The interest in cloud computing has grown signinficantly and we are seeing an ever increasing number of businesses shift to cloud based solutions. This shift to cloud computing has helped 
businesses to reduce costs and increase flexibilty. Working with businesses of all sizes, the benefit of cloud computing is in the access to real time information. Of course, as part of your process in evaluating the suitability of cloud computing for your business, you also need to be aware of the associated risks.
Advantages to cloud computing
CPA Australia have identified the following as some of the key advantages of switching to the cloud.
- Automatic software upgrades – software upgrades usually occur automatically in “the cloud”.
- Collaboration – cloud solutions can help with collaboration, idea sharing and analysis of data, both internally and externally, from a business.
- Future proofing your business – businesses using cloud solutions can ensure the latest version of their software is implemented. Further, it is expected that many soft ware developers will move more towards only releasing and supporting their product in “the “cloud”.
- Higher reliability – cloud solution providers usually operate systems that are more reliable than in-house servers.
- Improved back-up and recovery – backing up in “the cloud” and recovering data from “the cloud” is considered easier (but not necessarily more reliable) than it is on physical, on-site devices.
- IT maintenance becomes easier – the main IT task for a business using a cloud service provider is maintaining computers, and their link to the internet, rather than maintaining and protecting servers and software. In this context, IT should become less of a distraction to a business employing cloud solutions.
- Quick deployment – the entire system can be functioning within a matter of minutes should you need it to (such as in the case of emergency).
- Reduced costs – many people argue that the most important benefit of cloud computing is the cost savings. Cost savings come in various forms, including:
• not having to buy, upgrade and maintain servers and related hardware
• reduced electricity use, as servers and the related cooling use a lot of electricity
• reduced IT maintenance costs, as the cloud computing supplier becomes responsible for systems maintenance, upgrades and security
• not having to make an upfront investment in software or purchase software for each computer - Scalability – businesses using cloud solutions can find it quite simple to scale up to meet peaks in demand by temporarily purchasing more server space. Business can therefore avoid going through lengthy and sometimes.
