Cloud solutions are only for large companies, right?

With increasing digitalization, companies are also putting the development of their IT infrastructure to the test. Does an in-house solution still make sense or is the move to the cloud the better option? This article sheds light on the answer to the question: Are cloud solutions attractive for SMEs and if so, why?

Cloud solutions are only for large companies, right?

Created on:

November 24, 2021

Created on:

November 24, 2021

In many SMEs, IT has grown with them. The local network in the offices was connected via Ethernet cables. A switch connected the connected computers to the Internet and the local server. When the amount of data grew, a network storage unit was added. This is still used today as a central repository for various company documents and serves as storage for the local server. When the Microsoft 365 license came along and with it the cloud, the question arose as to whether it was still appropriate to store data on a network storage device.

The advantages of the cloud for SMEs in terms of data storage

Many of us SME employees are no longer just in the office. We are on the move, whether it's because the commute to work takes a little longer than the usual 15 minutes or because we are visiting customers. And this is where the biggest advantage of cloud storage in everyday life becomes apparent: documents are available wherever there is an internet connection. And without having to open a potentially risky connection to the company network from outside, as would be the case with network storage.

Easy working from anywhere and at any time is therefore one of the advantages of cloud storage in day-to-day business. Other advantages include

Mailboxes are relieved because only links to documents are sent instead of attachments in e-mails.
The storage capacity and the number of users can be increased or decreased by adjusting the subscription.
A team can work together on Office documents. This prevents multiple versions of the same document being in circulation and employees losing time searching for the latest version.

The cloud even offers advantages in terms of data protection and security

Our partner Microsoft is proactively committed to protecting company data with the help of the latest security standards. Whether you are an SME or a large company, the cloud also offers advantages in terms of data protection and security:

Accidentally deleted documents can be restored within a certain period of time.
In the event of a ransomware attack, a company can restore the last version of documents before they were encrypted.

It would be comparatively time-consuming and cost-intensive to implement the same security standards for network storage. Time would have to be invested in maintenance and the corresponding expertise would have to be built up. This is included with a cloud offering.

And what about the benefits of the cloud for backups?

It is a widely accepted recommendation that at least one version of the backup should be kept in a separate location. This protects the data in the event of natural disasters such as fire or water. Backup data can even be protected against ransomware attacks by simply making it invisible in Windows Explorer.

Like so many things in the cloud, storage for backups is also flexible. If you run out, you can easily rent more storage space. You only pay for what you actually use. The backup solution therefore scales with the requirements. Another advantage is the automated backup process. Manual execution and monitoring of the backup is no longer necessary, saving valuable resources that can be used for other purposes.

Whether SME or not, the advantages of the cloud outweigh the disadvantages

Flexibility, security and collaboration are the big plus points of the cloud. Coupled with transparent costs and the knowledge that you only pay for what you use, the cloud is the best the market currently has to offer. Even with large amounts of data such as CAD drawings or raw video data, a secure and user-friendly interface can now be created with the Azure Virtual Desktop. This enables secure and uncomplicated access to the corresponding data in the cloud. Until recently, this was not so easy.

However, some companies may still be using an application that cannot be easily moved to the cloud. And here, who would have thought it, another important advantage of the cloud comes into play: the migration can take place gradually. Office documents, for example, can already be stored in SharePoint Online from Microsoft365, while the local server with the company's accounting remains untouched.