Why You Should Make the Move
If you’re reading this, you’re probably about to migrate your small business operations to a cloud-based system, if not, allow us to convince you. Cloud-based systems allow you and people in your business or organization to access, use, and input information anytime through any authorized device. This means more flexibility and better productivity, and that your information is no longer anchored to your local network or computer in the office. It also allows small business owners to oversee and operate their business from home or when they’re away. You, as the manager or business owner, can access financial reports in real-time and make decisions on the fly, and some systems and software even allow you to manage operations and projects, schedule tasks, view inventory, and contact suppliers.
Don’t Skimp Out on the Cloud Service Provider
There are many ‘free’ cloud-based services and software out there, but, as a businessman, you should know that there’s no such thing as ‘free’. Sometimes, the cost comes in weak security, data loss, and no guarantee that the service would still be there the next day. So it’s best to invest in a good software or system that provides all the features you need, but also provides a guarantee that your data is safe. It’s also best to view security certifications for a cloud-based system to ensure that your data is protected and encrypted.
Know What You Should Be Moving
Not everything has to be moved; there may be documents, programs, and other aspects of your operations that strictly need to stay in the local system. As such, before you migrate, just like when moving in real life, you should sort which data and systems need to be brought along to the cloud. It’s also important that you treat the migration as a project, complete with plans and milestones. The benefit of cloud migration in a small business is that you wouldn’t have to take a long time as your scope of operations is relatively limited.
Create and Implement Cloud Policies
You should create security and operational policies for your small business’ employees and staff when accessing the cloud. As such, you should practice good login security to ensure that only authorized people can access the system, and avoid sharing of accounts as it poses a security risk.
Invest in Extra Protection: Encryption is Key
The main advantage of a cloud-based system is that you can access files, documents, schedules, communications, and other operations-related information anywhere. But this is also its main disadvantage. Most cloud-based systems advertise themselves as being secure, but not all of them offer encryption or have extensive backup policies and systems. This is why it’s best to invest further in extra protection: you’d want access to be only limited to those who are supposed to be authorized and have information and communication encrypted to prevent hackers from stealing data or eavesdropping. So, if you’re migrating to a cloud-based software system such as Microsoft’s Office 365, you should invest in Office 365 protection software or services to allow encryption, better backup, and increased security for your business’ files and documents.
Conclusion
Cloud-based systems are the next biggest thing in business software, but it’s vital that you treat the migration to cloud-based software/systems seriously, make sure that all the information you need is safely and properly migrated, and have precautionary measures in place.
