The cost of lost data keeps increasing, and for small businesses, a breach or natural disaster can mean the threat of lost business or the potential to close their doors altogether. According to a 2016 report from the Ponemon Institute, the average cost of a data breach increased from $3.8 million in 2015 to $4 million last year. Without secure backups in place to protect your company’s documents, you could literally lose everything in an instant.
Whether you’re just starting out in business or are looking for greater efficiencies, there are countless benefits in implementing a cloud backup and file sync service. Plus, using these tools can take the guesswork out of security, allowing your business to boost productivity.
Cloud Storage Benefits a Mobile Workforce
Employees today do work on whatever device is most conducive to their environment and style. From tablets to smartphones to at-home laptop computers, workers aren’t chained to office desks in order to be productive. Independent technology and market research company Forrester reports more than half of North American and European businesses have rolled out bring-your-own-device policies. Using a cloud storage service allows your business to store data in a central location, with permissions-based sharing so employees can access what they need wherever they are and on whatever device they’re using.
Cloud backup also protects precious documents from mobile threats. In Gartner’s Predicts 2017: Endpoint and Mobile Security report, the IT research and advisory company states attacks to mobile device are on the rise due to increased vulnerabilities in the framework of these devices. What can be done to safeguard important, proprietary company information? Well, adopting a cloud sync service like Mozy that uses military- and banking-grade encryption standards can help ensure files are safeguarded on numerous devices, including smartphones that may be used on open and vulnerable Wi-Fi networks.
Cloud Backup Increases Efficiency, Decreases Errors
Lengthy email chains, failed file downloads and missed communications can curtail business productivity. With a centralized location to manage documents and workflow, the right employees have access to the data they need. This helps to eliminate confusion, allows workplace activities to occur with greater speed and efficiency, and helps to remove bottlenecks that slow down operations.
For businesses with remote employees, using a cloud storage service also helps to ensure everyone is on the same page regarding compliance and messaging. Legal issues are avoided when the latest brand guidelines are able to be downloaded. And graphic designers, writers and marketers who work remotely can thereby access past campaigns to gain inspiration or go in an entirely different direction. Plus, an accurate, up-to-date and historical record of business assets helps a company innovate and evolve.
Secure Cloud Sync Unburdens IT
By using a trusted cloud sync provider, your company’s IT department gets a powerful partner to protect your data, thereby reducing the burden on your workforce and allowing them to focus on other projects. Secure servers that are constantly monitored for threats and that have the best industry standards regarding security allow for dependable uptime. Even one hour of downtime can cost many small-to-medium-sized businesses tens of thousands of dollars, TechRadar reports.
Using cloud backup provides a business with peace of mind that their data is secure, recoverable in case of a virtual or physical disaster, and always on hand to access in order to improve efficiency. Employees benefit from the responsive design and ease of use a cloud backup solution provides on any device, while an IT team appreciates the impenetrable layer of security a cloud backup system adds to business data. Considering the monumental costs of data loss and downtime, plus the problems human error and manual processes present, using cloud backup provides ongoing positive ROI — and keeps both employees and customers satisfied with reliable data protection.
