7 Benefits of Cloud Storage and How They Can Impact Your Business Growth

Companies are turning to secure cloud storage, a method of computer data storage in which a hosting company or application provider stores digital data in off-site servers, in record numbers. Every company has their own unique reasons for making the switch, but we’re willing to bet they don’t know all the advantages of cloud storage.

We’ve put together a list of seven of these benefits to show companies, both those who use cloud storage and those who are still on the fence, that business growth is often directly related to the benefits of cloud storage.

1. Secure Backup Storage

Do you follow the 3-2-1 backup rule? This rule encourages businesses to create three copies of their data, with the first two kept on two different storage types and the third kept offsite. The idea is that even if a disaster like a fire wipes out the two onsite copies, there’s still a third copy to fall back on.

Before cloud storage, these third copies were often stored on removable hard drives and kept in garages or storage lockers. While better than not having an offsite copy at all, this was hardly a foolproof method, leaving data open to theft or damage.

With cloud storage, you can have a third copy of your data kept offsite and safe. It only takes a few clicks to drop a copy of your files into your cloud storage system and you’re good to go. No matter what happens to your computer, server, or office building, you’ll always have a safe and secure copy of your data.

2. Increased Security

Achieving secure file sharing for business is critical. Just take a look at the following statistics.

• 21% of company files are not protected.
• 41% of companies have over 1,000 unprotected sensitive files, including health records and credit card numbers.
• 43% of cyberattacks target small business.
• Ransomware attacks have been growing by more than 350% each year.

In other words, companies have files that are vulnerable. They’re being targeted. And the frequency of attacks is increasing.

But cloud data storage can get you closer to becoming immune to cyberattacks. The most secure file sharing platforms will provide additional layers of confidence. As long as you take care of your credentials, you can rest assured that only you and approved team members and clients can access stored files in the cloud.

3. Remote Work

One of the more unique benefits of cloud storage is that employees can work remotely. When all your work files are stored in the cloud, they can be accessed from anywhere that has an internet connection. This includes through a smartphone in the tropics, on an airplane in the middle of the night, and from a living room couch on a Tuesday afternoon.

Does remote work have a negative effect on productivity? A Stanford study found that telecommuters actually showed a productivity boost when compared to traditional employees within the same company. They were also less distracted and less likely to take sick time.

Allowing for remote work can increase a company’s attractiveness to new applicants, reduce turnover, and boost morale, all of which are some of the many benefits of cloud storage.

4. Increased Productivity

Cloud storage frees up tons of space in office computers, enabling them to work much faster. Even by saving a minute a day in lag time, a company with 500 employees can suddenly find themselves with an additional 2,000+ hours of work time a year by increasing computer speeds through cloud storage.

But that could be just the tip of the iceberg. A survey found that workers employed at companies with more than 10,000 employees spent an average of an astonishing 38 minutes searching for just one document, either by asking coworkers, using a company directory, or sending a companywide e-mail.

With cloud storage, a simple search can locate a document in seconds, leading to an avalanche of suddenly available free time within a company.

5. Cost Savings

The costs of managing servers in-house can quickly add up. There are three costs to consider. First, there is the direct cost of the server itself and any additional hardware. Direct costs also include electricity and heating and cooling needed to keep the equipment functioning properly. There are also indirect costs to consider like paying IT staff members and technicians. A final cost to keep in mind is lost productivity if a server goes down.

It’s difficult to say what the average cost of operating a server is, as there are several variables to consider. But when you store your data in the cloud, you’ll always have an exact number for your accounting department to log. The simplicity of paying one fee to store data is a liberating experience, especially when it’s lower than the combined costs of storing data in house.

6. Accessibility

We’ve already mentioned that data stored in the cloud can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. While this is great for remote workers and virtual meetings, there is another important related benefit to consider, especially if you’re still not sure if the advantages of cloud storage are enough for you to make the switch.

If your company moves or opens a secondary location, either because of growth or an attempt to seek out a better location, moving both physical and virtual data can be a time consuming and difficult endeavor.

But having data stored in the cloud means you can hire movers for the furniture, grab your favorite coffee mug, and be up and running in your new location as soon as your internet service is active.

7. Efficiency

Finally, cloud storage has a positive effect on efficiency. While we’ve already touched on this benefit, it’s important to understand this from a client’s perspective.

When you’re able to quickly access important documents, keep a client’s private data safe and secure, speed up production rates, and provide a seamless experience to your clients, you’ll see that this cloud storage benefit is probably the most important.

The benefits of cloud storage are vast. But one effect they all have in common is that they can help you grow your business. Cloud storage could be the catalyst to success your business needs. If you want to learn more about how secure cloud storage can help your business, start a free 14-day trial today at Onehub.com.