[Video] Smart Business is Moving to the Cloud

The past few weeks have been a time of significant disruption. Still, it’s also an opportunity to re-evaluate what your firm needs to work efficiently and securely, no matter what the circumstances. While we couldn’t have predicted this event and its impact, it allows us to look proactively at the remote workforce, and how to maximize technology to make it work seamlessly. Even if your firm is planning on bringing all employees back to an on-site office, it will be essential that you prepare for the possibility that this type of situation could repeat. Or, if you are considering a more remote workforce going forward, then you must have a plan to ensure efficiency and security for your data.

SN has experienced a significant uptick in clients reaching out to us to learn how to adjust to remote work most successfully. It’s the perfect time to have a conversation about what it means to move your technology to the cloud. 

What is the Cloud?

Cloud means that you’re accessing and storing your programs/data over the internet rather than launching them from a local service or hard drive. You could be at your home office, out in the field, coffee shop, wherever it may be, your programs and data available.

If you’re not taking advantage of the cloud, your data is currently stored on your computer’s hard drive or your computer’s server, which requires proper maintenance and care from your IT team. Cloud-based solutions are hosted in a secure environment with specialized servers designed to keep you at the forefront of advancing technology.

Cloud Benefits

There are many benefits to moving your business to the cloud. The most obvious is providing employees access to do their job from anywhere anytime, regardless of their physical location. In times like now, it gives employees a sense of normalcy and allows you to continue to deliver successful projects. 

Accounting departments can continue to process payroll and get bills out the door, maintaining a steady stream of revenue. Leadership teams can run reports that are crucial to your business, making sure business goals are met. Once everything is behind us with the current COVID-19 situation, firms will continue to leverage their remote access.

For example, imagine you’re a Project Manager working in the field when your client presents you with an urgent issue. From your laptop or tablet, you connect to your cloud software and quickly pull up the details of the project, review the upcoming milestones, resend that “lost” invoice, and adjust resources in real-time. Congratulations! You just solved their issue on the fly by using the power of the cloud. 

Cloud Security

A majority of our clients consider data security as a top priority while deciding to make a move to the cloud. There are many different types of security systems established in the cloud to protect your data like redundancies, mirroring, and disaster recovery, all of which are backed-up and much more sophisticated than what most clients would have in their typical office.

By utilizing the cloud, you’ll not only relieve some of the burdens off the internal IT department, but you’ll also alleviate up some costs associated with infrastructure, servers, networking equipment, etc., those things that might get rather expensive. Having your software in the cloud not only means that you save your IT department’s time, but you’ll also receive automated upgrades and hotfixes, ensuring that your systems are kept up to date, which is a critical part of making sure your systems are secure.

Who Should Consider the Cloud?

Every organization has something they can benefit from by making the move to the cloud. Those who need to take immediate action are the organizations that can’t work remotely today, are relying on outdated technology, or don’t have a dedicated IT team.

Next Steps

Switching to the cloud has a multitude of benefits. It positions your firm to be able to respond to disruption and ensure business continuity quickly. As we look ahead to a post-COVID-19 environment, we are happy to set up a virtual meeting with you to discuss any questions or concerns you have concerning the cloud and working remotely. Reach out today and let us know how we can help your firm.