Technology is continually changing and evolving, creating new and innovative ways to conduct business. While many of us may still think the cloud is some futuristic concept, in reality, it’s already here and has been for a while.
What is the Cloud?
At its core, the cloud is a collection of web-based applications. Instead of purchasing a program, installing it on your computer, and running it locally, the cloud allows you to remotely access programs using the internet. Instead of running on your machine, these programs are run on large, high-tech servers. Chances are you are already using the cloud; you just might not know it yet.
An excellent example is Google Docs. Even just a few years ago, if you wanted to create a text document, you would likely open up Microsoft Word. That meant that if you wanted to start on a document using your desktop at work, then review it at home later you would have to either save the document to a USB drive and physically bring it home or email it to yourself, make any changes, and then either resave the edited document to your USB drive or re-email it to yourself.
Google Docs works a lot like Microsoft Word, but the documents you create are stored on the cloud, not your local machine. That means that if you start a document on one computer and then switch to another machine, you don’t have to bring your document with you. Instead, you simply log into your Google account from the new machine, access your Google Drive (where your Google Doc is stored), and continue working. This also means that multiple people can view, comment on, and edit the same document in real-time from different locations.
What Are the Benefits of Using the Cloud?
The cloud has many benefits beyond conveniently sharing and editing documents that update in real-time.
No Special Software
Before the cloud, if you wanted to use a program, you would need to purchase and install specialized software to do so. Now, all you need is an internet connection and an account. This makes it easy to work remotely, either from home or while away on business, and ensure that everyone is working with the most up to date version of each document or item.
It also means that you, and your company, can easily access a variety of more specialized programs without the need to physically purchase and install them.
No Data Backups
Since your data is stored remotely on a server, instead of on your computer, you don’t need to worry about backing up your data. The company that runs the servers handles all of that for you, freeing you, your staff, and your physical resources up for other tasks and lets you rest easy knowing that if an incident occurs at your organization, your data is protected.
Cost Savings
Purchasing and installing computer programs can be both costly and time-consuming. While some cloud-based programs require monthly fees to access, these are still typically less expensive than purchasing the program outright would be.
Cloud-based programs also require less IT support from your company since you don’t need to pay a professional to install software or network computers to a server, and any problems with the software are handled by the company that provides it, not your IT personnel.
The cloud also allows employees to work remotely more effectively, which can cut down on your infrastructure costs by reducing the amount of office space your organization requires. It also means that you no longer require brand new computers almost every year to support the latest software, since even older models can easily access cloud-based programs.
Automatic Updates
One of the most important things you can do from a cybersecurity perspective is to ensure all your software is up to date. With cloud-based software, the company that created and maintains the software handles all updates for you, freeing up employees for other tasks.
Scalability
Using the cloud means that your organization can quickly and easily scale your operations or storage needs up and down depending on your current situation. Any new software or upgrades can be accessed quickly and easily, and may not even require upgrading your account.
Minimize Disruptions
Storing your data in the cloud means that if something happens to your office, such as a fire or a power outage, you can more easily resume normal operations. Data on the cloud remains safe and secure, and can easily be accessed remotely if necessary.
Increased Cybersecurity – If You’re Prepared
A type of malware called ransomware (such as the famous Wannacry and Petya ransomware attacks) targets companies by encrypting their data and holding it hostage until the ransom is paid. Unfortunately, too many organizations are forced to cave because they don’t have proper backups of their data, and they can’t continue with normal business operations while their data is inaccessible. Storing your data on the cloud drastically reduces the effectiveness of ransomware attacks targeting your specific organization.
However, though the cloud has many benefits, it also brings with it unique cybersecurity considerations that you should discuss with your Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP). Your MSSP can help you identify potential vulnerabilities and address them effectively to safeguard your cloud-held digital assets better.
The cloud has already changed how we work, streamlining a lot of processes, making it easier to adjust our storage and operations quickly to better suit our needs, and making collaboration easier than ever. Though it has brought with it new cybersecurity concerns, these can be safeguarded against, and their potential impact mitigated, with flexible, robust, and tailored cybersecurity solutions.
