Cloud IT Support to Save Capital Expenditures
It is invariably true that no single business strategy is appropriate for all firms. When it comes to cloud computing, however, the vast majority of businesses do find that it lives up to its central promise of reducing IT expenditures by reducing costs associated with on-premises infrastructure.
Earlier this year, a survey was conducted by RackSpace in the UK, and it involved interviewing more than 1,200 businesses in both the US and UK. All of the businesses in question had made use of cloud strategies in one form or another. Remarkably, only the small minority of 17% felt that cloud computing had failed to save them money. In contrast, nearly four times as many business users – some 66% – reported that cloud computing had indeed allowed them to trim costs associated with IT. The remainder of respondents offered no opinion on the cost issue.
The survey also provided much more detailed information regarding business use of cloud computing and in particular the cost savings that could be garnered by moving applications to the cloud. For example, nearly 20% of companies queried indicated that IT cost savings had exceeded 25%, while a further 41% reported slashing IT costs between 10% and 25%.
Nor was cost savings the only benefit of cloud computing. More than half of respondents indicated that using cloud services helped them to implement projects faster, and a similar proportion said that cloud computing had helped them to increase their profits.
A similar survey arranged by Intermap focused on businesses that have yet to make the switch to cloud computing, but who may be considering running applications that run in the cloud. Optimism is high among such businesses, with 41% anticipating cost savings in their IT departments.
The Simplest Cloud Based Application
It is a no brainer application of the cloud: Using the cloud for Data backup and recovery. By using the cloud, SMB’s can avoid having to pay large costs of purchasing and maintaining servers to replicate their data. Having the process take place by a hosted cloud service frees up capital, utility costs, and office space for network replication.
A recent article by Jasmina Vermezovic from LiveBackup on Asigra’s Blog entitled “How backup centralisation reduces the risks and the costs of the cloud” supports this.
“Centrally managed backup that supports all platforms and devices allows companies to focus on business goals, users, and data, instead of technologies and devices. It also makes sure that information is safe all the time and, most importantly, accessible and restorable whenever needed.
With a single point backup overview it is becoming increasingly easier not only to manage, but to plan future data protection directions.
Centralisation therefore adds to the intangible value of the company that can be hard to calculate without taking some facts into consideration. Just think how much each hour of downtime would result in lost opportunity, shaken customer loyalty, damaged reputation, and lowered employee morale.”
Great Lakes Computer’s IT Support and Managed IT Services can help you strategize how to take advantage of the cost savings of cloud backup. Contact us today to discuss using Asigra as your cloud based disaster backup solution.
Learn more about the author Bob Martin
