FEATURE : CLOUD STORAGE
Why African businesses should move to the cloud ?
Switching to the cloud sounds expensive , and upfront , it can be . But you might be surprised when you break it down . As an example , a switch to a cloud server might rack up data transfer costs to move everything from a physical to a virtual server . But you are immediately cutting your costs on electricity , maintenance and hefty hardware upgrade bills . are all linked . This all makes for happier , more efficient and productive workplaces .
Add to this how simple the cloud is to scale . Gone are the days of waiting for a new line or additional storage to be physically installed , you can do this with a click of a button now .
When weighing up the financial aspects , look out for sneaky , hidden costs . Cloud PBX providers , for example , may try to hide behind connection fees and complex billing structures like paying for a full minute when you only spoke for 32 seconds . But there is nowhere to hide with per second billing- you just pay for what you use .
It is a myth that on-premises systems are safer than the cloud . All it takes is one employee and a phishing email to bring the whole organisation to its knees . Cloud , on the other hand , offers multiple layers of security , including encryption and multi-factor authentication .
People often confuse cost with value . But value is more than just what you pay upfront . A switch to cloud means fewer system failures and frustrating downtime . It is also more agile so you can scale up or down easily to suit your needs .
That said , there are still risks that both you and your cloud security provider should be on top of . Your phone system , for example , operates on the same networks as your computers , so if one is breached , the other is at risk .
But the big bonus lies in the way cloud technology supercharges big data analytics . The result ? Smarter , faster business decisions , whether you are tracking customer behaviour , analysing call reports or spotting fraud before it even happens .
Nic Laschinger , CTO , Euphoria Telecom
Cloud systems are just more flexible than on-premises ones and they make your business more flexible too . Cloud based productivity suites and phones give your teams the flexibility to stay connected , no matter where they are in the world . Many of these solutions also integrate effortlessly , so your CRM , PBX , storage and data backups
Switching to full cloud systems will need new skills like cloud architecture , DevOps and security and data governance . There is no getting around the fact that some of these are in short supply and expensive . So if you are making the switch , upskilling and retraining your existing people can be a smarter , more-cost effective solution .
Bear in mind that not every business is going to need full scale cloud architecture either . A small business can very easily get away with the tools and storage offered by productivity suites like Google , Microsoft and Zoho , coupled with a decent phone system .
Moving to the cloud is not just about having shinier , faster systems . It is a strategic shift , a way to future-proof your business , cut down on inefficiencies , and get ahead of the competition .
Future of file storage
As organisations continue to generate vast amounts of data , the need for efficient and effective storage solutions will only grow . Multi-cloud strategies represent a significant shift in how businesses can manage their data , moving from isolated silos to a unified , accessible and secure ecosystem .
By adopting a multi-cloud approach , enterprises can unlock the full potential of their data , driving innovation , improving decision-making , and gaining a competitive edge . The shift from data silos to a multi-cloud approach is not just a technological evolution – it is a fundamental transformation of how businesses operate in the digital age . p
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