Your Cloud Questions Answered

In this blog, we’re here to answer your cloud questions. Working in this way is becoming increasingly popular; so, what does it mean for your business?

What does it mean to work on the Cloud?

There are multiple third party service providers who will allow you to use their software. For a small monthly subscription fee, you’ll have access to regularly updated programmes and tools, with a range of storage options. Some of the most popular SaaS providers (Software as a Service) are, unsurprisingly, Microsoft and Google.

Is it expensive?

In short, no. If you’re a small business, paying for cloud based services can cost from as little as £3.30 per user/per month. Whether you need more storage or want to send emails from your own domain, you will be able to find something that suits your requirements.

Will moving data to the cloud be difficult?

We’re aware that the idea of transferring data that’s been stored on hardware for years seems a little daunting. However, it’s usually relatively straightforward. You will be able to transport data from a range of email platforms into your chosen cloud software. Often in a few simple steps, you can access your emails, contacts and calendar events.

Due to the range of platforms that a new user could be moving from, both Google and Microsoft have specific help available online.

What will I gain from this?

Working on the cloud can resolve many issues, such as forgetting your laptop or sending the wrong document to your colleague.

You are able to log in and work online from any device, allowing you to work flexibly from any location. Microsoft and Google also provide a range of apps that let you utilise programmes on your phone or tablet. That can be as simple as checking your emails, viewing a doc or updating your order spreadsheet while on the move.

You can also work offline. If you know you’re going to have limited internet access but need to get something done, simply download the relevant files to keep working on them. Ensure you save any offline changes correctly to prevent losing data.

In terms of team management on the cloud, administrator portals will allow you add and remove users. You can also grant them access to different files and folders, or move data from their account if they leave.

How will my team benefit?

It’s all well and good having increased flexibility but when you’re paying per user, you want to be sure that the whole team are benefiting enough to justify this extra spend. Ultimately, the benefits strongly outweigh the costs if flexibility, collaboration and productivity are important to you.

A few of the biggest differences between cloud working and working with on-premise devices include the ability for more than one user to access and edit a document at once, instant message functionality between other users and easily increased levels of storage when your team grows.

There is also the option to activate mobile device management. If you have team members using company devices, you will have better control over what they have access to, and more importantly, what happens to the device if they leave.

If we were to keep telling you about all the benefits of cloud, there’s a good chance we’d be here all day. It’s worth considering, especially for times where you’re likely to be out of the office for a few days. If you want to find out more, you can check out our G Suite and Office 365 pages, or get in touch with the team.