The Benefits of Cloud Computing for Remote Working

Cloud computing might be a term that you’ve heard around a lot recently. While remote working is nothing new, the global pandemic has led to a surge in the number of people working from home. Some suggest that as much as half of the UK’s workforce is now spending at least some small part of their working week from the comfort of their own homes. However, for business owners, there are practical hurdles that need to be overcome before you can fully appreciate the benefits of remote working and this is where cloud computing comes in.

What is cloud computing?

In a nutshell; cloud computing is the on-demand delivery of IT resources via the internet. Rather than buying and maintaining physical data centres and facilities, you can access on-demand services such as file storage, databases, and computing power as and when they are needed.

Many of the top businesses in the UK and across the world have turned to cloud computing as a way to handle data storage and backup, virtual desktops and email handling, analytics, disaster recovery, software development, and much, much more.

Cloud computing is not only increasing the possibilities for businesses to scale up their services, but also providing an easy way to boost connectivity and collaboration with the use of cloud storage, virtual private networks (VPNs), messaging services, and conferencing applications. Let’s take a look at some of the ways remote workers are benefiting in particular.

Security

Everyone knows that the internet can be a dangerous place. IT training, updates, and briefing your staff on new threats can go a long way. However, away from your watchful eye, it can be all too easy for an employee to unwittingly fall victim to cybercrime.

One of the main benefits of cloud computing is that security has been considered at every turn and can act as a buffer against outcomes such as data loss. Security measures are built-in and measures like user permissions and encryption can be customised and designated according to the necessary permissions needed for each user.

With your team working from integrated VPNs, you can hide a user’s IP address, encrypt data whilst it moves, and mask a user’s location.

Accessibility

Cloud computing provides all the resources that your team needs on-demand. You can access the same databases in real-time meaning that you can truly work collaboratively and have access to assets 24hrs a day.

This way you can avoid searching through email chains for documents, ensure that the data you are working with is the most current version, and increase fluidity between your workers.

Compliance

Data security is a common concern for businesses looking at transitioning to remote working and navigating regulations regarding data privacy can be difficult. Cloud computing can assist here by providing VPNs with secure storage and access. Rather than your employees using their home network connections which can be easily infiltrated, secure VPNs can be utilised instead.

Scalability

Adapting to changing and often volatile markets can often be the trick to getting ahead of the competition. However, business owners know well that while it is easy to scale up a brick-and-mortar business, it is much harder to scale down again. If you need to expand your workforce from a team of 50 to 100 and back again, issues can quickly arise.

Cloud computing allows you the freedom to apply more resources such as more servers, power, memory, and storage as and when you need it. Giving you the freedom to scale up your business on-demand and scale down when required.

One of the biggest mistakes that you can make in approaching remote working is to see it as purely a means of survival. While it is true that adopting new technologies such as cloud computing can lay a strong foundation for your operations to continue in the threat of uncertainty, it is also an opportunity to become more agile, reactive, and to set your company up for even more success.

Here at ECL, we provide businesses with IT services such as Cloud Services to help you maintain a secure and productive working environment for your employees when remote working. To find out more please call us today on 01268 575300 or email us at info@ecl.co.uk for more information.