In 2015, IBM estimated that 2.5 quintillion new bytes of data were generated each day. This data proliferation shows no sign of slowing down as more businesses undergo digital transformation to better respond to the rapidly changing industry demands. Many companies are even appointing a Chief Data Officer to exclusively control, manage, and govern this surge in data volume. As devices and applications are put into the hands of more users, organisations need a high-performance, secure, and cost-effective platform to properly manage their data and content. The software must enable easy and remote access, as well as collaboration both between customers and suppliers, and other seemingly disparate groups. This is where the cloud comes in as an ideal solution.
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Here are six reasons why companies are starting to make the switch from on-premises data storage to the cloud:
Instant global presence
With the cloud, companies are no longer tethered to a single physical location to store data. Global organisations can choose to store data in datacenters located around the world, so data is accessible when and where it’s needed. By ensuring that users are accessing data stored nearby, companies can reduce latency and make quick decisions when milliseconds matter. The ability to support customers all over the world opens up entirely new streams of revenue. In addition, the cloud provides a reliable backup should a server go down. Organisations can take comfort knowing that an alternate server is still up and running – ensuring that their data is always readily available. The ability to support customers all over the world opens up entirely new streams of revenue. In addition, the cloud provides a reliable backup should a server go down. Organisations can take comfort knowing that an alternate server is still up and running – ensuring that their data is always readily available.
High performance and reliability
Cloud infrastructure can be configured specifically to meet users’ needs. Most cloud providers offer multi-tenant environments, where different groups of users can access data through different points, but those that offer single-tenant cloud environments can deliver even better performance and improved security to users.
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Instant deployment
Cloud services often come pre-configured, meaning that the set-up time is minimal. Vendors can therefore provision services immediately upon order, so anyone can build powerful applications and securely deliver them via web, mobile, or desktop. New users and projects can be added to the solution instantly, and this entire process runs without the need for complex IT infrastructures and support.
Elastic infrastructure
Companies need a platform that can easily scale up as they grow. As the company expands, cloud customers can add more users, storage, and features to meet their exact needs. Companies don’t need to scale up permanently either. When additional resources or computing power is needed, organisations can scale up for a specific time period when they expect a spike in usage, and then scale back down later. The benefit of this flexibility is that companies only have to pay for what they need, rather than investing in expensive software and hardware upfront.
Better security
Data security is becoming more of a priority for every company, particularly among C-suite executives. For this reason, cloud providers do everything they can to stay current with the latest industry standards and compliance certifications. A data breach can have devastating consequences for a company, so the cloud must offer excellent security to avoid becoming a liability, should a breach occur. Single-tenant cloud users benefit from an additional layer of security as there is only one point of access. There is also no chance of their data being combined with another company’s data or accessed by unauthorised and potentially malicious users.
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Low costs
Cloud eliminates capital expenses for infrastructure, including servers and storage, which can represent a significant investment by companies. Without physical storage, problems associated with out-of-date hardware, faulty equipment, and general maintenance and constant software upgrades are largely eliminated. Also, the innate flexibility of the cloud allows companies to only pay for storage and features that are constantly in use.
The cloud offers numerous benefits to both businesses and users, in terms of flexibility, ease of access, and unparalleled cost savings. The agility associated with the cloud means that companies who adopt this solution are prepared not only for growth and international expansion, but for the changing demands of employees to facilitate mobile working and remote access. As data volume continues to grow, having a solution that responds and enables simple access and governance will immediately give a company an edge over competitors who stick with legacy on-premises storage solutions.
Hugh Owen, senior vice president, product marketing, MicroStrategy