Jake Michael writes for CirrusHQ on the importance of SMEs adopting cloud technology to remain competitive.
Cloud technology has become increasingly popular in the UK in recent years, but still 58% of small and medium-sized businesses in the UK have yet to implement cloud technology, and a third are not utilising it at all.
This reluctance to embrace the cloud stems from various concerns, including security, time intensity and budget constraints. A notable knowledge gap also exists among smaller enterprises on how the cloud works. It is crucial to address these concerns and shed light on the dangers businesses face by not leveraging its capabilities.
Reduced agility
Operating outside of the cloud poses challenges in resource scaling, which risks a business losing out on opportunities to gain new customers and the ability to recover from losses. In contrast, the cloud allows businesses to add resources seamlessly. This dynamic scaling allows organisations to increase or decrease their resources based on demand, which means they can be more flexible in adapting to market changes and allow them to efficiently seize opportunities. The cloud can scale these resources without disrupting ongoing operations, allowing businesses to remain agile, responding promptly and seamlessly to evolving market dynamics.
Less flexible workforce
Businesses were once tethered to specific locations and equipment, hindering them from being mobile and expanding their outreach. But the cloud has liberated them from working in one physical location and empowering employees to work from anywhere. This helps to foster a dynamic and responsive workforce capable of engaging with customers and exploring new opportunities on the go.
Data is more vulnerable
One common reason why SMEs are hesitant to adopt cloud services is concerns about being more vulnerable to hacks. But the cloud can enhance security measures compared to on-site solutions and safely store data through encryption, regular security updates and proactive monitoring. SMEs are often challenged in implementing such security independently and therefore could benefit from adopting the cloud. This will allow them to access skilled security professionals, offering robust defence mechanisms against cyber threats.
Dealing with system disruptions
On-site IT systems are susceptible to interruptions due to power outages, hardware/software issues and system upgrades, which can greatly slow down work operations and risk businesses losing revenue and customers. The cloud can help to mitigate these issues by allowing users to access data from any location, even during power outages, which ensures an uninterrupted and efficient network service. The cloud promotes a seamless service that invests in vigorous backups of data to minimise the interim during system upgrades that are more likely to occur in traditional IT setups.
Reduced dependence
When an IT infrastructure is limited to being on-site, a business is dependent on employees or technicians who may not be available if there is a sudden problem with the system. Cloud adoption helps to create a smooth operational experience for SMEs by offering support from cloud service providers to contribute to a more resilient and well-supported IT infrastructure. These professionals can help to address challenges, providing a cost-effective alternative to outsourcing IT support independently, and countering the potential limitations of in-house IT support availability during crises and the high costs associated with outsourcing.
Cloud gains
SMEs stand to gain the most with the cloud as it provides increased storage space, remote data access and cost reduction, eliminating reliance on hardcopies, manual backups or local infrastructure, thus safeguarding against data loss events.