7 Reasons Why Your Startup Should Use Cloud Computing Solutions
By Samuel Msiska
The popularity of cloud computing keeps on growing as more and more businesses (both small, medium, and big) are integrating it as part of their daily workflow. One of the emerging startup companies that are leveraging the power of cloud computing to expand its base is Hangry, an Indonesian cloud kitchen startup offering food to its customers via a multi-brand virtual restaurant. As a number of startups and big companies around the world have either made losses or gone out of business due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Hangry`s sales grew massively and earlier last month the startup raised US$ 13 million Series A funding. Wonder why companies like Hangry are opting for cloud computing? Here are some of the reasons cloud computing is gaining popularity within the business world and why as an entrepreneur you should embrace it.
Leverage high-performance computing
Cloud computing has allowed startups to run complex simulations that involve heavy computational power that was previously only possible on supercomputers. Space companies like SpaceX would not have thrived if it were not for cloud computing. They would have needed to raise hundreds of millions of dollars to buy supercomputers and build an infrastructure for running their simulations (something only Boeing and NASA would afford). Firefly Aerospace, a rocket company based in Austin, Texas, is utilizing the sheer computing power of cloud computing to run simulations that would take forever on an ordinary computer. This has saved the company time as well as money from buying supercomputers that cost more than US$ 500 million.
Increased security
Cloud computing has often been labeled “unsecure” by some, but that is not generally right. Cloud computing providers take the security of your files as a priority. Cloud providers such as Google, Shells, encrypt the data flowing between the user and their servers, ensuring it can only be accessed by authorized individuals. They also progressively build multi-layers of security and provide two-factor authentication to create a defensive layer from hackers. Data centers are also heavily protected from physical attacks, with up to 6 layers of security, so you are rest assured your data will not find itself in the hands of people with malicious intentions.
Access files and applications from anywhere
Despite that the Covid-19 situation has calmed in most parts of the world, well known including Microsoft and Twitter are still transitioning to remote working, bringing the office environment to homes. It would be impractical for employees who are working from home to carry around (sensitive) office files in a pen drive. This can put files at risk of being exposed to the public or worst case, data loss in case of a missing pen drive. Furthermore, office applications are installed on office computers making it impossible for employees to access them from home. With cloud computing, files and applications are hosted on the internet (the cloud), making them accessible anytime, anywhere from any device.
File-sharing options
Cloud computing allows you to change file and folder sharing options at your discretion. For example, if you would like to share a folder/file with only a specific people, you can do that by simply clicking on the folder options and changing the privacy settings. This will make the folder accessible to only those you have shared with. Or, you can create a folder for each team within your company and grant the members in the team access to their particular folder. This prevents cross migration of sensitive files between departments.
Cost-efficient
The story of Firefly Aerospace is a great example of a company that has utilized cloud computing to save huge operational costs. Unless if you have secured funding from billionaires like Jeff Bezos, owning an in-house IT infrastructure costs a great deal of fortune, so does maintain the infrastructure and upgrading of devices. However, most cloud computing providers offer their computing hardware over the cloud at affordable monthly subscription plans. The plans are also scalable, you can start with the lowest, and as our business grows you can always upgrade.
Time-saving
Benjamin Franklin once said in his essay, "Advice to a Young Tradesman", that “time is money”. One thing that can slow down work thus cost you time plus money is copying files between multiple devices. Cloud computing significantly reduces this time lag by allowing files to be synchronized between devices. With the devices connected to the cloud, you can immediately receive file updates across all of them.
Safety from disasters
As an entrepreneur, it is not just cyber-attacks you should worry about. The risk of data loss due to machine or device failure is inevitable. It is therefore important for a business to always have a contingency plan in case of data loss. Here is where cloud computing comes to the rescue. Cloud computing is always safe heaven compared to keeping files on local hard drives. Most cloud computing providers use what is called redundancy; they keep your data on multiple servers but also in multiple data centers in different geographical locations. So, even if one machine malfunctions or during a natural disaster, your data is still safe.