By Marco Costa, CEO at Exclaimer, shortlisted for the Best Software as a Service (outside USA) category at The Cloud Awards 2022-2023

I’m sure you already back up your data. But with the cloud, all data is backed up automatically. Manual backup methods are expensive, time-consuming, and cumbersome. Cloud technology lets you completely streamline this process, meaning you save money, and never have to worry about backups again.

The most obvious benefit of moving to the cloud is that you can scale up and down quickly, meaning you get more done with the same resources. It’s just a simple matter of changing your plan. This is especially useful if your business has seasonal fluctuations in workload or is growing rapidly as it expands into new markets.

One of the biggest benefits of moving to the cloud is that you only pay for what you use. This means that if your business grows, or slows down, you don’t need to worry about paying for unused capacity and resources. You can quickly scale up or down as needed. And when it comes time to increase storage and usage, there are no big capital expenditures (CapEx). Instead, these costs are paid through an operating expense model (OpEx) over time in much smaller increments than those associated with CapEx spending.

With this type of flexibility comes predictability. It’s easier to forecast costs because there won’t be surprises down the line when it comes to budgeting.

Cloud infrastructure makes it easier for team members to collaborate on projects. Anyone with access rights to a document can edit, view, and comment in real-time. And all without needing to worry about syncing files between devices or emailing attachments back and forth all day long.

Team members can also work on the same project at the same time. Collaboration isn’t just about sharing documents; it’s also about working together toward common goals while staying up-to-date with each other’s progress along the way. When everyone can interact through cloud platforms, there are no limits when it comes to sharing ideas, feedback, or suggestions among coworkers. So, no more missed deadlines!

The collaborative nature of cloud computing makes it easier for teams within an organization, or even across organizations, to work together toward the same objective.

The cloud makes it easy for employees to work remotely. It allows your data to be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. This means that employees who are stuck in traffic or have a doctor’s appointment can work from home instead of having to worry about coming into the office.

With this comes opportunities to offer staff additional benefits like a ‘work from anywhere’ program, and flexible working hours that can fit around child or other family caring responsibilities.

And the knock-on effect of all of this? You gain the ability to attract a bigger and more diverse workforce.

When working with cloud products, maintaining regulatory compliance becomes so much easier. It’s easier to meet standards when you don’t have to worry about maintaining them yourself. Instead of having to invest in expensive hardware and software upgrades every year or two, you just need to pay for access to a cloud service that meets those requirements. And then let the provider do the hard work for you.

Secondly, because cloud providers comply with industry best practices and keep up with new regulations as they arise, they can provide their customers with access to services that meet any future requirements without any additional investment on their part.

 

Take email signatures for example. Many regions have specific legal compliance requirements that affect the content within email disclaimers. But with a cloud solution like Exclaimer, you don’t need to worry about business emails being legally non-compliant. Your team can update once within the software and changes will be rolled out automatically across every signature in the organization.

There’s a common misconception that on-premises systems are more secure than cloud products. Companies often feel more secure when they’re in full control of their data. Although it can be hard to ignore the headlines around high profile ransomware attacks or security breaches, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

With cloud infrastructure, security is better because you’re not in control of your own systems. Cloud providers must make sure that their security is top notch. They have huge budgets and top teams to handle security updates and patches, so they need to stay on top of the latest viruses and malware attacks. Because if they don’t, their customers will switch providers.

In the cloud you always have access to the latest versions of any product you use and get the advantage of the richest functionality. Your software never goes out of date and you never need to go through those terrifying major version upgrades so common in on premises software. You and your team are up to date automatically and synced across your infrastructure and integrations network. It’s a huge win for your team and a time-saving bonus for your business.

Showcase Your Cloud Innovation: Enter The Cloud Awards 2023-24

Are you leveraging the power of the cloud to transform your business? Don’t miss the opportunity to showcase your success! Enter this year’s prestigious Cloud Awards and gain recognition for your innovative cloud-first approach.

Early entries end on September 1!