by Mike Fowler, CEO of Integris
Cloud computing. It’s the buzzword on everybody’s lips these days. And it’s not hard to see why. Cloud computing has freed us from corporate server rooms, made remote working seamless, and offered enterprise-level software scalable for even small companies. Now, with the introduction of Microsoft Windows 365 Cloud PC, even your computer’s operating system can be put in the cloud. It’s a tremendous convenience. But can moving to the cloud really save you money?
In a word—yes.
Cloud computing can save your company big, in time, equipment and more. It’s the reason why everyone in the tech industry has been so excited about it, and so ready to jump on the bandwagon. If you haven’t made the modern workplace journey to the cloud yet, the time to consider it may be here. Let’s talk about what moving to the cloud can look like, in dollars and cents, for the average small to medium-sized business.
What can a cloud migration save you?
#1: The Cloud Lowers Your Equipment Costs
When you migrate your data storage and software to the cloud, you eliminate the need to have onsite, cold-room storage for banks of data servers. Server rooms becomes a real hassle in an era where companies may be going in and out of lockdown. Having an onsite server room also opens you up to risk of data corruption from natural disasters, power outages/surges, and cyber attacks.
As the Cloud has gotten more sophisticated, the savings just keep adding up. This fall, Microsoft unveiled Microsoft Windows 365 Cloud PC—a revolutionary new service that puts your computer’s operating system in the cloud, streaming continuously. Putting your systems on Cloud PC allows your people to work from anywhere, on any type of computer, and get the same experience they would on their corporate desktop. When all your computing power is in the cloud, that makes your systems truly device agnostic. And you know what means, don’t you?
Companies that run Cloud PC don’t have to replace their laptops so often. It could double the life of every work computer in your inventory. We conservatively estimate it could save you 30 percent every year in your equipment budget.
#2: Cloud Computing Cuts the Fat from Your Software Licensing Budget
Companies running on traditional systems have to purchase software licenses for the year, or longer, for every work terminal they use. But what happens when an employee leaves, or is downsized? What happens when your seasonal staff comes and goes, or you close locations? You’ve just paid for software licenses you no longer need.
When you’ve migrated to the cloud, your software is leased on a monthly basis, not purchased. That means you can eliminate extra licenses. You only pay for what you are using. It’s the ultimate, scalable software solution that grows or contracts with your business.
#3: Cloud Computing Saves Time—and That Saves You Money, Too
Cloud computing is one of the great productivity tools of our time. Why? Because all your files are searchable, and sharable by teams. Comments and supporting materials are grouped together by tasks. Employees can share planners and workflows and see the progress of work in real time. No more fretting over whether you’ve got the right versions of a document. No more waiting for someone to forward a document in an email, or answer a question on the phone. Any team member can see work progress, ask questions in real time, and interact with world-class messaging apps.
When you work in the cloud, you take the friction out of your work day. That can up your productivity by as much as 20 percent.
#4: The Cloud Eliminates the Hard Costs of Server Maintenance
Server rooms cost money to maintain. Your utilities are higher, because servers require lots of electricity to run. So do the cold-rooms that house them. Whole wings of your company could decide to go remote, if only you didn’t have to keep up the real estate expense to house your network. That could physically impede your company’s ability to be nimble. And what about your insurance? When you’ve got a server room and hardwired network, that goes up, too.
#5: The Cloud Saves You Headcount
When you’ve got a lot of equipment, licenses and servers to manage, you may feel as though you have to have at least one onsite IT person to keep it all running properly. But cloud computing puts all that maintenance and security in the hands of your cloud provider. When you layer in the 24/7 monitoring and maintenance you get when you work with a managed service provider like Integris, you don’t need to have onsite IT personnel, at all. Just one monthly cost is needed to handle all your IT management needs. No need to pay benefits, insurance or any of the other hard costs that come along with a bigger staff.
Some Parting Thoughts…
When companies consider migrating to the Cloud, it can seem like a complicated, overwhelming process. It’s not. While there are often a lot of moving pieces, the actual migration can be simple, if it’s well thought out. That’s where Iconic comes in. We walk you through it step by step, and in minutes, we can create a migration plan for you.
For most companies that we work with, migrating to the cloud has changed their bottom line and their operations for the better. If you’re ready to take the “modern workplace journey,” we have lots of reports and case studies for you to consider on our website. And, as always, if you’d like to explore cloud based tools for your business, or upgrade your cloud services, call our support team, or contact us online. Our team is always happy to match you with the services you need!
