Cloud storage is more popular in Australia than ever before, with over 50% of small businesses now using some form of cloud technology. Is cloud-based storage really worth investing in, though, or should you stick with traditional physical storage solutions? Cloud storage might just have the edge – here's why.
Cloud storage lets you use the internet to store data remotely at an off-site location. So, rather than storing data or files on a physical hard drive, you're sending it to a secure online location.
Cloud-based storage systems are managed by third-party service providers, or you could use a certification industry specialist such as Visual Approvals, and all you need is an internet connection to access the data when you need it.
Although physical storage might seem like a simple and cost-effective option for your data management needs, there are six main reasons why cloud storage is superior. Let's break them down.
With cloud-based storage, it doesn't matter where you're based. You and your whole team can access the files you need, when you need them, without relying on access to the office or a physical hard drive.
Have you ever considered what would happen if someone stole your business laptop or if a hacker intercepted your password? Data loss on this scale could cause serious damage to your business and hamper your growth prospects. With the cloud, however, you can protect your data using sophisticated tools like multi-factor authentication, encryption, and firewalls, which means it's less susceptible to a data breach.
In some states, you must store data for 10 years. When you rely on physical storage, the costs quickly add up. The cloud, on the other hand, offers flexible storage solutions, which you can scale to suit your needs and budget. So, although there's possibly more investment required upfront for cloud storage, it pays off in the long term.
As more of us work from home, it's far easier to share documents and collaborate with your team if you share a common cloud-based storage system. Cloud-based storage opens up new opportunities for sharing ideas when creativity strikes or asking for help when you need a little inspiration to fix a problem.
Portable hard drives have come a long way, which means faster processing speeds and more space for holding files. However, you still need to plug your hard drive into another device like a laptop or desktop PC. So, if you forget your hard drive, you can't complete your work or share key files with your colleagues.
Data loss or file corruption is a huge problem for all businesses. If you rely on a physical hard drive, you could lose all your key data if there's a malware attack or the system malfunctions. And if you lose your laptop or mobile device, there's a real chance you've just lost all your recent data if you don't have backup copies available. With data backed up to the cloud, you can usually recover files more easily.
While there's no need to stop using local storage options completely, you may find that it's more efficient and cost-effective in the long run to invest in a cloud-based storage solution for your business data. Visual Approvals offers cloud-based storage and backup solutions to Building Certifiers for their electronic files and documentation.
For many building certification businesses, a hybrid solution of both cloud and physical storage options can work. So, one option might be storing your most sensitive data on the cloud and using physical storage devices for your other needs. However you choose to proceed, you can make cloud-based storage work for your certification business.