When it comes time to replace an aging server, more and more small business owners are wondering whether there’s a better way. They’re tired of the endless expense of a refresh cycle and the hassles of hardware ownership.  In the case of some startup companies, they don’t even want to begin with on premise servers

Imagine a Boston-based company wants to open a second office in Miami. You have always had the ability to access your Boston servers remotely, but the performance is nowhere near as good as when you are in the office.

Inferior remote performance is very typical, and there are many reasons for it. You can improve the infrastructure in your office to make it capable of giving your Miami users the same experience you have in Boston, but doing so would be exceedingly expensive.

So, you consider putting a server in Miami. It would take several weeks and thousands of dollars to get a server delivered, configured and running in the new office.

Cloud servers can be spun up in minutes.  Miami users could be connected and productive before the new office furniture was delivered. On opening day, employees could log out in Boston, fly to Miami, log back in and pick up right where they left off.

With teams of data security specialists focusing on protecting your data, the cloud is one of the most secure ways to store information. For example, by using cloud software, if your laptop is stolen, no one can access your data unless they have a login to the online account. With cloud software, this is where the data lives – as opposed to on your hard drive.

In the event of a natural disaster or fire, being in the cloud means business productivity doesn’t need to be affected because there’s no downtime. All of your information is safely and securely stored off site. As long as you have access to any computer or mobile device connected to the internet, you’re back up and running.

In addition to this, if you invite users to view your data, you can control the level of access. This is much more secure than the old-fashioned way of emailing your files or sending out a USB stick with your data on it, or the biggest security hole: sharing a login.

A major benefit to cloud computing is easy accessibility. Most cloud-based programs are accessible from any device connected to the internet, either through a web browser or a dedicated app. Your employees can get work done on their desktop in the office, their laptop while traveling, or their phone or tablet during their commutes. The cost for access is typically tied into the periodic service fee, so you can save money on physical program copies and licenses.

Cloud-based computing makes it easier for your business to cut back on hardware expenses. You no longer need to run your own server for your entire staff to have access to a key program. Better yet, you don’t have to invest in computer systems with high enough specifications just to run a particular software suite. Basically, the efficacy of your cloud computing most often depends on the reliability and speed of your internet connection rather than your local hardware.

Collaboration is made easy in the cloud. The ability to save and access various files through the cloud enables employees to easily work from the same master document. Cloud collaboration tools, such as Google Drive, allow users to upload, edit and comment on documents, which makes for better workplace collaboration. Additionally, employers can opt to limit what employees can access.

Not to mention, being able to access files through the cloud makes it easy for small-business owners to track and manage individual progress on assignments. How’s that for efficiency?