A medium-sized company requires considerable storage space to manage customer data, personnel information and other business-relevant data. A calculation shows that a separate room with several servers would traditionally be required for around 10 terabytes of data. The costs for acquisition, maintenance and energy could easily run into the tens of thousands. In view of these high investment costs, many companies are looking for alternative storage solutions. Innovative and efficient alternatives could be cloud providers.
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Cloud services: Why they bring efficiency
A key advantage of the solutions: Companies remain technically flexible and only pay for the storage space they actually need. This minimises the risk of overcapacity and unnecessary costs. In addition, in-house IT resources can be better utilised as only the interface to the cloud storage needs to be managed and not the entire hardware and software infrastructure.
Flexibility through scalability
The scalability of cloud technology offers companies significant financial flexibility by only paying for the storage space they actually need. This adaptability is crucial to reduce unnecessary costs and the risk of overcapacity. In addition, the use of cloud storage enables more efficient utilisation of internal IT resources. Companies do not have to worry about the comprehensive management of the entire hardware and software infrastructure, but only about the interfaces to the cloud.
The use of financial planning and analysis software in the cloud instead of on local systems illustrates further advantages of cloud technology. Companies benefit from the constant availability of the latest functions and security updates without having to maintain and update complex IT infrastructures themselves. This not only leads to cost savings, but also increases the efficiency and security of financial processes.
Efficient decisions: How to find the best cloud provider
Companies take a big step when they decide in favour of a cloud provider. Not only are they entrusting their data externally, but they are also reliant on fast help in an emergency or cost transparency. It therefore makes sense to compare providers before outsourcing data storage. When it comes to the checklist of important points, every company has its own preferences, depending on data volume, industry and so on.
Geographical location and legal aspects
The physical location of a cloud provider’s data centres can have both legal and performance-related implications. To ensure security, for example, it is essential that cloud providers implement a variety of measures. These include advanced encryption techniques, regular security audits and comprehensive access controls. It is crucial that providers disclose which security protocols are used to protect the integrity and confidentiality of data.
A strict security policy is essential to maintain customer trust and protect their sensitive data. The geographical location of the data centres and the associated legal aspects also play a decisive role here. Companies must ensure that their data is stored and processed in accordance with local and international laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in Europe.
These legal considerations are particularly important when it comes to storing European data in cloud services outside the EU, such as in the USA. Conflicts can arise here between EU data protection laws and the far-reaching access authorisations of the US authorities. One example of this is the case of Facebook, which led to a record fine in May because the security measures for data transfers from the EU to the US were deemed inadequate.
Support and service quality
Support and reliability of support are also critical factors when choosing a cloud provider. Reliable customer service means that problems can be identified and resolved quickly. A good cloud provider should be available around the clock and offer competent technical support. A provider’s ability to respond quickly and effectively to problems can have a significant impact on the uptime and performance of cloud services.