A lot has changed in the way small businesses use technology. Ten years ago, you might have had a server humming away in a back closet and a basic email system hosted on your web provider. Today, most businesses have moved parts of their operations to the cloud – email, file storage, accounting, maybe even their phone system.
The cloud has made work more mobile, more collaborative, and in many ways, more efficient. But it’s not always as simple or secure as it seems, especially as your needs change and new risks emerge.
Recent research shows that more than 90% of businesses plan to update or rethink their cloud usage in the next two years. Interestingly, a growing number of those companies aren’t just adding more cloud – they’re also pulling some systems out of the public cloud and moving them to more secure, private, or in-house environments.
So why the shift?
Public cloud isn’t one-size-fits-all
When most people talk about “the cloud,” they’re referring to the public cloud – services like Microsoft 365, Amazon AWS, and others. These platforms are affordable, flexible, and easy to scale, which makes them a great fit for a lot of business functions.
But not every system or type of data belongs in a shared environment. Businesses that handle sensitive customer information, financial data, or medical records are realizing they may need more control and oversight than the public cloud can provide.
That’s where hybrid cloud comes in – a mix of public and private solutions that gives you the flexibility of cloud services with the added control of on-premise systems.
Is it time to reevaluate your cloud strategy?
Here are a few questions that might help you decide:
What type of data do you store? If you’re dealing with regulated, confidential, or business-critical data, a hybrid or private solution might be worth considering.
Are all your systems cloud-compatible? Some legacy software simply isn’t built for cloud environments. Rather than replace it all at once, a hybrid setup allows for a gradual, controlled transition.
How confident are you in your security measures? Regardless of where your data lives, you still need to protect it. That means strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, endpoint protection, regular security reviews, and most importantly, backups.
Many businesses set up their cloud systems years ago and haven’t looked back. But as your business grows, your tech should evolve with it – and so should your approach to risk, compliance, and performance.
We can help you build a smarter setup
At Tech Experts, we help small businesses design cloud strategies that actually fit their needs – not some generic one-size-fits-all setup. Whether that means optimizing what you already have, moving part of your systems to a more secure environment, or just getting a better understanding of where your data lives and how it’s protected, we’re here to help.
If it’s been more than a year since you’ve reviewed your cloud infrastructure – or if you’ve never had a cloud strategy at all – it’s time. Let’s make sure your technology is working for your business, not creating hidden risks behind the scenes.