As you know, the cloud is now omnipresent in the private sphere. But over the years, it has also taken its place at the heart of companies. The advent of the cloud has made available not only online hosting services for business data and documents, but also cloud-based software to support business management.

If you want to reduce your IT infrastructure costs or are looking for a management solution that grows with your business, cloud-based management software may be the right tool for you.

But what do we mean by “cloud-based” and what exactly are the advantages offered by this type of solution?

The cloud and its various services

As mentioned in our previous article on the cloud, a cloud is an environment that shares resources over a network. However, the term is regularly used as a shorthand for “cloud computing”, which is defined as the access to computing services, including servers, storage resources or software, over the internet (the cloud).

The different types of cloud

There are three different types of cloud: the private cloud, the public cloud and the hybrid cloud.

Private cloud

A cloud environment in which resources are dedicated exclusively to one organisation.

Public cloud

A cloud environment in which resources are publicly accessible and shared.

Hybrid Cloud

An environment that combines both private and public clouds. Private and public cloud infrastructures operate independently but are interconnected.

The different cloud services

Different services are generally offered in cloud computing, namely IaaS, PaaS and Saas.

IaaS, or Infrastructure as a Service

A cloud service provider provides an IT infrastructure (server, storage, network equipment, backup, etc.) via the Internet.

IaaS users benefit from IT resources without having to worry about their management and maintenance because the provider takes care of it.

PaaS, or platform as a service

A cloud service provider makes available via the Internet a hardware and software platform hosted on its own infrastructure.

This platform is an environment for developing and running applications. As a result, this service is particularly aimed at developers who can design applications without having to install and manage an IT infrastructure or the associated platform.

SaaS, or software as a service

A cloud service provider makes software available via the Internet.

In this way, SaaS users have access to a ready-to-use solution that does not require local installation and is maintained by the provider.

Cloud management software

So when software is referred to as “cloud” software, it essentially means that it is accessible online.

A cloud-based management solution brings many benefits to businesses, including lower costs and a smoother flow of information.

Benefits of cloud software

No installation or maintenance

Software from the cloud requires no installation. In addition, the supplier takes care of software maintenance, therefore you do not have to worry about performing any updates.

Freed from this workload, your internal IT team can then be given other tasks that are more useful to the development of your business.

Improved data sharing

By centralising business activities in the cloud, cloud software ensures that data is shared between multiple users. Information gathered in a single database can be accessed in real time and processed more quickly. And no more juggling between different copies of a file thanks to data synchronisation.

Greater mobility

Unlike locally installed software, cloud software is not limited to your desktop. Since it is accessible online, you can consult and process your data from different devices (computer, tablet, smartphone), at any time and anywhere as long as you have an internet connection

Whether you are in the field, on the road or working from home for example, the software is always at your fingertips. No more need to fumble with paperwork or re-enter information when you get back to the office: you can do everything on the spot.

Secured data

Data loss can occur in a variety of ways: faulty hardware, mishandling, viruses, disasters, etc. With cloud software, the risk of loss is reduced as your data is secured on servers and data centers. Furthermore, data backups are regularly performed in order to quickly restore your data in the event of an incident.

Reduced costs

Cloud software reduces costs on several levels. First of all, the initial price of cloud software is significantly lower than that of traditional software because it is offered in the form of a subscription, the price of which varies according to the number of users and the features implemented. This subscription model allows you to pay only for what you use, with the possibility of cancelling your subscription at any time

In addition, you avoid the additional costs of maintenance and upgrades since everything is already included in the subscription. You also avoid the costs associated with the acquisition and supply of materials.

Moreover, because it is considered a service and not an investment, cloud software is deductible from the company’s income and is therefore not accounted for as depreciation.

Scalability

The subscription offer gives great flexibility to a cloud management software. Indeed, you can readjust your subscription formula at any time to remove or add users or features. Thus, your management solution evolves according to your needs.

This also gives you the opportunity to test certain features over a short period of time to see how useful they are.

The solution to adopt?

In short, adopting a cloud management solution allows you to focus your resources on actions that will help grow your business instead of low-value tasks or expensive hardware. You also benefit from a flexible solution that grows with your business and ensures better access to your data and more security.

Aware of these numerous advantages, MCA Concept has specifically developed cloud-based management solutions to help you manage your various activities simply and efficiently, saving time and money.