If you run a small business, you know that it’s important to keep careful control of your budget. So you may be hesitant to take advantage of cloud computing, because you will need to pay a cloud provider (or vendor) for their services. However, cloud computing is far more cost effective than developing and maintaining your own IT infrastructure. What’s more, it can be used for data storage, to access Software as a Service (SaaS) programs and to handle customer demand for your website. In short, it’s almost completely indispensable to modern small businesses. But your concerns over budget are still valid and important. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of cost-saving tips to help reduce the cost of your cloud-computing activities.
1. Shop around
Many small businesses don’t realise just how many cloud computing vendors are available. If you want to find a cloud computing solution that fits your budgetary requirements, you will need to research as many different vendors as possible. If you look carefully enough, you will find one who offers a solution that suits your needs at a price you can afford.
2. Only pay for what you need
Cloud computing is infinitely scalable. That’s part of the appeal! You can buy as much space for data storage in the cloud as you need, or rent SaaS for as long as you need it. You can even purchase huge amounts of server-space to deal with customers viewing and interacting with your website. However, you need to be careful. It’s easy to overestimate the amount of space you need in the cloud, or the amount of time you will use a particular piece of SaaS. This can cause your costs to rise rapidly, as you pay for cloud services that you don’t really need and which aren’t creating any benefits for your business. To avoid this, you should calculate your cloud computing needs carefully before paying for anything.
3. Don’t be afraid to change vendor
If a cloud computing solution isn’t working well for you and doesn’t seem to be cost-effective, don’t be afraid to scrap it and go back to the drawing board. In the long run, the cost of changing to a new vendor with a new solution is generally lower than maintaining an ineffective and pricey cloud computing solution. This is because cloud computing has few physical requirements, so you don’t need to replace or change any of your own IT infrastructure when you shift from one vendor to another.
Many small businesses are intimidated by the potential cost of cloud computing, but there’s no need to be. By reading our simple tips, you’ve already taken the first step to cost-effective cloud computing. Here at Bits and PCs, we’ve provided business IT support in London for long enough to know that the benefits of cloud computing can’t be overlooked. You just need to know how to get the best price!
