There are benefits to the SharePoint cloud that traditional on-premise applications can’t compete with. This article will examine how the latest Microsoft SharePoint architecture in the cloud will benefit your business, changing the way we manage teams and organize projects.
Benefits of the SharePoint Cloud
RightScale conducted their cloud survey again this year, and it clearly shows how organizations continue to leverage cloud technology for everything from software-as-a-service (SaaS) tools to data storage. Some of the 2018 trends predicted include:
- Enterprise organizations are using the public cloud.
- Enterprise public cloud spending is skyrocketing.
- Microsoft Azure is the fastest growing cloud today.
We already know there are clear benefits to cloud technology. The convenience of always-on access to software tools has allowed us to work smarter on any digital device. Part of the reason enterprise organizations are flocking to the cloud is that the tools are more accessible, the storage is more scalable, and security updates occur in real-time.
These benefits apply to the SharePoint cloud, of course, which is why Microsoft is aggressively pursuing a cloud-first strategy for their software tools. The SharePoint architecture in the cloud allows people, ideas, and documents to connect and collaborate in new ways on any digital device. This has completely changed how we work today.
Within the SharePoint cloud, entire teams can now function effectively without ever meeting onsite. This is a huge boost to global productivity (especially when following best practices), as teams can be formed that cross geographic boundaries and employees can skip the commute and roll straight into tasks.
But with SharePoint architecture there are some additional benefits to the cloud:
- You have access to updated and upgraded SharePoint features first in the cloud. Could this give your business a competitive advantage? It certainly could from a security perspective, because on-premise applications often lag behind in the latest update. Microsoft upgrades their products constantly, and when you’re using SharePoint cloud, this is as seamless as it is fast.
- The SharePoint cloud integrates with Office 365 online tools, allowing teams to work smarter and more efficiently, whether they’re on a tablet or a smartphone.
- A cloud-based deployment of SharePoint eliminates the need for on-site server architectures. This frees up technology teams to work on bigger projects. It’s also cutting costs, which is one of the big benefits of any service in the cloud. The new SharePoint architecture has changed organizational IT strategies and eliminated some of the costly (and often unexpected) capital costs when equipment fails.
- Having SharePoint in the cloud also changes things for developers by creating a robust apps service infrastructure. Application program interfaces (APIs) now allows tech teams to build new solutions for employees, customize their Office 365 and SharePoint experience, and expand their apps and analytics.
- Deployment and licensure are also easier in the SharePoint cloud. Adding licenses is simpler and low-cost. Another big change is that the administrator role is as mobile as the cloud itself. As a global admin, you can assign users, appoint site collections administrators, change security settings, change user profiles – and more – remotely. This is a big change in how IT teams manage our applications.
While these are some clear and obvious advantages of the online SharePoint architecture, how will your company benefit from cloud collaboration? The only way to find out is to take a test drive with IES and see the difference for yourself. Contact us today.
