Is your business considering making the switch to Office 365 cloud storage? There is a lot of contradictory information circulating around on the web concerning cloud storage and what it entails. This article will provide you with some helpful truths about cloud storage to help you determine if this is the right move for your business.

Truth #1 – Most businesses benefit from the flexibility and cost savings that come when moving to the cloud.

Moving your business to cloud storage with Office 365 not only provides much more storing and sharing flexibility than data centers, it also can save your business a lot of money. The cloud can reduce business startup expenses, preserve capital, allow more employees to telecommute, and save your business all the monthly costs associated with storing and managing data in a data center.

Truth #2 – Your data is secure on the cloud

Microsoft prioritizes security and provides businesses with peace of mind through transparency, privacy, and compliance. Unlike many other cloud storage options, Microsoft combines platforms (e.g. devices, applications, infrastructure), with product offerings (e.g. Windows Server 2016, Azure Active Directory, Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection) and then adds on intelligence from telemetry, data streams, and machine learning. Ultimately this means that even if someone tried to access your business’s data, Microsoft has deep and broad detection points to help protect it. Microsoft is the first major cloud provider to adopt the world’s first international standard for cloud privacy which establishes a uniform, international approach to protecting privacy for personal data stored in the cloud.

Truth #3 – The cloud is safer than keeping data on premises

While on-premise storage may seem more secure since it is both physical and tangible, the requirements needed to maintain a high security level can be more demanding and costly for your business. With cloud applications, security features are built in and real-time updates are integrated into the framework so your business is always working from the latest versions, with the best possible protection and security. The goal is for businesses to be able to access their information from anywhere, on any device, at any time. The cloud includes advanced processes and procedures such as backup and recovery solutions.

Truth #4 – You do not have to move everything to the cloud

Cloud migration is rarely an all-or-nothing scenario. Most implementations start with a hybrid approach – moving a single application, like email, and growing from there. This is not only a good way for businesses to become comfortable with the cloud, it’s also a great way to learn how the computing power and capabilities of the cloud can scale based on a business’s specific needs and demand.