Ready to start your cloud journey?

The cloud is a powerful technology for business growth, but many businesses wonder when to start utilizing it. Timing, circumstance, and priorities play a large role in whether your business is cloud ready.  

Chances are you’ve heard a lot about the cloud, but is it something to bring up in the next business meeting? “The cloud” seems to be the term heard around the world, from tech blogs to billboards, and its widespread adoption is no secret. Despite its popularity, however, two simple questions remain for many:

What exactly is the cloud?
...And Does it apply to my business?

What is "the cloud"? 

Examples of Cloud Services and Cloud Solution Providers

Cloud computing, often referred to as “the cloud,” is the availability of computing resources, often storage and computing power, on-demand through the internet. Think if it as renting technology systems — rent out less to save a dwindling budget and more to match your business growth.

Migrating to the cloud has become a natural step for many businesses, which isn’t surprising considering its numerous benefits. Businesses no longer must invest in, maintain, and manually secure physical technology hardware. Additionally, business data, software, and systems can be accessed from anywhere a network connection is present. 

Public cloud services, like Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS), deliver cloud computing over public internet connections and can be tailored to fit business needs. Private cloud services are usually datacenter-based cloud computing over private internet connections, like Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections and customized to meet specific requirements and security. Both public and private cloud services can be configured to support a hybrid cloud approach, a mix in-office or on-premise infrastructure and cloud services. 

How Do Cloud Services apply to my business? 

Benefits of Cloud Computing and Reasons for Business to Move to Cloud Services

No matter your business’s size or industry, the cloud could be a worthy next step to transform and grow your organization. In fact, the flexibility of the cloud allows you to adopt tailored solutions—through public cloud services, private hosted services, or a hybrid approach—that work specifically for your budget and long-term goals. 

For most small business owners, the idea of cloud computing is an appealing one. After all, this technology makes it easier to share, access and edit both documents and information while working collaboratively. However, there is a downside that quite a few businesses have come face to face with — the cost. In fact, there are some cloud computing services that charge between $200 and $300 per employee, per month. Even the so-called “reasonable” companies still charge about $150 per user, each month. As a result, this high cost has prohibited many businesses from adopting the technology.

Whichever services you choose, a successful cloud journey depends on timing, circumstance, and priorities. To help assess if you are ready to move to the cloud, please refer to the checklist below: 

Our business is ready for a new investment

If your current computer systems are reaching their retirement, the cloud could be the perfect replacement. However, if your business has recently invested in new IT systems, such as servers and workstations, you may want to make good use of those first. Adopting a Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) for cloud desktops can extend the life of both new and existing workstations and devices.

Our employees have reliable internet access

Dependable internet service is the first step to establishing cloud adoption. An experienced Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) can provide the appropriate cloud consulting to ensure accessibility.

Our team needs the ability to work remotely

Enable your employees to work from anywhere, anytime and allow your organization to keep moving. Making sure your employees don't put sensitive data at risk of ransomware is key. Adopting Employee Security Awareness Training and Cloud Detection and Response (CDR) cybersecurity solutions keep data safe and secure.

Our business is growing or expected to grow quickly

We don’t need to tell you that business growth is a wonderful thing but ensuring your technology can sustain larger operations can be challenging. The cloud lets you easily scale technology to your business needs, without making up-front investments that may be too large or too small.  

Our IT department is stretched thin

Cloud services help take many tedious and time-consuming burdens off the IT department—from setting up and maintaining new hardware to installing and updating software. These processes are simplified with the cloud and may no longer be necessary.

Our IT department could be doing more innovative work

With more time and focus on their hands, the IT department can now do exploratory work which takes your business further. Additionally, cloud solutions allow you to experiment with and quickly scale new digital transformation strategies.

Our business needs to be able to control costs

The cloud is a dear friend to a tight budget. Your business can trade in hefty upfront investments for predictable (and flexible) monthly costs. 

Business continuity is a priority

Your business no longer must worry about system failures, power outages, and viruses halting your operations and losing your data. With the cloud, internal backup systems and copies of applications are stocked and ready to go.

Our business wants improved cybersecurity

94% of businesses see security improvements after adopting cloud solutions. With monitoring, threat detection, and reporting services, public and private cloud services can help you meet necessary compliance regulations such as HIPAA and PCI.

We are looking to maximize operational efficiency

Deploying and optimizing proven cloud solutions transforms your business.

Why Adopting the Cloud is Such a Smart Move?

Small businesses that have adopted cloud computing see an increase in revenue and profits. In fact, many are seeing 25% increase in revenue growth. This brings the ROI of the cloud into better focus for businesses.

There are others who are still skeptical, wondering how in the world this much of an increase is possible. After all, you are paying for the service. When cloud services are implemented correctly, a business can expect to see some of the following benefits (if not all of them):

• Lower IT costs
• Increased productivity
• Lower costs for document storage and maintenance

For Texas businesses that are ready to make the change and join the millions of small businesses across the U.S. that already use the cloud, there is an affordable option. Centre Technologies is a Cloud Solution Provider in Texas focused on managed cloud services that includes Microsoft 365, Microsoft Azure, and Azure Virtual Desktops with best of breed cloud backups and cloud security. 

With cloud services from Centre Technologies, Texas business owners can pay much less on a monthly basis for all the cloud services offered by the higher priced cloud providers. The need to purchase the hardware has also been eliminated, and with it, all the issues that can arise with this such as internet downtime, ransomware, viruses, software and hardware failure. With this cloud service provider, businesses have access to the top remote access technologies, allowing your employees to be more productive and reduce costs — which, ultimately, increases the bottom line.

If a majority of the above applies to you or your business, contact Centre Technologies for a Cloud Readiness Assessment, a tailored and comprehensive guide for successfully kickstarting your cloud journey.  

Learn how Centre Technologies can help your organization reduce operational costs and and minimize business disruption.