One of the things that has significantly changed the internet in recent years is cloud computing. This technology has many great advantages over previous ways that people used software and the internet. One group that can certainly benefit from the power of cloud computing is small business owners. Below are just a few of the ways that implementing the cloud for small business can benefit your company.

1. It Can Slash Expenses

Moving to platforms that integrate cloud computing technology can produce significant cost savings for any company. With a small business, being able to save money where you can is a much more pressing issue than with multinational corporations with huge amounts of assets. For the small business owner, not being able to lower overhead can mean going out of business.

The ways the cloud can save are plentiful. For one, it maximizes the output of server space through the use of virtualization. This means getting more out of a company’s investments in computer hardware. Second, there is the fact that software applications loaded through the cloud are completely handled by the vendor. This means not being required to have an IT professional in house to install software, troubleshoot problems and more.

The cloud can also allow a company to spend less on computer hardware overall. This is usually accomplished through a BYOD, which stands for bring your own device, policy. With a BYOD policy, employees bring their own laptops, smart phones and tablets to perform their work. Since software and data can be accessed through the cloud, you don’t have to provide employees with company bought computers.

2. It Helps Facilitate Collaboration

If your small business relies on teamwork between your staff to be a success, you should be aware that cloud computing can certainly help facilitate seamless collaboration among employees. Due to how cloud networking operates, multiple employees can easily access the same master documents and update them almost simultaneously. Virtual meetings can be performed at any moment as needed, files can be shared and progress on a project can be saved in the cloud where it will remain protected.

There are plenty of cloud run apps available from different software vendors that can really make cloud based collaboration simple and intuitive. Such programs can allow your employees to be far more productive and move projects to completion much faster than they would be able to without cloud based applications.

3. It Provides More Flexibility

Small businesses need to remain nimble. There is only so much money that can be spent. They must also be able to adapt quickly or else be wiped out by fierce competition. Thankfully, the cloud for small business can greatly increase a company’s flexibility.

One of the largest ways cloud computing can increase flexibility is by allowing a small business owner or employee to access documents, data, software and networks from any device. This was impossible in the past. Often, data had to be stored on central servers and software had to be manually installed on each individual machine. Today, a small business owner can access the cloud from anywhere in the world from a smart phone or tablet and immediately gain access to all of that company’s files and information. If a piece of hardware fails, it can simply be replaced. No data, files or software will be lost.

This ability to access information from anywhere through the cloud can also have other benefits. For one, you can hire more employees who telecommute. This can save money on office space and allow you to access the talent and skills of individuals who may not be willing to move to your location. It can really grow your company’s talent base and brain trust.

4. It Can Better Secure Your Data

Today, one of the most important things in regards to developing a competitive edge is how you store and implement customer data. This data can be used to determine whether or not products and marketing campaigns were successful. It is also absolutely vital for charting a course for the future. Traditionally, all of this data was stored on local servers. This was a significant risk. A thunderstorm could wipe out all such data stored on local hardware in an instant. Even an internal fan in a server malfunctioning could lead to catastrophic data loss.

Thankfully, this is no longer the case due to cloud computing. Data that is stored in the cloud has no chance of being deleted completely without the owner’s input due to how it is shared among multiple resources simultaneously. Data stored in the cloud is also becoming far more secure from the reach of hackers due to improved security certificates and unbreakable encryption methods. The only people that should be able to access such data are the ones given security clearance by the company.