Already Adopted Cloud Services?

It’s been said that a wise man learns from his mistakes but a wiser man learns from the mistakes of others. Business owners who want to fall into the latter category may find the following list of lessons from cloud services adopters helpful in planning out their own cloud migration strategy. This list is by no means comprehensive but it does cover the most common and potentially devastating mistakes a business owner can make when planning and executing a move to the cloud services of his or her choice.

Create a Cloud Strategy for the Entire Company

Your marketing department may have different needs than the finance department but that doesn’t mean each department should come up with its own cloud solutions. Every single company, even the very largest ones, need a united cloud strategy that is tailored to meet the entire company’s needs.

Determining which cloud services are best for the corporation is no easy task. That’s why it’s wise to partner with an IT consultant who specializes in cloud platforms, migration, and support. Even so, the IT specialist shouldn’t try to map out a cloud strategy without any input from a business owner. In fact, the IT specialist will need to hear from all department heads in the company to know what the priorities, needs, and industry requirements are. It will take teamwork to create a single, organized, lasting cloud strategy for the business but the results are more than worth it as you’ll have a reliable network set-up that will propel your business forward now and in the future.

Adapt IT Management Rules and Procedures to Reflect the Use of New Technology

Don’t wait until your company has transitioned to the cloud to create rules and policies regarding company cloud usage. Consider how transitioning to the cloud will affect your current IT rules, make policy changes in advance, and make sure every single employee knows what the changes are. Following are some points to take into account as you look at your current (and future) company IT policies:

• Will cloud storage files be accessible to everyone or will certain portions of the cloud have limited access? If some files are restricted, do employees know who to ask for help if they need to access this information?
• What remote operations policy is in place for employees who will use the cloud to work remotely? Will these employees be given a company computer to work with or use a personal device? If they use a personal device, will it be checked for malware? Are there rules regarding what type of internet connection can be used to access company data?
• Will usernames and/or passwords change when files are moved to the cloud? If so, do employees know what their new usernames/passwords will be?
• Do your employees know what to do if they suspect cloud storage access has been breached by a malicious third party?

Bear in mind that adapting IT rules and regulations is an ongoing process. As cloud technology inevitably changes, you’ll need to regularly assess your IT protocols to ensure your cloud set-up remains secure and running at optimal speed and performance.

Don’t Ignore Cybersecurity

Cloud servers are inherently more secure than on-premise ones. Recent statistics show that 94% of businesses have experienced improved cybersecurity after moving to the cloud while 91% of companies have found that cloud technology has helped them deal with government compliance requirements. However, this doesn’t mean that every single cloud service has all the cybersecurity features and amenities you need for your business. Some businesses need a hybrid cloud/in-house server set-up to stay in step with industry requirements. Others rely on a hybrid cloud solution that uses both a public and private cloud. Still other businesses need to set up a VPN to ensure that files in transit to and from the cloud are encrypted and thus safe from prying eyes. Pay close attention to the cybersecurity features your chosen cloud platform offers and work with an IT company that offers 24/7 cloud monitoring and support services to keep your cloud storage set-up safe and secure.

Introducing 360 Smart Networks Cloud Services

Moving to the cloud is no small task. What’s more, you’ll need ongoing help to monitor and update your cloud set-up. While some companies hire an IT professional or department to handle this job, others have found that outsourcing cloud management to a reputable, reliable IT managed service is the most affordable and efficient option.

360 Smart Networks is an Atlanta-based IT managed service that offers cutting-edge cloud services and support to companies throughout the Southeastern United States. Our services are scalable and adaptable to meet your needs and we use only the best tools and technologies to ensure your cloud set-up is secure and in good working order at all times. Our support team offers 24/7 assistance to keep your business running smoothly at all times and our expert technicians always on the job, proactively looking for ways to improve your IT operations to help your business reach its goals faster and easier than would have otherwise been possible. What’s more, our team specializes in cybersecurity, business continuity, and disaster recovery planning to keep you running smoothly no matter what’s going on in the world around you.

Would you like to take full advantage of all that cloud technology has to offer? If so, give us a call at your convenience to learn more about our services or to make an appointment with our team of IT experts. We will work with you to not only apply the lessons outlined above but also create custom cloud solutions that grow with your business so you can fully focus on your core business goals long-term.