Why you should move your app to the cloud

It’s safe to say we’re living and working in the fast-paced, fast-changing digital age, and the effects are perhaps more visible in the world of business than anywhere else. First came the move to computers, then the Internet, and more recently the cloud.

There’s plenty of confusion surrounding what ‘the cloud’ really is and what it’s all about, which is most likely the reason why so many businesses have been slow on the uptake. In short, moving your app to the cloud means to run it elsewhere on the internet, instead of in-house on your own company servers.

Does that sound confusing? It’s not! To make things simpler, let’s lay out the case for migrating to the cloud, and understand exactly why it can be a benefit to your business.

It’s time to modernize

It’s not unusual for businesses and individuals to resist change. In all areas of life, we get comfortable with what we know, and when the ‘next big thing’ comes along, we’re often unsure of hopping onto the bandwagon. The phrase ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ comes to mind.

The truth is, though, keeping up with the times is as important in business as investing in good staff or perfecting a new business model. Customers and colleagues alike will expect you to keep up to date with changes in your industry, and resisting them can have a knock-on effect to your brand’s perceived quality.

Whether you’re a fan of the cloud or not, it’s the direction business is heading in.

The cloud makes you faster

Having your IT team trying to keep on top of physical hardware and up-to-date with new software is a great way to slow your business down. As your business grows, those in-house applications are going to require new supporting items, new configurations and new contingency plans. It’s a case of forever playing catch-up with yourself.

The cloud, however, reduces these needs massively. Every time new requirements come along, a few clicks of the mouse are all that’s needed to bring your system back up to date. If you’re spending less time on maintenance, that’s more time to spend making your business the success you know it can be.

Apple doesn’t know the difference between courage and arrogance

The cloud frees up time for your development team

Now that your IT guys have some spare time on their hands, why not apply their skills to something more productive? By focusing their time on improving and optimising the software you use, you unlock the potential to streamline the work
being carried out across your whole organization.

It’s cheaper to be in the cloud

Cutting to the chase, this is probably the question at the forefront of your mind: how much is migrating to the cloud going to cost me? You’re in luck, though, because the migration won’t cost nearly as much as you think, and the cloud is actually going to save you a lot of money in the long run.

First of all, cloud computing services are far more scalable than traditional IT solutions. By utilizing standardized components and practices, the services on offer can be applied to your business no matter what size it happens to be, which means that it’ll support you throughout your growth and up-scaling. Service providers will offer a whole range of packages to suit your business, so instead of you having to replace your old setup with a whole new raft of servers and computers, upgrades once again rely on only a few mouse clicks to take effect.

And perhaps even more importantly, the cloud means that you’ll no longer need to pay for anything more than you need. Rather than forcing you to purchase and implement contingency equipment that might never be used, the cloud operates on more of a ‘pay as you go’ premise, ideal for businesses just dipping their toes in the water.

So what are you waiting for?

We know it’s scary. The cloud is one of the most important new technologies available to businesses today, but throwing yourself into it can seem like a big task. Luckily, there’s a wealth of information and support available for migrating over, so you don’t need to feel alone!

Have a go, and you’ll see for yourself that the cloud is more than just a fad.

Images courtesy of Pixabay | Pixabay