Cloud computing has been a revolutionary development for businesses. It has enabled them to gather, store, and access an incredible variety of data and share it among team members and clients. The idea of having one centralized location for data that can be accessed anywhere from any device is a major attraction of cloud data services.
There’s no questioning why more businesses are moving to cloud services, but it’s become important to look at how it’s being used. Take for example how some skeptics are claiming that cloud services are a tremendous waste of money for the average business. This mindset stems from a report that companies lose $62 billion a year on cloud services they don’t’ really need.
Frankly, it isn’t that these businesses don’t need a cloud network, but rather they haven’t learned how to optimize what they have so they go too big rather than risk being limited in their capabilities. In other words, they’re losing money because of the approach, not the technology itself.
If this sounds a little too familiar, or you’ve been thinking about a cloud network for your small business, here’s what you need to know about optimizing it for maximum performance with minimal expense.
It Starts with Research
The single most effective way of optimizing performance and space is by doing the research to connect with a cloud server hosting provider that’s willing to collaborate with you to find cost effective solutions. This means connecting with an expert in managed IT services that understands the unique needs of your business and is able to provide efficient solutions for meeting them.
This process involves looking at how you see cloud computing fitting into your daily business operations, along with the amount of data you handle, the security level of the data and how it is used. This will help uncover the best cloud server solutions for your business.
Become Vigilant Regarding Redundancy
For maximum optimization of your cloud backup and storage, it’s crucial that someone is regularly checking for repetition of files and information. This might be easier to manage if your team is relatively small or access is limited, however the more people that are accessing the cloud, the greater the risk of redundancy becomes.
Keeping this in check isn’t just important from a budgeting standpoint. It’s also important from a data recovery or business continuity standpoint. Doing a regular sweep is key to keeping your cloud clean and optimized.
Structure
Along with keeping your cloud storage clean comes the need to keep it well structured. Anyone with access to the cloud should be able to find what they’re looking for easily, which is important not only for maintenance but productivity as well.
Have a clearly defined structure to your cloud and be particular about what’s stored within it. Many businesses make the mistake of throwing everything into their cloud server when it simply isn’t necessary. Additionally, assigning one person on your team to be in charge of cloud management will help ensure that access is limited only to those that need it and that it’s continually optimized for your business needs.
If you’ve been shying away from cloud backup and services because you’re concerned about the expense, it’s time to speak with a professional that can help you learn how to develop a cost effective approach to cloud computing. Contact Proactive IT today and let one of our cloud and IT services specialist answer your questions and connect you with the business solutions you need.