Small businesses face several unique challenges not felt by their larger competitors. But when it comes to computing, cloud services have helped level the playing field. With nearly 40 percent of SMBs currently embracing cloud technology, and experts predicting those numbers to double, there’s never been a better time to make a move. If you need more reasons to move your small business to the cloud, the following slides present nine of the best.

• COST SAVINGS The high hardware price may be out of reach for many small businesses. With on-site technology, including software, servers, and computers, equipment is traditionally purchased, installed, managed, and maintained by IT personnel. In addition to the strain on IT resources, valuable office space, high energy costs, and replacement fees add even more to capital expenditure costs. By migrating part, or all of your business functions to the cloud, you can expect significant cost savings, transferring those capital expenditures to your cloud services provider.
• AUTOMATIC UPDATES In addition to managing and maintaining the IT infrastructure, software updates and renewals are included in your cloud subscription and handled by the vendor. This means your system will always be up to date with cutting-edge technology, including security patches and upgrades.
• BANDWIDTH FLEXIBILITY Companies with changing or growing demands will appreciate the flexibility of cloud computing, which is easily scalable to meet increasing or decreasing bandwidth demands.
• DATA RECOVERY Cloud-based recovery and backup solutions can help your business get back on its feet quickly and easily in a disaster, relieving your organization from dealing with the complexities associated with disaster recovery management.
• FREEDOM With cloud computing, employees can work from virtually anywhere with an Internet connection, enhancing productivity. Furthermore, with the prevalence of mobile app solutions, users are not restricted by device, increasing flexibility and freedom even further.
• SECURITY Lost or stolen devices are a financial hit, but the information they contain is much more valuable. Thanks to cloud computing, you no longer need to sacrifice security for mobility, with solutions designed to enhance your defense system due to the stringent ISO security standards that cloud providers are held to. In addition, regular security audits, updates, encryption and security certificates, and remote data wiping heighten security further.
• COMPETITIVE EDGE The pay-as-you-go cloud computing model means SMBs no longer need to pay big money to access the same IT infrastructure as their larger competitors. Instead, cloud business applications provide the tools and computing power required to remain competitive in today’s marketplace, with a reduced risk factor, allowing SMBs to act much faster than bigger, more established firms.
• REDUCED CARBON FOOTPRINT Cloud computing is an eco-friendly solution, where shared data centers utilize fewer machines to achieve the same capacity as larger in-house infrastructures. This leads to a reduction in energy usage, greater equipment efficiency, and consolidated climate control costs.
• ACCESSIBLE Providing your teams the ability to access, edit and share information anytime, anywhere significantly enhances collaboration capabilities with real-time updates and increased visibility.