Cloud services are increasingly becoming essential in a world where small businesses need to access their data on the move without incurring storage and hardware maintenance costs. Cloud business solutions provide an efficient way to store, backup, and access data from multiple devices, wherever and whenever with just a simple internet connection. Businesses no longer need to rely on a single computer or location to access important information and data is always readily available. 

So, with the market saturated with several cloud services, how do you decide which is the right one for your business? This article serves as a guide to help you make the right choice. 

Criteria for Choosing Cloud Service 

Picking the right cloud service is overwhelming for many small business owners, especially with numerous options available. However, not all cloud services are the same; some are better than the rest. So, when shopping around for a business cloud solution, consider ease of use, features, cost, availability, functionalities, and most importantly, security. 

Best Cloud Services for Small Businesses 

Microsoft Azure 

It’s a highly trusted and hybrid cloud service product of Microsoft with versatile features to support businesses of any size across all sectors. Once you sign up, you can run virtual desktops and applications with its cloud-based storage and backup system. Azure supports apps on all operating systems – Android, Windows, and iOS, along with its web service. It also features multi-layer security to ensure your business data is well-secured. 

iDrive 

With free first 5GB and up to 5TB of storage for just $13.90 for the first year, iDrive comes with attractive packages, particularly for small businesses. The cloud service provides secure online storage and backup solutions for computers, servers, and mobile devices. It includes a special iDrive Snapshot feature to protect its users against ransomware and other cybersecurity issues. 

Dropbox Business 

It’s a popular business cloud solution for a reason. It makes storing and sharing data and files in the cloud easy and quick. It’s a perfect platform for managing, retrieving, and storing files that you can access anywhere. iDrive also features intuitive tools to help you collaborate on projects with other team players. 

Amazon S3 

Amazon S3 is a cloud product of Amazon Web Service designed to offer storage and backup solutions, real-time log analytics, data migration, and various analytics tools. It’s designed for businesses of all sizes and comes with competitive rates and packages. It’s the same platform Amazon.com uses to run its e-commerce network, meaning its dependable, efficient, and secure.

Google Drive 

Google Drive is an affordable, readily available, and efficient cloud service solution. It’s an easy-to-use service that only requires you to have a Google account to get started. It allows you to create and share documents, slideshows, spreadsheets, and more. Unlike its rivals, Google Drives allows you to give access to the same document for viewing or editing purposes. In addition, it’s free for up to 15GB and just $1.99 for 100GB. 

Bottom Line 

Cloud services come with various unique features, pricing, user-friendliness, and functionalities. Often, small businesses go for the cheapest option, but this does not always mean the best. It’s wise to understand your business and its needs as well as the key advantages and disadvantages of each cloud-based solution before committing to one. Most importantly, protecting your business information should be a priority when making this critical decision. 

In case you need further information or are looking for a cloud service that’s a perfect fit for your business, we can help. Check our service page or call 410-453-9300 for a free consultation.