As technology continues to advance, the way we conduct business is directly affected. That's directly reflected in the rise of remote work, where the traditional office has had to evolve to meet the needs of all workers. To help streamline processes and make work accessible, many workplaces are looking toward cloud-based software. These innovative computing resources are effectively maintained in remote data centers and are dedicated to hosting applications across platforms.

Here's a closer look at the benefits of cloud computing for businesses.

What Is Cloud Computing?

If you've ever heard of the "cloud," you already know a bit about cloud computing, which is the process of delivering computing services via the internet. Some of the most common cloud computing services and components include networking, storage, servers, analytics, software, and intelligence. This software offers innovative and flexible resources to streamline processes and increase productivity.

Platform as a service (PaaS): PaaS is a cloud computing service that offers an on-demand environment for developing, managing, testing, and delivering software applications. It can streamline developers' processes when creating web or mobile apps and minimize the difficulty of setting up and managing storage, services, databases, and networks needed for development.
Software as a service (SaaS): SaaS is a form of delivering software applications via the internet, on-demand — and, often, on a subscription basis. It allows cloud providers to manage and host software applications and the underlying infrastructure while handling security patching, software upgrades, and other forms of maintenance.

Benefits of Cloud-Based Software

There are numerous benefits of cloud-based software, especially if your company manages a remote work team. This software helps increase productivity, improve accessibility and boost data safety and security. As a bonus, cloud services are simple to implement, so businesses can enjoy their benefits without much effort. Some specific advantages of cloud-based software include:

1. Cost-Effectiveness

The cloud is a cost-effective option that allows easy access to important company data, saving time in project startups. Most cloud-based services offer a pay-as-you-go model, allowing you to only take advantage of and pay for the services your business needs. This payment structure also typically applies to data storage space, meaning you only pay for the exact amount you require.

These services are cost-effective, helping lower overall expenses and increase return on investment (ROI). Additionally, if your business expands and requires more services or storage space, you can always quickly scale your products up and only pay for what you need. Another benefit of cloud-based software is that it can help reduce maintenance costs over time.

2. Improved Data Security

Approximately 78% of employees lack confidence in their company's cybersecurity posture, causing 91% of businesses to increase their budget for safeguarding their data. Enhancing your company's approach to cybersecurity can prevent internal data theft and keep sensitive information safe. As a result, you have fewer headaches to deal with — and your company remains profitable and in good standing.

Adopting a cloud-based system can provide a high level of security. Digitized business information and documents are at risk of cyberattacks and hackers, making improved data security necessary for any successful business. A cloud host can help monitor private documents and ensure security for confidential files.

3. Automatic Software Updates

Missed software updates can reduce productivity and lead to unexpected downtime. With many responsibilities, it can be easy for employees to forget to update systems manually — traditional purchase software requires manual updates, which can be time-consuming, expensive, and even confusing if no IT specialist is available to help.

With the automatic software updates included in cloud software, you can save your company time and ensure that the latest updates are automatically refreshed as soon as they become available. This automation saves valuable time and money on outside IT consultation or services. Additionally, when your employees don't have to handle routine maintenance, they have more time to allocate to other strategic initiatives and responsibilities.

4. Data Recovery and Backup

While preventing downtime and data loss is essential, it's not always possible. Occasionally, your business will come across an unexpected complication that leads to either situation. One of the most crucial steps to take is to minimize the overall severity of downtime and control data loss as best as possible.

Even slight complications can lead to downtime, decreasing productivity, negatively impacting the brand's reputation, and costing revenue. Both disaster recovery and data backup are two critical elements to consider in times of potential emergencies or complications. From natural disasters to power outages, data recovery and backup can help minimize the fallout of an emergency situation — and cloud-based software integrates these features.

If your computer system crashes or otherwise becomes affected during an incident, you can rest assured your business's data is securely backed up thanks to your cloud-based software.

5. Increased Collaboration

The cloud can help improve collaboration between employees by providing easy editing and data sharing options. As the modern workplace evolves, several employees may work outside of the physical office space, such as remotely or at satellite locations. To maximize productivity, employees need convenient access to data remotely and in real-time.

Some cloud-based software allows for role-based access, meaning only accredited employees can access sensitive information. These access controls can help prevent external parties or unauthorized people from accessing sensitive information. Another benefit of cloud computing is that managers can effectively manage teams remotely, meaning employees across the country or around the globe can work on the same projects as those in the main office.

6. Ability to Scale Up or Down

These services can easily scale to fit your company's unique needs. As your company expands, you can add additional cloud services or expand your current options to match your business's newest needs. This process is also streamlined, especially compared to scaling up or down on-premise resources, which typically takes several months to complete in its entirety. Ultimately, cloud-based services are much more time-effective to scale up.

7. Mobile Access

It's a poor business practice to store vital information on one computer or in one location. To work effectively, all employees require easy access to essential files and documents. Fortunately, employees can easily access cloud data through electronic devices, including laptops, smartphones, tablets, and more. This ease of access helps improve your team's productivity and streamline business operations while maintaining a proper work-life balance for employees.

8. Valuable Data Insight

Amid today's digital world, data insights play an essential role in making informed business decisions. The cloud software you use can create customized reports for various data analytics, allowing management access to these reports for consideration. This type of in-depth reporting can provide an advantage over your competitors when making business choices.

Cloud-Based Software and Technological Solutions From GeoDecisions

GeoDecisions is dedicated to building high-quality, location-based solutions and working with various industries to implement the latest geospatial technology in the cloud. We provide easy-to-implement solutions to help you collect and analyze critical information on location data.

Some of our most popular cloud-based products include GeoPlan, GeoQ and Track. Our goal is to help you and your business use this information to improve productivity, promote collaboration and take advantage of other essential benefits of geospatial technology in the cloud. To learn more about our products and services, contact us today.

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