How Cloud Computing helps small businesses to grow? - By: Wiiliam Smith

Every new business requires initial capital to be invested to get a start. Amount invested into the business decides the kind of infrastructure and setup one can afford. As can be seen in the past, most of the business giants have started with small business. By time they grew and now reached to the phase where they have big business Empire with them. But scenario has changed now. Earlier, technology was not so much developed as well as scope of business was wide. Competition was comparatively low. Businesses at that time did not require huge capital to be invested as they could compete with the available technology which was not so much developed and put them into the same league with the established player. New business fields were yet to be explored and they had the business concept innovated accordingly. They grew as the concepts were welcomed. But in this era, Technology has reached to new heights as its price. New concepts have dried out. Everywhere is cut throat competition. It gets really difficult for a new starter to avail such kind of service. Every new starter looks to save cost and maximize profit. As this is the era of global village where people depends on IT enabled products. Be it for Tele Communication, Office Work, Infrastructure everything is dependent on IT quite heavily. Not only this, but tight budget restricts a business owner to go for required manpower and quality infrastructure. And compromising with quality may affect the growth of the business. Pro active approach is required by a small business owner so that he can get the solution for the business complexities.
Cloud Computing comes up as a solution
In the world of innovation, every time something new comes up which provides some sort of benefit to the users. While considering these issues faced by small businesses, IT field has come up with new concept “Cloud Computing”. Cloud computing is known as the term where an individual or business can host its application and data to a server which belongs to the third party vendor. Cloud comprises of three services mainly which are Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS), Platform as a Service (PAAS) and Software as a Service (SAAS). The kind of infrastructure provided into it is of high quality and mostly used by big giants. The cloud computing service provider provides this infrastructure while sharing the same with other users on monthly rental basis as per the requirement and usage by the person. Things never belong to the subscriber and one has to renew the subscription of the same on per month or contract basis.
Benefits of cloud computing to the small business:-
Cloud computing for sure proves to be beneficial to the users especially small businesses because of following reasons;-
Benefit 1:- Cost Effective:-
Cloud computing is based on “Pay as you go” concept. As every small business have a look on this factor first before going for any service, Cloud Computing is made to provide cost effective solution to the clients. As Cloud computing provider provides the infrastructure or Software on rent or lease, it reduces the operational cost without compromising on the quality. Many small business users share the infrastructure among themselves pay it accordingly as per their usage.
Benefit 2:- Provides competitive edge to the user:-
Through cloud computing, a small business owner gets to use high end infrastructure through which his business productivity increases and he gets ahead from the competitors. He uses it as per his requirement and get it customized even according to the need and get success due to it. While saving cost on the same infrastructure for which another competitor is paying high price he already defeats his competitor as far as revenue and ultimately profit is concerned.
Benefit 3:- Anytime, Anywhere access to the infrastructure:-
A user gets independence from his computer as application and data are stored on a virtual server and can be accessed from anywhere at any time with the help of internet enabled device like a Personal Computer, Tablet and even a smart phone. One can freely travel as well as work from anywhere. Anytime, Anywhere access provides an opportunity for the user to work from home and removes the requirement of physical premises to work. People can work from different location. It enables the business owner to get good talented people who are far from his location but working with the business from their own location. Productivity again gets improved through cloud computing.
Benefit 4:- Multi-user Scalable environment:-
Cloud environment is a multi user environment that means colleagues can work concurrently on the same application without bothering others. As well as they can see the updates done by others at the same time. Cloud Computing is scalable and user can add or remove many users at a given point of time as per the requirement.
Benefit 5:- Real Time Data Collaboration:-
A user can get the updated data as soon the data got updated. He can coordinate with his colleagues and work on the same application. It smoothens the work and improve the productivity.
Benefit 6:- Data Security and Data Backup;-
Cloud host stores the data at multiple locations at different data centers which ensures data is safe. Latest encryption techniques and firewalls are being deployed to ensure data is secured and cannot be hacked by the intruders. Only authenticated person can access the data. Apart from that cloud host provide free and paid data backup facility to the client. Most of the host provides it for free. It eliminates the requirement of employing IT management people at small businesses hence saves operational cost. Cloud host also provides free technical support to the clients in case they face any issues. The engineers who provide support are used to be highly qualified and highly paid which a small business cannot afford of its own. But it comes into the hosting package.
Small business owners are required to be pro-active in the approach so that they can have the solution before the problem occurs. It is actually up to them how they take their business as cloud computing is only the source and one can utilize it only when one know how and when to utilize it.

About the Author

William Smith is an IT analyst at Real Time Data Services which is a leading Cloud Computing and Application Hosting company. The company specializes in hosting many software including accounting software (QuickBooks, Peachtree), QuickBooks add-ons, Windows server, Tax software, CRM software (ACT Software), MS Project, MS SQL Server, MS Office Server and hosts many other software

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Wiiliam-Smith/81097

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