Cloud computing has garnered a lot of attention in recent years as a green solution for business. The market for global cloud computing will be around $180 billion by the end of 2015, according to a Gartner study. This May, the 9th International Conference on Green, Pervasive and Cloud Computing is being held in China to further examine environmentally sustainable computing and how it can benefit both individuals and big business. The current business benefits of cloud computing include:
Energy Savings
Cloud computing reduces the amount of energy needed to conduct business. A 2010 study conducted by Accenture, Microsoft and WSP Environment and Energy found that businesses using cloud computing reduced their energy consumption by 30 percent for large companies and 90 percent for small businesses. Companies no longer need massive amounts of energy to power their servers and physical hardware.
Going Paperless
Cloud computing is helping businesses go paperless. Putting data on the cloud alleviates the need to leave a paper trail and can save money in printing costs, storage space and supplies. A study done by iDatix showed that a business with eight employees could save $10,000 per year, while a business with 370 employees could save up to $1 million annually.
Shared Data
Telecommuting isn’t just for 20-somethings and work-from-home moms anymore, according to the New York Times. As the U.S. workforce increasingly goes mobile and Internet access expands and speeds up, working from home has become an viable option for many. Telecommuting reduces costs for businesses by requiring less computer equipment, office space, supplies and power usage. It also helps reduce the carbon footprint by reducing the number of people commuting to work each day. Employees can collaborate on projects, share information and increase production speeds while telecommuting, making it a win-win situation for employees and employers alike.
Data Access and Security
Cloud computing increases ease of access to information, making it easier to expand globally. On the cloud, data is transferred seamlessly, cloud backup costs less and disaster recovery is simplified.
One of the main concerns that has prevented businesses from adopting cloud technology is the security risk. Know who has access to your data and limit that access based on user needs. Other smart ways to protect your cloud data include protecting devices with virus scans and password protection and adding a layer of advanced security intelligence analytics. This provides visibility into the data center and infrastructure of the cloud, according to the Guardian. When you have numerous users accessing the cloud from different places, you have to take the right precautions to ensure security.
If you are interested in online backups, contact Cold Snap Technology at 218-744-1210 and ask us about the CST Cloud.