Technology runs most of the businesses in this day and age. It is therefore exceedingly crucial to keep abreast and stay ahead in terms of the IT infrastructure and operations which serve as the backbone of your day-to-day activities, which is one of the reasons why transforming small business IT operations is one of the key trending topics in the industry.

Digital transformation can be achieved in several ways depending on the business needs. But it is important to understand the requirement and frame out a strategy that makes the whole process less complex and future-proof. It is also quite crucial to know what technologies are available, why you need it and when to embrace it.

The new wave of Technologies are so much focused on the likes of Cloud Computing, AI (Artificial Intelligence), Machine Learning, Data Analytics and RPA (Robotic Process Automation) and it has paved the way for digital transformation.

These technologies are not only setting the stage for rapid transformation of IT infrastructure and faster innovation but also helping new businesses utilize world-class infrastructure and technologies to compete with larger organizations.

They are here to transform the way businesses work. Irrespective of the industry your business is in, you will soon be (if not, already) bound to adopt or embrace them. In other words, the earlier the realization, the better it will be for your business. But the subject of transforming IT operations either sounds too generic or too exhaustive if you have heard about the terms repeatedly from a variety of sources yet none serving solutions.

Which is precisely why we decided to document our take on some of the key topics that SME Business Owners and Senior Management teams should know if they are looking to transform their business the right way. Whilst it’s no Bible for Technology mutation in any way, it is still certain to add fuel to your knowledge and provide solutions to an existing problem when we dissect some of the interesting case studies along the way.

Today’s topic is Cloud Transformation – it is quite a massive subject to discuss, hence there will be a series of articles on this one. We start off here with the basics of Cloud computing and the key advantages to consider for SMBs.

Future-proof your IT infrastructure

Traditionally, businesses used on-premise servers and other hardware to store their data and serve their IT needs to internal staff. They also needed to have a team of Network engineers on-site to look after (monitor & maintain) them.

With the advent of Cloud Computing, SME’s somewhat realized the potential to go BIG in terms of Business IT operations without spending massive CapEx, without hiring a team of Network engineers and above all, without any downtime for the sake of power failure or server maintenance.

On top of that, there are several other key advantages that serve as a catalyst to the decision-making process. We would like to highlight 5 key features that should be taken into consideration, for anyone thinking of transforming their business.

Scalability – expanding your hardware capability as and when required and pay only for what you have used

Flexibility – Cloud enables cross-functional teams to work in tandem from anywhere in the world

Security – Although this subject is still under debate particularly if you own any IP (Intellectual Property) & patents, there is no denying that cloud offers much better security solutions for your operations mainly in terms of ensuring version control and defending your servers against hackers

Backup & Disaster Recovery – Many small businesses have ignored the necessity to have a backup network mainly due to the ongoing costs. But with Cloud, it is no longer a luxury to have a redundant system. It is much easier to take regular backups, maintain and more importantly, to restore your lost or corrupted applications.

Greater Integration – Cloud enables small businesses to integrate with multiple cloud vendors in order to get the best of the lot.

Above all, if you are an environment-friendly company then, Cloud is economical and reduces the carbon footprint by a significant amount. According to statistics, cloud data centres produce 79 to 93% less carbon compared to on-premise data centres on average.

With so many advantages plus cost efficiency, Cloud adoption is an essential need of the hour for SMBs if they want to sustain the technology burst. It is better to reap the rewards from it rather than succumb to the pressure of investing in or migrating to the unknown territory.

There are many such advantages which we can discuss here but we really wanted to cut down and provide a straight-to-the-point, easy-to-read list that adds immense value to you and your business. Having said that, our next article will be to discuss what are the major pain points for SMBs that prevent them from going all Cloud. Watch out this space for more. Also, subscribe to our newsletter to receive notifications on new articles.

Thinkweaver specialises in various Cloud services and is partnered up with cloud software application providers as well in order to provide the best solution for our clients. Talk to us today to see how we can add value to your business and save money along the way.