It’s a new year, and with that, comes the promise of starting all over again. For us, it means finding new avenues for going green, whether that’s in your car, at home, or in the office. This year, we’d like to encourage you to go paperless—ditch the documents—here’s why you should use cloud storage for your business needs.
You’ll see that it’s about more than just making some extra room around the office. Here’s a quick look at some of the benefits of shifting your storage into the cloud.
Security
The threat of cyber attacks is becoming increasingly more prevalent. Online cloud storage provides business owners with some peace of mind–files are protected–even through affordable solutions like Dropbox and JustCloud–protecting contracts, trade secrets, and other sensitive documents from large cyber attacks.
We know it can be a little scary to store your data in a new location, away from the perceived safety of your dusty old file cabinets stuffed to the gills with hard copies.
However, with the right storage options, your data will remain encrypted–and you can allow only authorized users to access certain files. Essentially, cloud storage gives you both security and the knowledge that you won’t misplace anything ever again.
And should disaster strike, you’ll be able to access backups of your files–no need to waste a whole ream of paper in the name of security.
Remote Access
The way we do business is changing–with green technologies, our working configurations, and more. Increasingly, companies work with far-flung consultants and freelance workers working all over the world. The need for easy access to online data–not unsecured email connections–is critical for employees to do their jobs efficiently, and perhaps more importantly, securely.
Online data storage enables companies to manage workflow, onboard new employees and new clients, as well as make working from anywhere a breeze
And from an eco-friendly perspective, using cloud storage means you can cut down on commuting and use of in-house equipment-thereby reducing your overall environmental impact without sacrificing your ability to connect.
Server and Equipment Concerns
Moving to a cloud-based storage means you’re reducing your environmental impact in some apparent ways–saving on paper, commuting, for example. But, did you know that moving your data into the cloud means you’re sharing your server capacity with other users–meaning each user is using less energy than they would if, say, every user was operating their server.
Additionally, it’s worth bringing up that the equipment–rare metals and more–used to make server aren’t exactly the most environmentally sound pieces of hardware. Relying on your own server means you’re using resources that you might not need. With more people moving their operations into the cloud, the servers in question are operating closer to full capacity–which in turn, will limit the total amount of servers in play.
Server Location
The overall effects overheated servers can have a negative impact on the environment. When you’re working with an in-house server, you might not have the equipment in place to offset the ill effects of running so much machinery. Using a third-party solution for your cloud storage means the servers will come equipped with a sophisticated cooling and ventilation system–or better yet, are located in colder climates, reducing the need to employ air conditioning solutions.
Saves Serious Cash
Cloud storage gets rid of the need to shell out for external hard drives, as well as the expense and energy cost of backing up that equipment. Look at the best online reviews for cloud storage options to find the most affordable option for your business.
Finally, It’s Good News for Old Mother Earth
As you can see, there are plenty of reasons one might use cloud-computing to reduce their business’ environmental footprint. From cutting down on overloaded servers to reducing employee commuting and saving paper–there’s no reason not to update your storage solution for the 21st century.