Thanks to the rise of the internet over the past few decades, it is now possible for anyone, anywhere to set up a small business of their own. However, opting to do so brings with it an abundance of documents and data, typically requiring far more storage space than any laptop can cope with.
If you are a small business owner currently in this position—looking for an easier, more secure, and cheaper way of storing your business' data—then look no further. Managed cloud hosting can do all this and more, streamlining your business processes and making it easy to stay on top of your storage.
Still need convincing? We hear you. Listed below are six of the key reasons why managed cloud hosting is, simply put, a must-have for any small business owner.
1. Offers excellent customer support
Most small businesses tend to not be equipped with IT staff able to manage hosting or keep on top of updates. This prevents them from being successful, substantially slowing down their progression since their time is needing to be utilized elsewhere. Having excellent customer support available can therefore make a huge difference.
Whether it be dealing with day-to-day management, major upgrades or hosting alterations, most cloud hosting operators offer 24/7 customer support. Available at all times on both phone and email, having this option available removes a huge burden from your IT staff, freeing up their time to manage other important areas of the business.
2. Utilizes advanced caching
Thanks to the pre-packaged advanced caching features that managed cloud hosting can provide, this takes the stress away from having to manage the cache yourself. Traditional cloud hosting requires you to optimize your caching from the start. This, in turn, requires a lot of your time and attention to ensure you’re always getting the most out of it.
Managed cloud hosting streamlines this entire process, providing you with all the benefits of advanced caching without the need to manage it all yourself. Easy peasy.
3. Improves security
Cyberattacks are on the rise so, as sad as it is to say, having effective cybersecurity approaches in place is imperative to staying safe and secure. While you may think all types of hosting are secure, you would be mistaken—certain hosting providers simply lack the resources and technology to sufficiently protect organizations.
Managed cloud hosting doesn't suffer the same issue, offering a dedicated service which utilizes powerful cybersecurity controls to protect data. While it won't make your business entirely invulnerable, and you'll still need to think about how cybersecurity affects other areas of your business, it will at least mean you won't need to worry about cybersecurity from the hosting side.
4. Utilizes the power of the cloud
Using the cloud instead of on-premise services can provide several benefits you may not necessarily be aware of. From faster loading times to automated backups, the cloud is fast becoming an essential component to companies and organisations of all shapes and sizes.
To put this in perspective, around 96 percent of companies are currently known to use the cloud in some form. If you’re not, then you’re probably doing something wrong.
5. Scalable
Having a scalable cloud hosting system is absolutely vital, especially for smaller businesses. However, certain forms of hosting don't make it as easy as it should be. Shared hosting providers often don't give companies the flexibility or freedom to upgrade their plan or, if they do, charge excessive premiums for the privilege.
Managed cloud hosting, on the other hand, means you only ever pay for the resources you actually use. Moreover, changes can be made instantly and any spikes in demand can be dealt with without any fuss.
6. Automates backups and recovery
Losing data is a big problem for businesses of any size or stature, so it's important to have steps in place which can minimize the risk of this happening to your organization.
Managed hosting takes care of this for you, dealing with everything from the website backup to the server management on your behalf. This, in turn, gives you one less thing to worry about, providing you with more time to focus on other things.
Traditional forms of hosting don't offer this benefit, and instead require you to take care of all the backups and plan for recovery issues yourself.
