What Benefits can you Expect to See After Migrating to the Cloud?

Cloud migration is a top priority for 65% of companies questioned for a recent survey, with more than 80% of IT decision-makers increasing their budgets in 2021 to accommodate it.

A key reason for this is the COVID-19 crisis: the pandemic accelerated cloud adoption for businesses across different sectors, with entire workforces forced to work from home as social distancing regulations rendered offices unsafe. Almost 30% of business leaders have allocated more funds for cloud spending as a result.

But migrating to the cloud can seem like a complex process if the concept is new to you, and you might wonder what benefits you can expect to see down the line.

Let’s look at the top six.

Improved security for better peace of mind

Effective cybersecurity is paramount for any company. One-fifth of Canadian businesses have experienced a cyber incident in one form or another, with smaller enterprises at most risk because hackers know they lack the funding and resources to implement the same extensive cybersecurity measures as bigger brands.

Minimal or totally ineffective defences can leave businesses vulnerable to different threats, from DDoS attacks and phishing scams to ransomware (accounting for more than half of cyber attacks in Canada).

This can be difficult to manage in-house if you lack hands-on experience or an up-to-date awareness of the latest security threats and solutions. But switching to cloud services can bring you improved security and tighter controls to safeguard your business against attacks.

The best cloud providers utilize cutting-edge security technologies and processes to significantly reduce your risk of falling prey to hackers. That means you’re less likely to face expensive downtime that causes severe disruptions to your operations, delays in product/service delivery, and even reputational damage.

A more cost-effective solution

One of the most attractive cloud migration benefits for businesses on tight budgets is scalability. You only pay for what you need when you choose reputable providers offering tailored services, so you can maintain better control of your spending.

And you don’t need to upgrade your hardware and software as you would if you relied on a traditional on-site IT infrastructure. You can also cut your operating costs if you don’t have to run local servers round the clock or pay for new versions of software.

This frees up funds that you can channel back into your business as you see fit.

Scalability to suit your unique business requirements

Your business can add or remove resources to suit your unique operating requirements over time. This enables you to change your cloud services as your company grows and your situation changes.

For example, you might start expanding into other areas and introduce new products or services that demand more resources. A quality cloud computing services provider will make it easy to adjust your setup and implement the right solutions for your evolving needs.

This is simpler and more cost-effective than adding to a traditional on-site IT infrastructure with new hardware. You also don’t need to find extra space in your office for new servers or hard drives. Just speak with your provider to discuss your plans and modify your options instead.

Disaster recovery to help you get back on track

A disaster could leave your business without access to critical files and data.

A fire in your office. A flood that destroys your computers and everything stored on them. Or a thief who steals a company laptop with a flash drive packed with essential files related to your most valuable clients.

Any of these (and other) situations may severely disrupt your operations on a short- and long-term basis.

You may be unable to complete projects on time. Clients might lose trust in your services. And your reputation could take a few hits before you get back on track.

But better disaster recovery is one of the most important cloud migrations benefits every business should consider. Your files and data will be stored securely online, so you can access them from almost any device with an internet connection.

Your office might be out of commission — but your team doesn’t have to be.

Enhanced flexibility and remote capabilities

The COVID-19 crisis saw almost five million more Canadians working from home — and 65% surveyed said they’d prefer to do it on a regular basis once the pandemic ends.

This enforced remote working was a drastic change of routine for millions of people. And for some, the opportunity to get out of the office and spend more time with their family and pets was a welcome one.

So many businesses were able to keep employees working remotely due to the plethora of cloud services. Teams can access almost any type of software they would need to achieve goals from home, such as accounting tools, online word processors, video conferencing platforms, and much more.

Migrating to the cloud empowers your workforce to stay productive in any place, at any time, even after social distancing regulations are lifted. You can help your employees enjoy a better work/life balance and collaborate whether they’re at home or travelling.

Reduce your business’s carbon footprint for more eco-friendly operations

Research by Accenture found that migrating to the cloud can reduce CO2 emissions by almost 60 million tons per year — the equivalent of removing 22 million cars off the road.

This is believed to be caused by increased:

• Power and cooling efficiency
• Hardware efficiency
• Sustainable software engineering
• Less need for employees to commute

Migrating to the cloud could help you build a greener business and gain a competitive edge, with almost 90% of people looking to companies to help them lead more environmentally friendly lives.

If these six cloud migration benefits inspire you to make a change, trust GenX’s cloud computing services to help you get it right.

Our expert team offers SMEs like yours a customized path to onboarding infrastructure and/or applications to the cloud in the simplest, most effective way.

Want to learn more about how we can help? Contact our dedicated team now!