By Sam Broadbent, Account Manager at Backup-Technology
January 20, 2017

Backup Technology Cloud Backup Expert Tips: Why Cloud Collaboration is Very Important

Wikipedia defines “Cloud Collaboration” as “a way of sharing and co-authoring computer files through the use of cloud computing, whereby documents are uploaded to a central “cloud” for storage, where they can then be accessed by others. Cloud collaboration technologies allow users to upload, comment and collaborate on documents and even amend the document itself, evolving the document.”

The increased ease with which employees can now collaborate online is one of the most important and revolutionary of all of the advantages that the Internet itself has brought to the table for businesses of all sizes. However, although online collaboration (both over LANs and the cloud) has been readily available through a variety of different means to businesses for some time now, many enterprises are still somehow hesitant to take advantage of these valuable tools, often opting instead for basic email exchanges as their go-to collaboration method. With all the myriad advantages of utilising the cloud for collaboration, why are these enterprises still holding on to doing things the old fashioned way?

First off, some companies that have yet to harness the power of the cloud may try to point toward the relative familiarity and simplicity of using email for collaboration versus cutting edge cloud tools. However, this can be seen as somewhat ironic when one considers the fact that, when compared to the streamlined process of collaboration in the cloud, group projects through email can often become suddenly very complicated at a moment’s notice, with potential mis-saves to storage servers being a constant risk, not to mention the confusion that can result as to which collaborator has the most recent version of the collaborative project in question. In addition to this, the very simplicity of this one-way communication style often also serves to inhibit creativity by forcing the participants to create a rigid, preconceived hierarchical structure so as to avoid the above-mentioned confusions, delays and accidents that can be so common to collaborative email threads.

Another factor that often leaves businesses afraid to take advantage of the cloud for collaboration are ill-informed concerns over security. While being cautious about security is an understandable, nay, advisable stance for people to take (especially when beginning to use a new technology), it is important to keep in mind that, once again, cloud collaboration has been around for some time now, and thus potential security issues have been thoroughly addressed by cloud vendors. In fact, files being shared and accessed in the cloud oftentimes end up being more secure than ones passed around through email as simple unencrypted attachments!

Indeed, cloud backup and cloud computing companies are well aware of the potential for mobile data to be vulnerable to hackers, eavesdroppers and other malicious agents, so advanced security procedures like high-level data encryption and varying access privileges for all of the different collaborators make it so that files remain exclusively available only to those in the collaboration group.

Yet another unfortunate factor keeping some businesses from utilising cloud services for collaboration is that they fear that it would be cost prohibitive. After all, since using email is basically free, why pay to collaborate online? Well, it is important to keep in mind that cloud services are often now leveraged in a pay-as-you-go fashion, so businesses only have to pay for the services that they actually use. In addition to this, cloud computing services are now commonly bundled with online data backup packages and other utilities that businesses are already paying for in the first place! Also, cloud collaboration can be thought to wring more value out of hardware that businesses and employees have already invested in like smartphones, laptops and iPads. When you combine these factors with the collaboration-ready aspects of social networks like LinkedIn and Facebook, the potential result is a highly fluid and dynamic work environment in which employees can communicate and collaborate freely regardless of their physical locations, granting business owners and CEOs the peace of mind of knowing that they are getting the maximum return on their enterprise’s investment.

Of course, we here at Backup Technology Limited (BTL) don’t just see cloud collaboration as the way of the future; we think it should be the way of the present as well! For this reason, we have assembled the most cutting edge suite of cloud computing tools in our cloud services. And, with top of the line data protection practises like bank-grade encryption and advanced password security protocols, you’ll never have to worry about anyone except who you deem fit getting their hands on your precious data. So, speaking of not having to take any risks; why not visit our website and try our free trial today? We think that you’ll find that cloud collaboration is just one of the myriad advantages that BTL can bring to your SMB.

Visit our website here: www.backup-technology.com/cloud-backup

Sam Broadbent

About the Author: Sam Broadbent is Account Manager at Backup-Technology, an Asigra powered cloud backup and disaster recovery solutions provider.

 

 

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