Cloud computing has been increasing in popularity in recent years. The rise of server virtualization, the increases in bandwidth and broadband reliability and hardware advancements have led to increased power, availability and practicality of offsite data processing and online file storage. Cloud computing increases the efficiency of a business’s IT department and, in turn, makes the business as a whole more agile. Five ways in which cloud computing can aid a business are through data protection/recovery, availability of access to data, scalability, reduced cost, and allowing IT staff members to focus on higher-level tasks.

1. Data Protection

Perhaps one of the greatest benefits offered by cloud computing is the level of data protection and redundancy provided to cloud clients. Because data is stored offsite, power and network outages won’t affect availability for travelling users. A professionally hosted cloud service offers multiple layers of redundancy and failovers, often located in different areas of the country, capable of providing near 100% uptime to users. Further, cloud hosts often have a robust backup system that allows them to restore any lost data quickly, minimizing the risks of a company being without vital data.

2. Data Access

Cloud hosting, by its nature, makes stored data available across the Internet. This lends itself well to use by businesses with traveling employees. When a salesperson is giving a presentation in a remote location, online file storage allows them to access their documents anywhere they have an Internet connection, effectively eliminating the days of panicking over a missing presentation file.

3. Scalability

Virtualization allows multiple server programs to reside on the same machine–or multiple machines–and quickly delegate system resources for more intensive tasks. This allows clients to request resources as they need them and eliminates the need to forecast their needs. This can be especially helpful for new businesses that many not have a way to reliably predict their needs. Further, when a company does experience growth, they’ll have the ability to quickly scale their available resources to meet their demands.

4. Cost

Because businesses aren’t locked into a specific server and have the flexibility of the cloud, they can save money on their hosting by reducing their resources to meet their everyday needs, only paying for additional resources when they’re required. Also, businesses that use cloud hosting don’t have to pay up-front to purchase server hardware, power it and manage it. All of these costs are wrapped up in their monthly subscription fees and the costs of the host are spread out among all their clients.

5. Personnel

For companies and IT departments with tight budgets, freeing staff from performing low-level management of servers can be a valuable asset. Cloud hosts provide all physical and networking support, allowing the client to focus its IT staff on development and managing services.

Cloud computing provides many benefits for modern businesses, giving them increased data security and redundancy as well as providing remote access for travelling business members. The high scalability and low relative cost allows businesses to save money while still having their IT needs met. Finally, because IT personnel aren’t spending time managing the servers hosted in the cloud, more time, money and energy can be spent on company projects and development.

Thomas Stone is a content-manager and his company uses online file storage to handle all of their data-storage and project-management needs.