Finding the best cloud solution for your business can seem challenging. There’s a lot of information out there, and countless options, it seems. What works best for your business today may differ significantly from what will work better tomorrow.

Needs change.

That’s why it’s a good idea to get a basic understanding of what the cloud is, what your options are, what will best fit your needs.

What is the cloud?

At its most basic, the cloud is a remote server or set of servers that stores data that can be accessed via the Internet. It can include many services — some of the most popular being:

• Data storage
• Systems and data backup
• Software as a Service (i.e., cloud-based applications)
• Data and software hosting.

Depending on your company’s needs and size, you may want to use all of these features, or just a few.

Why use the cloud?

92% of small businesses are using the cloud for one reason or another, and all signs point to even greater participation. The cloud has quickly become a fixture in the business world and will likely be so for a long time to come.

Why?

For one thing, taking advantage of the cloud is a lot cheaper than housing and managing massive onsite servers that take up space and resources. It’s also easier for businesses to store, access, and share data. Companies can allow employees safe access to the information they need at a relatively low cost — anytime and anywhere, so long as they have a reliable Internet connection.

Benefits of adopting the cloud-based include:

Instantly scalable

The cloud is not going to outgrow your company, not vice versa. Whether you are facing periods of rapid growth or experiencing a temporary downturn, the cloud’s scalable nature means always having exactly the right resources needed to keep business running smoothly.

When you subscribe to a cloud service, you’re only paying for the service level you need. You can scale up or down as desired and only pay for what you need.

Improved innovation and communication

The cloud also encourages innovation at a faster pace. Because information is simultaneously available to multiple departments, it can be disseminated quickly. The roadblocks one typically associates with interdepartmental communication and collaboration overall can now be managed more effectively.

More efficient analysis of incoming data

With accessibility to the cloud for storage and onsite apps, the cloud allows users to view and analyze collected data is it comes in. By examining incoming information regularly, businesses can obtain insight into your customer behavior and provide those same customers with a better overall experience.

Types of cloud services

Cloud services come in a variety of forms, depending on your business’s specific needs. Many small businesses don’t need too many bells and whistles. They just need dedicated storage space and, perhaps, some online apps they can access anywhere.

As businesses grow in size, or as their needs evolve, there are available options for them.

Public cloud services

This is what most people think when they think of the cloud. The public cloud uses a shared infrastructure, which means anyone can access their data or cloud-based apps from any computer or device so long as they have a reliable Internet connection. Security is an aspect of the public cloud. Still, because it’s more often used by the general public as opposed to businesses with regulatory compliance or other high-risk cybersecurity concerns, it isn’t as vigorously protected as you might expect for private or hybrid clouds.

Just the same, it’s accessibility, relatively low cost, and scalability make it an excellent choice for many small businesses. While security might be more limited compared to other cloud options, there are simple, affordable steps small businesses can take, such as encryption and virtual firewalls, to add additional security levels for protecting sensitive data.

Private cloud services

If your business handles a large amount of customer data, you may wish to explore private cloud services. The structure is essentially the same as the public cloud, but there is greater control regarding who can access a private cloud account and from where.

Private cloud services only provide access and information to those within a specified business or organization. That and security protocols are more restricted. The overall service is considered more stable, and private cloud service providers add redundancies to limit downtime.

In addition, where a public cloud service may experience slow-down during times of high use and demand to shared servers, a private cloud does not as the only people accessing your organization’s private cloud servers are your own people.

Hybrid cloud services

Some people find aspects of the public cloud and aspects of a private cloud both attractive. In that case, hybrid cloud services may be the best answer. Offering the ease of the public cloud, but leveraging the private cloud’s security features, hybrid cloud services provide the best of both services.

This allows an organization to stay nimble and adjust to changing needs as they occur. The hybrid cloud features the flexibility needed to adjust as conditions change. Businesses can grow easily without having to invest in expensive equipment or add-ons. Hybrid cloud services also allow users to move between whatever level of privacy is required based on the data’s sensitivity.

Finding what works best for you

To determine which service works best for you, you need to decide what options will encourage your business to operate efficiently at a rate you can afford. That means auditing your needs and deciding what solution will work both today and tomorrow — but also realizing the cloud’s scalability allows you to adjust at any time.

Then shop around. Many of the more well-known cloud services, such as those owned by Amazon, IBM, Google, and Microsoft, also offer private and hybrid solutions. Or you may want to check any of the dozens of new cloud service providers, each offering unique features that could be of use to you.

Take advantage of cloud services to help sustain and grow your business no matter its size today or its size in years to come.