Work better, up in the cloud
Cloud computing is the future – but it’s also the present. Geof Robinson explains how the technology helps.
Cloud computing is not just the future – it has already well and truly become the business standard. And those who have yet to adopt the technology are facing the consequences now more than ever.
Organisations that have taken advantage of the technology are seeing an incredible payoff during the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, maintaining business continuity and resilience while their workforce seamlessly works from home. The less fortunate lack the infrastructure and capabilities to keep their business running effectively.
Cloud computing enables ondemand delivery of computer services over the internet, typically managed by a thirdparty provider.
This could be services from basic storage, networking, processing power or office applications. This is a shift from having onsite infrastructure which is managed and maintained by the business.
Businesses yet to make the jump likely have understandable worries. How much will it cost? Will my data be safe? Why change if my current system is working fine? Cloud services have come a long way, and, with the right approach, are secure and cost effective.
Secure and safe data
From Amazon to Google to Microsoft, providers have invested considerably into the security and reliability of their systems. Many cloud providers offer advanced security features such as multi-factor authentication, encryption, and access control. A security flaw or hack on their system would be devastating to these brands, meaning that you can rely on their constant vigilance.
If you’re not comfortable with storing your data offshore, or legally cannot do it, providers offer cloud storage hosted locally. Microsoft is already developing its own New Zealand data centres to satisfy this requirement.
Cloud storage also provides the ability to access your data anywhere. If your on-premise local storage becomes inaccessible, then so does your data. And it doesn’t matter how secure your data is if you’re unable to use it.
Work anywhere
It couldn’t be more obvious than now, but there is a strong business case for giving your workforce the capability to work from anywhere. And it goes beyond weathering the pandemic. Global trends have been moving towards organisations offering more flexible working arrangements. Additionally, having a cloud-based system can enable you to seamlessly bring external contributors into your work environment – regardless of whether they are in New Zealand or overseas.
Scalability
Using cloud services gives your business the full capability to scale your infrastructure to the needs of the moment. This solution is quicker and normally more cost effective than the upfront purchasing of onsite technology that needs to be maintained, managed, and upgraded. Cloud providers have the benefit of economies of scale and can offer a range of services catered to your requirements.
Additionally, your business can seize opportunities quickly knowing it can upscale its technology capabilities almost instantly. Alternatively, you can save costs by decreasing capabilities you no longer require.
One report I’ve read suggests that 94 per cent of enterprises are taking advantage of the cloud already, so if you haven’t, it’s time to join. As Covid-19 has shown, it is critical for maintaining business continuity.
When approaching implementing cloud services in your business, I recommend researching what type of service is the best fit for your business.
This article has mostly discussed the public cloud – services and infrastructure shared by all of a provider’s customers. But there are also private cloud services, which is essentially infrastructure dedicated to your organisation, and are useful when you have bespoke workloads or special security requirements. Some businesses incorporate a mix of public and private called hybrid cloud, which can give you benefits from each infrastructure class.
Once you have understood which cloud models to adopt, your next step is to select the services you want to migrate to the cloud. What we typically see prioritised is email, file storage, office applications, business collaboration, accounting, and CRM/ERP. What is often missed is the most important – identity management and security.
For applications to best take advantage of cloud services, I would recommend:
Office 365: This contains the top three items on the list above, and with the proper expertise also identity management and security.
Microsoft Teams: Part of the Office 365 suite, this offers flexible and intuitive collaboration tools that can boost your team’s communication and productivity. It can also be extended to become your business telephone system. LastPass: Security is paramount, and all passwords need to be random and unique. LastPass will keep a vault of these.