In recent years - with rapid advancements in technology - the world of computing has changed dramatically. Remote working is becoming the new normal due to these advancements and this has only been sped up due to Covid-19 that forced businesses into the transition earlier than had been expected. It is Cloud computing that has made this possible.

Businesses took what they thought would be temporary measures to ensure that they could continue trading in a time when everything was an uncertainty. However, that temporary measure has now become an attractive alternative to the office setting for teams around the world as we prepare for life after Covid-19.

The Cloud sometimes causes apprehension, but this is merely due to a lack of knowledge surrounding what it actually is, what it is capable of (due to the technical jargon and complex terminology used being hard to comprehend) and, lastly, what the correct start point is when considering implementing Cloud computing in their organisation.



As a business owner/manager you want to know exactly what you are spending your money on. Contrary to popular belief, not all providers are out to drain you of all your money and force you into buying the most expensive tool whether it works for you or not – some want you to receive the right information and assistance wherever it is needed and ensure the correct tools are available to you.

We will now explore what Cloud computing is, how to decide which Cloud platform to move to, and what steps need to be taken to start your transition.

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The Cloud

Cloud computing is revolutionary. It marks a turning point in computing for tech users around the globe. Before the Cloud, businesses would need to purchase, support, and maintain their own IT hardware and software platforms. The Cloud offers all of this with advanced levels of communication, collaboration, and communication from anywhere. You are no longer restricted to the office setting; you can take your work with you anywhere with an internet connection! In the future, we will look back and not know how we managed to work effectively without the Cloud!

A common term used by people familiar with the Cloud is, ‘I’m on the Cloud’, this refers to the fact that a company’s IT services are being delivered over the internet from a provider’s data centre, as opposed to a business needing to run their own IT from locally-based servers – this is what makes remote working possible.

The Cloud makes it possible for the delivery of computing resources, data-storage, email & telephony communication, software databases & applications, to be delivered on-demand. This allows businesses to benefit from agility that was never possible before the Cloud, with near-instant rollout of new IT services to users as needed. The Cloud also allows you to take advantage of commercial savings and the ability to scale up and down instantaneously by paying for what you actually need from your IT services as demand requires.

With Cloud providers offering plans such as SaaS (Software as a service - more on this later on in the blog series), you are provided with up-to-date applications consistently. You are also provided with back-end infrastructure and adequate levels of security depending on your rolling fee – without unexpected additional expense.

Overlooking the obvious commercial benefits, one of the largest – if not the largest – attraction that businesses have to Cloud computing is the ability to work from anywhere. This is possible whilst having full unbridled access to all of the applications, files, and documents you use in the office setting from any internet-connected device.

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The first step to a Cloud migration - Understanding your own organisation

You will first need to look within your own organisation and assess the way that it operates. Ask yourself some questions and answer them honestly. What regulations do I have to adhere to? What do my team need to continue being successful? Let’s delve deeper into this and explore the questions you need to ask.

Compliance

Ask yourself - does your organisation carry sensitive data? Is it widespread across the business? If so, the protection of that data should be at the very top of your concerns and a big consideration when in the process of making the transition to the Cloud. You must research your Cloud provider, some store data abroad and it is illegal to store certain data outside of the UK so be sure you check.

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The goals for your business

This is one I am sure you have already asked yourself in the past, if not then it is absolutely essential to do so, not just so your business has direction but so the decision on your Cloud migration will be much better revised. You can break down what you will need to achieve your goals and get the correct tools accordingly.

Your users – the beating heart of your organisation

I am sure you will agree that your users are integral to the successful running of your business – partially due to the fact if they weren’t there you wouldn’t have a business at all, but also because their different skills, specialist knowledge, and personalities are the building blocks to what has allowed your business to become what it is today.

Therefore, it is important to take time to listen to their comments and suggestions. After all, they are the experts who use the tools daily. Ask them whether the tools they use are fit for purpose? And are they difficult to use? This will not only allow you to purchase the correct Cloud option for your organisation (allowing for better productivity and increased profits), but also show your team that you care about what they have to say and appreciate how difficult their work day is. If your aim is a remote working team, it is essential that you find tools that can achieve levels of communication, collaboration, and productivity to match the levels achieved in the on-premise setting.

So, being familiar with your users, the way they work, the tools they use to complete that work to the best standard, and what may help them to utilise their time more effectively can prove to be invaluable to your organisation.

Once having done the above you have made the first steps toward a successful transition to Cloud computing. In the next blog in the series we will take a look at legacy applications, what they are, what the challenges are of adopting them in remote environments, and how to migrate your legacy applications to the Cloud.

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Cloud transitions made easy

Our team of specialists at 1-Fix offer an extensive range of business IT services ranging from desktop and server management to network design and cyber security assistance. Our experts want to become a vital member of your team and help you to make a smooth beneficial transition to Cloud computing. We can help you achieve a level of collaboration, communication, and productivity that can rival even the office setting, along with security that allows you to feel confident 100% of the time that you are not likely to be a victim of a cyber attack. Please do not hesitate to contact the 1-Fix team for a conversation on any aspect of your IT.