ISME Magazine -Issue 39 webview (1)

What makes Cloud
Computing Imperative
to SMEs?
Companies that resort to cloud computing can do business on the go
because it removes the barrier of physical distance. Flexibility of work in
turn allows an SME to grow.
Cloud Computing is a
trend that has taken
the business industry
by storm ever since its
inception. Armed with benefits
like ‘skyrocketing productivity of a
company’ and ‘helping save time
and money’ cloud computing is a
concept that is difficult for SMEs all
over the world to resist.
So, what is Cloud
Computing?
We use cloud computing every
day in our life. For example, apps
like Uber, Google, Zomato all are
examples of cloud computing.
Although it has been literally
penetrating all aspects of our life,
using cloud computing services in
the corporate is something relatively
new in the business industry. Let us
take a closer look at it.
To put it in layman’s words cloud
computing is a practice of storing,
managing and processing data on
a network of remote servers which is
hosted on the internet. This makes
it possible to access and share
data virtually without the usage of
physical servers and the additional
hardware. Needless to say
having everything related
to computing sorted out at
one single place companies
get ample free time to focus
on other growth promoting
aspects of the company.
Growth of a company is an
uncompromisable factor for
any company especially the
SMEs. A study suggests
that SMEs are increasingly
resorting to cloud computing.
With the growing popularity
of cloud computing there are
many service providers now
in the market that offer the
delivery of computing services
transforming computing
into a paid utility service. A
paid utility service means
computing convenience at the
end of one’s cash card and
what can be more alluring for
an SME than a convenience to
growth.
There are three kinds of cloud
computing.:
1. Public Clouds
Public Clouds offer off-site
infrastructure to a company
over the internet.
2. Private Clouds
Private clouds as the name
suggests offers infrastructure on
a private network. This is efficient
as well as secure unlike its public
counterpart, but the downfall
about a private cloud is that it is
expensive. To avail of its services
the hosting company has to buy all
the software and the support.
3. Hybrid Clouds
Hybrid cloud offers a mix of both
public and private computing
from different providers. It is
possible for the users of a hybrid
cloud to differentiate each aspect
of a business and customise
accordingly. This is believed to be
the most efficient of all the three.
For those who are still wondering
how cloud computing helps SMEs,
let’s have a closer look at the
benefits.
Minimises Expenses
What can be better for a budding
SME than cost saving? Well, cloud
computing makes that possible.
It helps a company cut significant
money on infrastructure and IT
maintenance costs. It takes away
all the hassles related to maintaining
an IT infrastructure in-house because
everything can be stored on the
cloud. Moreover, the pay-per-use
concept of cloud computing helps
a company to cut down extra costs
and pay for only what has been
used.
This in turn allows budding
companies to focus and spend
money on ‘company growth boosting
options’ like marketing or manpower.
Seems like an irresistible option
isn’t it?
Business on the GO
Companies that resort to cloud
computing can do business on the
go because it removes the barrier of
physical distance. Flexibility of work
in turn allows an SME to grow. Citing
a small example, suppose an SME
has got accounts and clients but no
proper office space yet. There is no
need to panic or lose business over
this issue. One can easily manage
with an internet connection and
a mobile phone. Something like
this would not have been possible
without cloud computing.
Cloud computing has made it
possible to conduct business
across geographical locations and
cultures through telecommuting
while opening up avenues of new
market. Studies also show
that telecommuting makes for
happier and more efficient staff.
Flexibility works to improve
retention rates and opens up
more talent pool. All these
factors add up to the success of
an SME.
Fluid Collaboration
Companies with cloud
computing understands
collaboration in quite a different
way. Here’s how?
Citing an example - Cloud
computing open the workforce
to an all new level altogether.
This makes it possible for
brainstorming sessions to
cross the narrow threshold of
boardrooms. Any employee
who has access to the system
can with the benefit of cloud
computing services add
expertise to a file without ever
having version control issues.
A little convenience like this
goes a long way in increasing
the efficiency of an SME.
Easy Integration
Cloud computing makes
integration of the different
elements of a company easy.
A company that has cloud
computing services need not
deal with different aspects like
payroll, invoice, HR accounting
etc, separately. One can easily
integrate all of these in one big
virtual room by connecting it all
up. This helps a company save a
lot of extra expense.
Security
Data loss and company data
theft can incur huge losses for
a company. Cloud computing
makes company data secure.
Break-ins, cyber-attacks and
physical damage to premises
name anything, cloud computing
has data secured from all these
threats. Moreover, a back-up of
all data is always stored on cloud.
So the fear of losing something
due to a sudden power cut or
an employee carelessness is
mitigated by cloud computing.
Even time sensitive data like
financial data management
that needs frequent back-up is
automatically secured and backed
up by cloud computing.
An aversion from data loss
is a stepping stone to business
progress. Cloud computing makes
this possible.
No Carbon Footprint
Cloud Computing makes
it possible to do business in a
nature friendly way. Companies
with cloud computing use energy
only that is needed. Secondly,
the usage of paper and other
hardware is minimal. This in turn
helps to reduce the negative
environmental effects of hardware
manufacturing and disposal.
Cloud computing has
revolutionised the way we do
business. Give your SME the
benefits of cloud computing and
see it soar the height of success.
50 Intelligent SME December 2017 Technology
51