Being resistant to technology will get you nowhere these days. After all, small businesses are more efficient by leveraging smartphones, apps, and software programs to save time and money. If you make a mental shift and consider the benefits of adding cloud computing to the list of technology used in your company, you will be positioned to take your business to the next level. The cloud has begun to grow and incorporate a wide variety of services for small businesses. If your business is ready for the cloud, but you don’t where to start, here are a few suggestions.

Consider The Benefits

Using applications and storage in the cloud means that your small business can grow quickly with scalable solutions. You might need only a small amount of cloud storage today, but in a few months, when your website takes off, you won’t have to purchase additional servers to keep up with demand. You can easily move to the next offering.

And speaking of physical equipment, there is none. The second you buy physical servers or a software disc, it starts becoming obsolete. You’ve got to buy a replacement once it grinds to a halt. But the cloud offers continual updates. As soon as there’s a new version of your software, you’ve got it. No downtime, no replacement cost.

Costs, too, are more manageable with cloud solutions. Rather than investing several thousand dollars up front in a solution you will have to replace in a few short years, you can often subscribe to cloud services and pay a smaller monthly fee. With that fee, you get those automatic updates, and always have the latest version of your software.

Today’s small business teams are often scattered across the country. But the cloud makes it easy for everyone on your team to access the same documents and applications, no matter where they are.

Here’s Where to Start Your Cloud Journey

If you’re sold on cloud computing, Congrats! You’re moving in the right direction. But it can be confusing to know where to go from here.

The first step is to decide what functions you want to move to the cloud. A few options for you to consider switching to the cloud are:

• Your web server
• File storage
• Application management
• Data management
• Operations platform

Once you know which business components you want to take to the cloud, start educating yourself on how the cloud can help. There are ample blogs, books, and magazines dedicated to helping small business owners like you understand how you can leverage the cloud.

Next, look for solutions providers. First, though, know what you want out of a provider in terms of your budget, functionality, and levels of support. Shop around until you find a few that meet your criteria. Many cloud solutions providers offer free trials, so test drive them until you find one that meets exactly what you’re looking for. A good provider will be there to help you integrate your new cloud services to minimize disruption in the office, and will be there with ongoing support to help you and your team transition.

Don’t be intimidated by cloud solutions. They’re there to help you and your business work smarter. Simply figure out where the cloud can best help your business, and find the right provider for your needs.