Advantages of a managed cloud service for business resilience

Studies have shown that enterprises embracing the latest technological solutions are achieving greater success at staying resilient amidst the recent COVID-19 outbreak. Companies that already allowed staff to operate flexibly from home and had pre-existing data security measures in place found they could provide a seamless service for their clients, with staff able to perform their roles efficiently and safely from a remote location.

As part of an effective strategy to keep operating efficiently, many firms are now selecting managed cloud services. This solution can have a wide range of benefits for businesses, providing a wealth of useful features while avoiding the worries of time-consuming maintenance and what can sometimes be disproportionate and unnecessary costs.

Handling and storing data is part of every modern company’s operations and keeping this information secure is crucial. On-premises data storage is at risk from a wide range of security threats, expensive downtime and unwanted data loss, however, these issues can be mitigated effectively when information is managed in the cloud.

Migrating enterprise data from on-site storage to the cloud may seem like a daunting task, but it is simpler to implement than many other systems. In the following sections, we’ll explore the nature of managed cloud services and look at eight advantages companies can enjoy when they use them.

Effective cost management

Using cloud-managed services can effectively reduce costs, as monthly payments need only be made for facilities that are being used. Plans can be customised, bespoke to business needs allowing firms to optimise IT support payments and only spend on a setup that is truly required. Reducing unnecessary expenses is an important part of any firm’s longevity.

Centralised network

Enterprises can benefit from a managed cloud service provider (MSP) that effectively tends all servers and apps in the central data centre as part of the dedicated cloud network. This enables multiple users to access central data in the same network along with any virtual services that are available. Using the cloud, firms can also create backup and storage facilities within the central network. All these features create smoother business processes, with staff using the enhanced network availability to share and save data efficiently.

Enhanced scalability

Managed cloud services offer plenty of room for expansion, ideal for growing businesses. With the aid of managed cloud services, businesses are also able to focus on operations while time-consuming technical issues are attended to by the dedicated service provider.

Data restoration

Firms still employing servers on premises often have complicated recovery plans in place with data stored off-site in case a disaster should happen. Managed cloud services, on the other hand, ensure data is always secure and safe across all applications and services. This means that businesses using cloud storage can remain resilient and return to full operations with data fully restored swiftly and minimise any downtime suffered.

Maintaining network security

Cloud Services depend on the internet as their base network, offering a solution free from the risk of physical threats. Firewalls, secure VLANs, as well as IDS/IPS can all be established for a single or multiple cloud servers, creating a secure and dedicated network environment for users. Sensitive data stored in the cloud is not put at risk in the same way as content saved to laptops and other computers. This can be ideal when staff must work remotely, allowing them to use and save data safely, always protected by cloud service security protocols.

By using managed cloud services, companies can ensure all their applications are running the very latest versions as all updates are handled automatically by the service provider. This means that the most recent security patches will also be running ensuring sensitive data and systems are never left vulnerable.

Increased accessibility

Managed cloud services allow users 24-hour access, so they are not fixed to working within regular nine-to-five office restrictions. This greater level of accessibility enables employees to work flexibly without any obstruction, improving workflow.

Improvements to infrastructure

A fortified and dependable network infrastructure that benefits from round the clock management is easily achieved using managed cloud services. Providers can scan and monitor a company network ensuring it stays compliant with the latest legislation and required security regulations. They can also make certain that all solutions being used are robust and functioning at optimal performance levels.

Rapid response times

With the assistance of support from professional cloud managed services, companies can expect faster response times overall across monitoring levels. Dedicated service providers are capable of monitoring, accessing, and performing repairs to fix any network issue quickly. This means that firms can ensure their staff and business processes will be able to work smoothly without interruptions.

If your company is adopting a managed cloud service to keep operating effectively while working remotely, join us on Twitter @cwcs_hosting and share your successes with other enterprises.