Cloud computing is a piece of technology that has revolutionized the way businesses operate. It allows companies to access information and applications from anywhere in the world, using any internet-connected device. It is also an essential tool for nonprofit organizations, which often have limited resources and thus cannot afford expensive OR pricey hardware and software. In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of cloud computing for nonprofits.
Accessible data
Data drives nonprofit organizations, as they need every piece of relevant information available to build a sustainable and effective strategy. So it’s crucial for nonprofits to not only have good data-gathering capabilities, but also have a way to access and share data without compromising security.
This is where cloud computing comes in. It enables nonprofits to access information via a central web-based interface, as long as they have an internet connection and the correct credentials. This is an excellent setup for nonprofit organizations that have members who are constantly traveling and/or are out in the rural reaches of the globe.
Consistency in information
One notable benefit the cloud has over local servers is that cloud computing services are usually configured by default to automatically synchronize files in real time. This means that anyone with access to a file can make edits to it and the cloud will automatically make sure the copy hosted on it is accurate and up to date.
This collaboration feature minimizes the risk of making mistakes when many team members are working on the same digital file. Because cloud-hosted files are all stored in one place, data is automatically synchronized among all devices, and everyone has access to the most up-to-date file version at all times.
Scalability and agility
Nonprofits know better than most organizations how arduous it can be to face constant operational change. It’s innate to nonprofits to endure very lean months of little funding followed by the hustle and bustle of heavy project periods. This means that your traditional information system also faces periods of underutilization; what’s worse is that these assets depreciate even if you don’t use them. But not having those assets on standby could significantly hurt your operations once the busy months come along.
Cloud computing solves this issue by letting you use only what you need, when you need it. You can sign up for cloud computing services on a subscription basis, meaning you only pay for the resources you actually use every month. This makes it easy to increase capability when needed and then reduce it once the demand goes down.
Effective remote collaboration
Organizations with a cloud computing setup will attest that the cloud has been key to elevating their remote collaboration practices. Remote collaboration is easy in the cloud because the common work platform is hosted on a constantly live and updated infrastructure. This means that any changes done by different parties on the same file are updated and saved in real time. It’s so seamless that it can feel like people are working together, side by side.
It’s this trait that draws organizations with remote workforces to cloud computing, as it helps keep its members connected and involved. And when your team members are out in the field, it’s good to provide them with collaboration tools that will help them feel that they’re not too far away from home base.
Easy data backups restoration
The real-time recording and storage that makes the cloud such an excellent platform for remote collaboration is the same feature that allows it to be an effective backup and disaster recovery tool. Your cloud computing platform can be configured to retain data and save redundancies in the same way a local backup strategy can, but better. The main difference is that cloud backups are hosted online, meaning your organization can get back up and running after a disaster as soon as you establish an internet connection. There’s no need to manually restore your data, apps, and services one by one.
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