It now need not be explained to people that cloud computing saves money. This is the primary reason why people choose cloud computing models. It is clear that as you read this article, thousands of businesses worldwide are wondering how best to use cloud technology to reduce their costs, access technology that is otherwise prohibitive and simply make things easier so that their business can grow and make more profits.
Yet, cloud computing is not free. It costs money too. Sometimes, it can cost a lot more than you expected, especially if you do not understand cloud computing very well. Even those who understand cloud computing, make the same mistakes that others do, and end up spending unnecessary amounts of money on IT expenditure.
Here is the shocker: if you thought you are already saving money on cloud computing and you needn’t read any further, you can still cut down on costs attributed to cloud computing itself. In fact, there are a number of ways through which you can reduce cloud computing expenditure, and save crucial finances that can be used for other purposes.
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Most companies make the mistake of asking for too many customizations. This may seem like a great idea but customization costs money. If you choose SaaS products as they are before customization, you get a lot of things for free. A few customizations can be avoided if they are not critical. In other words, focus on what you want to do with the software, and do not worry about making the tool the way you dream it to be. This way, you will save money.
It is always a good idea to keep things simple, even in cloud services. Do not add services or functions that you do not need and ensure that integrations are as simple as possible. You could choose a multi-platform approach as many workloads run better on this sort of model. Moreover, if your cloud computing functions are simple, you will not have to worry about unnecessary downtimes.
A lot of companies always have big dreams. Now, having big dreams is not a bad thing. It helps organizations to be optimistic and ambitious. However, if you think of scaling when you are not yet starting out, you will incur unnecessary expenditures. Be conservative and think of scaling only when profits are increasing and more business is looming in the corner. Scaling up cloud computing should never be an option until you can afford it.
Many cloud vendors offer a lot of bells and whistles. If you are out there to gain certain benefits from the cloud, do so without accepting all that is sold to you. In other words, do not use what you do not need. Strip down your cloud based tools and you will notice that you will not only feel leaner but a lot more efficient.
Unnecessary data can cause your storage to run out very quickly. While it feels like there is unlimited space in the cloud, there isn’t. For every file that you retain, or for every unnecessary app that you run, or for every report that is fed into the software, you are using up your storage space. Once you cross a certain threshold, you will have to purchase storage at an extra cost. The only way to deal with this problem is to manage your data well.
The cloud is the hottest topic among enterprises, and most companies are way too eager to move everything to the cloud, so that they can feel self-satisfied that they have gotten rid of their legacy tools and are now pretentiously in the cloud. Unfortunately, storms will brew very soon if one takes a reckless approach. It makes sense to analyze what needs to be moved to cloud and what would be better left off the cloud.
While cloud saves a lot of money, it comes with certain security risks for which you alone will be responsible. Speak with your cloud service provider to find out how you can avoid cloud related security risks and what you can do to protect yourself from malicious threats. By placing an emphasis on security, you will avoid unnecessary costs related to damage control once security has been breached.
Last but not the least, you need to know and understand the approach your cloud vendor takes. If your vendor is selling you a lot more than you need, and is not constructively asking you to reduce cloud expenditure himself, you may smell a rat. Moreover, an efficient cloud service provider will help you save money just by providing great service and products, which ultimately is the best way to save expenditure.
You can indeed reduce cloud expenditure
As you can see from the list above, there are a number of ways you can further reduce costs associated with cloud computing. Most companies are not realizing that there is a good chunk of money that can be saved while using cloud services by foregoing unnecessary customization, by keeping things simple, by not scaling when one can’t afford it and by not using what one doesn’t need, one can save a lot of money on the cloud. Unnecessary data can be discarded and managed in more efficient ways, so that you do not have to purchase extra storage.
Also, by avoiding moving everything to the cloud, you can again save money. By ensuring that you are taking all security-related precautions, you can avoid unnecessary expenses that come with damage control once a security breach occurs. Last but not the least, your cloud service provider should understand that cloud computing can save money even further, even when the client or the vendor has not thought about it. Keeping these points in mind helps you to save a lot more than you initially bargained for. Now, what’s there to complain?
