In today's digital landscape, cloud storage has become a game-changer for small businesses. It offers a convenient and secure way to store and access data, collaborate with team members, and scale storage capacity as needed. Yet with so many cloud storage solutions on the market, choosing the best fit for your company isn't always easy.
However, examining the cost, storage capacity, and features of different options empowers small business owners to make informed choices that meet their unique requirements.
Let's delve into the basics of cloud storage, the main factors to consider when selecting, and the capabilities of some of the leading cloud storage providers available.
What Is Cloud Storage?
Cloud storage is a revolutionary technology that allows small businesses to securely store and access their data on remote servers over the internet. It eliminates the need for physical storage devices and provides several practical benefits.
Firstly, cloud storage offers scalability, enabling small businesses to effortlessly expand their storage capacity as their data grows without the hassle of purchasing and managing additional hardware. This flexibility allows them to adapt to changing business requirements seamlessly.
Secondly, with cloud storage comes greater accessibility and convenience, allowing you to access your files from anywhere, anytime, using various devices such as laptops, tablets, or smartphones. But perhaps most importantly for small businesses, cloud storage facilitates easy collaboration among team members.
It provides features like file sharing, version control, and real-time editing, letting employees work collaboratively on documents, presentations, and other files. This technology can streamline workflow and greatly enhance productivity, especially for remote or geographically dispersed teams.
Key Considerations for Small Businesses
When shopping around for the best cloud storage providers, it's important to note that what works for another business may not work for yours.
Google Drive
- Storage Capacity - Up to 5 terabytes.
- Pricing - $6 per monthly user (30 GB of pooled storage).
- Features -
- Collaboration capabilities: Full team collaboration, allowing up to 50 users to work on the same document simultaneously.
- Advanced search features: Allows users to easily locate and access files with search fields for keywords, dates, document type, and more.
- Google Drive App: Greater convenience with a free mobile app lets you work on the go and scan images directly to your drive.
Microsoft OneDrive
- Storage capacity - Unlimited individual cloud storage for qualifying plans for subscriptions of five or more users (otherwise, 1 terabyte per user).
- Pricing - Starts at $5 per user per month (1 terabyte per user).
- Features -
- Visibility and admin controls: Enhance admin capabilities with sync reports, apply sensitivity labels, and manage migration.
- Improved functionality and visuals: Save time by using the file detail pane to quickly see information about each file (as well as other helpful visual improvements, such as Dark Mode).
- Document scanning: Easily scan, sign, send, and store documents directly on the OneDrive Mobile app.
iDrive
- Storage Capacity - Up to 50 terabytes.
- Pricing - Starts at just under $100 per year for 250 gigabytes of storage ($75 for the first year).
- Features -
- Compliance: Assists small and emerging businesses within the medical, accounting, financial, and legal professions to comply with legal and federal regulations.
- iDrive Express: Quick backup and data retrieval via physical storage shipment in less than a week, ensuring no bandwidth usage.
- Sub-accounts: Ability to create multiple accounts using your storage space and monitor backups from a single administrator console.
iCloud
- Storage capacity - Up to 2 terabytes per user.
- Pricing - Starts at $3 per user per month (50 GB of storage per user) with a two-month free trial.
- Features -
- Apple Business Essentials: One complete subscription that combines device management, 24/7 support, and cloud storage.
- Collections: Faster setup that allows you to assign specific apps and settings to certain employees, teams, and their devices.
- Onsite repairs for iPhone: Up to two repairs that refresh annually, but they're not tied to any one device or user.
DropBox
- Storage capacity - Unlimited.
- Pricing - Starts at $18 per user per month (5TB for three users) with a one-month free trial.
- Features -
- Dropbox Rewind: Recover from accidents or ransomware by reversing all changes to your content at the folder or account level.
- Automatic watermarking: Additional protection by adding a digital watermark to any content before sharing with collaborators or clients.
- Remote device wipe: Clear files from lost or stolen devices to keep your company data in the right hands.
When your small business needs cloud storage solutions, be sure to work with an experienced IT service provider. You will not have to worry about the ins and outs of the storage program when you have a trusted contact on your speed dial.
How an IT Management Service Can Help You
When it comes to your business, you want to be sure you are choosing the right cloud storage solution that complements your existing systems and supports your business's growth. This is why you need professional advice from a knowledgeable IT technician. By partnering with an IT management service, small businesses can focus on their core operations while leaving the technical aspects to the IT experts.
A skilled technician can ask relevant questions about your company to determine the right fit, offering tailored advice while considering your specific budget, goals, and preferences.
With professional help comes smoother operation, increased security, and easier scalability of your company's IT infrastructure, allowing you to effectively leverage technology to drive growth and success. Contact a reputable IT service provider today to secure your business's future.
