reduce the risk of cybersecurity threats.
We understand the concern many business leaders and IT directors face when making the decision to continue processing data on-premises or migrating to the cloud. Change can sometimes be difficult to embrace. That’s why we happen to have a list of seven of the biggest reasons why migrating to the cloud may be the best choice to accommodate the needs of your business.
Top 7 Benefits of Cloud Migration
1. Centralized Infrastructure
If you’ve been using multiple on-site servers, you’ve probably found that things can get complicated pretty quickly. Multiple servers mean dealing with multiple issues, sometimes simultaneously. An increase in complexity means reducing efficiency. The same is true when it comes to servers. Cloud migration means that you’ll be upgrading to a centralized infrastructure that will synthesize all of your systems. You’ll have access to a virtual data center that allows your multiple servers to be one, while still having access to all the computing resources you’ll need.
2. Redundancy and High Availability
If you’ve ever had a server go down, you understand exactly how frustrating the experience can be. Want to avoid downtime? Cloud services are designed so that there is never a point of failure. It’s based on the principle of redundancy. Because the cloud is made up of a network of servers, if one server goes down, there are other servers to provide resources and pick up the slack. Simply put, it’s like having a whole network of servers as backups.
3. Data Security
One of the greatest benefits of cloud migration is the ability to build a defensible security posture to protect against bad actors and data breaches. Moving to the cloud means that you’ll be able to rest assured knowing your systems are secure. Most managed cloud service providers are equipped with multiple firewalls, scanning VLANs and more. Strengthen your cybersecurity posture and use the cloud to mitigate threats and protect your business from existential risks.
4. Cost Reduction
The cost savings of utilizing software as a service (SaaS) applications is often touted as a major benefit over on-premise deployments. Those cost savings come from multiple factors, including:
- Lower acquisition costs.
- Lower hardware costs.
- Minimal IT resources required to run.
- Lower management costs.
An Office 365 cloud trend report indicates an average of 20 percent overall cost savings by IT departments after ditching on-prem servers.
5. Cohesion and Collaboration
When teams can easily access, edit and share documents in real time, collaboration soars. The cloud facilitates this type of cooperation by making documents available from anywhere at anytime and delivering full visibility into the collaborative process. A Forbes Insights research study lists some of the benefits of cloud migration and collaboration as:
- Flexible work environments.
- Enhanced communication with customers, suppliers and partners.
- Enablement of new products and services.
- Business scalability support.
- Workforce mobility.
- Reduced operating costs.
While collaboration can certainly take place outside of the cloud, nothing can compete with the cloud’s ability to facilitate collaboration across functional boundaries, time zones and between organizations.
6. No Upgrade Fees
When investing in IT systems, organizations sometimes neglect to consider their long-term needs. They’ll purchase the resources they need for a specific moment in time, but after a year, they find they need to upgrade their systems. Unfortunately, this can end up being an expensive mistake. The constant capital spending on upgrades doesn’t happen when you invest in the cloud. An independent IT consulting firm can help you find the right managed cloud services provider to meet your needs and help you get on track with keeping your infrastructure updated in accordance with the latest standards.
7. Redundancy and High Availability
Want to avoid downtime? If you’ve ever had a server go down, you understand exactly how frustrating the experience can be. Cloud services are designed so that there is never a point of failure. It’s based on the principle of redundancy. Because the cloud is made up of a network of servers, if one server goes down, there are other servers to provide resources and pick up the slack. Simply put, it’s like having a whole network of servers as backups.
8. The Solution Is In the Cloud
Legacy networks can’t keep up with today’s intensive workloads and remote workforce. Due to its scalable nature, cloud solutions provide the flexibility required to optimize your workloads through public, private, hybrid and multi-cloud options. If you are considering moving from your on-premise server to a cloud-based solution, ATC works with the leading cloud service providers to get your applications up and running faster. Call us for improved data manageability and less maintenance.
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