Across the globe, businesses generate a large amount of data every day. Whether it’s new customer information or data for improving efficiency, the right data must be gathered and channeled into usable streams of information.

However, the cost of storing all this data in a data center, soon starts to add up. Left unchecked, it can start to affect company profits. To minimize the cost of managing data, more companies are turning to ‘the cloud’.

Cloud storage, the storage of data off-site, has gone from being an IT buzzword to becoming a staple of modern business. Whether it’s via private, public or hybrid cloud implementation, more businesses are turning to the cloud to store their data.

According to Forbes, by the end of 2016, up to 80% of small businesses in America, will host some of their business in the cloud. With more firms conducting a large portion of their activities online, cloud storage allows them reap efficiency and cost-saving benefits. Other benefits include:

• Allowing employees access to company files from anywhere and on any device; this results in easier collaboration and helps streamline workflow.
• Using the cloud for data backup, helps avoid loss of data and critical files, in the event of a computer crash.
• With maintenance outsourced in this manner, businesses can concentrate on growing their business rather than worrying about effectively managing a data center.

With multiple advantages to be gained from using the cloud, it’s surprising that recent data shows that full adoption is still slow. Many companies report that they are still wary about going “full steam ahead” with cloud storage. In one study from the Cloud Security Alliance, 40% of businesses say they are cautiously adopting cloud technology, while 11% aren’t placing a priority on using it at all.

Obstacles to Cloud Computing Adoption

This reluctance to adopt the technology can be linked to a number of factors. A large number of businesses, around 73%, report that the security of their data in the cloud is a top concern. Others worry about the perceived “loss” of control of their IT services. More barriers to the adoption of cloud storage include:

• A lack of knowledge on the part of IT and business managers.
• Concerns about a lack of total control leading to a break in business continuity.
• The fear that the cloud service provider can suffer hardware failure or a DDoS attack, leading to loss of data.
• The ‘need’ of some businesses to always retain total access of their information.

Are these some of the scenarios that your IT team is worried about? Some of these may have been genuine concerns in the past, but not any more. In the past decade, the cloud service industry has matured and worked out many of the kinks in the system.

Choosing a Cloud Service Provider

For businesses that want to try cloud storage, the amount of ‘noise’ in the industry doesn’t help them make a choice. It seems like everywhere they turn, another firm is offering even “more storage”, for even less money.

But be wary of using cost alone as a yardstick for choosing a service provider; remember that the firm you retain will have access to your company’s sensitive information and resources. Some of the questions you should ask a cloud service provider include:

• Will they allow you access to your data and be able to download it at anytime?
• Will they give you any reliability and availability guarantees?
• What happens to your data, if the provider goes out of business?

Their responses to these questions and not the low price offered, is what should be considered before retaining their services.

More businesses need to recognize that cloud based storage can be a very useful tool; one that is vital to business growth. Choosing a cloud storage solution starts with figuring out the best solution for your needs. This is why, at DevSoft Solutions, we walk you through all you need to know to make the best choice for your business.

If you’d like to learn more about how you can leverage cloud computing to lower your business costs, increase productivity and keep your data safe, contact us HERE now.