IT Company in Toronto Helps Small Businesses Pick the Right Cloud Storage

Selecting cloud storage may be intimidating. There are so many alternatives, and each claims to be the best. The incorrect choice can be money-wasting or a drag on productivity. Small business owners know each choice can impact growth. That is why this IT company in Toronto shares this guide that walks you through each step to upgrade or begin using cloud storage.  

_IT Company in Toronto Helps Small Businesses Pick the Right Cloud Storage

Why Cloud Storage Is No Longer Optional 

Digital change has arrived. Teams operate at a distance, files multiply, and businesses require flexibility and cloud storage is patronizing that shift. A study shows 94% of companies saw better security after switching to the cloud. This IT company in Toronto knows that for small businesses, that is a big deal. Cloud storage has evened out the playing field, where even small teams can have enterprise-level potential. 

Key Reasons to Move to the Cloud 

• Scalability: Just pay when you utilize storage
• Use built-in security and access management tools
• Storing scale without the need to purchase additional hardware
• Share files from any place at any time 

Understanding What You Need 

Start with a Data Inventory 

Evaluate your data before selecting a service. An IT company in Toronto suggests being aware of the most important files by asking questions such as how much data do we store today? What is active and what is simply archival? And lastly, what is the rate of our data growth? Knowing these details will prevent the need to pay for storage you do not use.  

Know Your File Types 

Businesses have various requirements. A law firm may deal mostly with PDFs, whereas a design studio may deal with huge media files. Knowing the types of files to be used, you will make the appropriate choice of services and performance features.  

Budget with the Bigger Picture in Mind 

Don’t Focus Only on Monthly Fees 

An IT company in Toronto warns about being tricked by low monthly fees. This is because most of them would have hidden expenses such as charges for high data transfer. At times, faster retrieval fees are also charged as well as compliance and security add-ons. It would be best to consider the cost over the total and not only the monthly bill.  

Choose the Right Pricing Model 

Pay-as-you-go options are better when you tend to switch between services. This price model is versatile and can be made to adapt to your needs. On the other hand, a fixed-rate plan works well when your usage stays consistent. An IT company in Toronto recommends analyzing the history of usage and then comparing alternatives to guide you on which pricing model is best for your small business.  

Put Security First 

Safeguard Your Business Data 

Hackers normally target small businesses. Therefore, it is essential that your cloud service provider ensures end-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication (MFA) and automatic recovery and backup software. It is also essential to make sure your provider follows key standards like GDPR and HIPAA since compliance isn’t optional for sensitive data. 

Dependable Support Is a Must 

This IT company in Toronto also recommends checking out companies with great support. Your cloud storage provider should have 24/7 support through chat, phone, or email. Likewise, defined uptime provisions in their service-level agreement (SLA) and assistance in case of a disaster outbreak are necessary. This is because a small problem can turn into a catastrophe, but responsive support can help with that.  

_IT Company in Toronto Helps Small Businesses Pick the Right Cloud Storage2

Think About the Future 

Plan for Growth IT company in Toronto

Choose a provider that expands with you. This means your cloud storage should be able to upgrade without disruption and add users as your team grows. Moreover, it should also be able to unlock advanced features like file analytics or AI-based tagging. This IT company in Toronto stresses that scalability should be smooth, not stressful. 

Make Sure It’s Easy to Use 

A Clean Interface Helps Everyone 

Your team would be able to work well on a platform that is easy to use. Features such as drag-and-drop upload, device-to-device folder syncing, and intuitive applications on mobile phones are good choices.   

It Should Work with Your Tools 

Integration saves time. That is why an IT company in Toronto emphasizes that your storage must be linked with tools such as Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace as well as CRM services such as HubSpot or Salesforce. Likewise, project tools such as Asana or Trello are needed. Make sure to explore some of the platforms with your team and then decide on the final choice.  

Avoid Common Mistakes 

Don’t Skip Security or Compliance 

All services do not provide the same protection. Therefore, an IT company in Toronto urges small business owners to check for high encryption techniques. It is also best to check if the provider meets standards like ISO, SOC 2, HIPAA, or GDPR. Lastly, ensure that they have a good breach history and an incident response plan.  

Don’t Choose Based on Price Alone 

Cheap plans may not offer uptime, features, or support. Additionally, there is usually an extra usage fee or a transfer fee, which is hidden. Hence, make sure to pay value and choose a service to fit your actual needs. 

Don’t Ignore Integration 

Some platforms do not work well with other tools. Therefore, it is essential to pick a suitable solution to your existing stack to avoid workflow disruption. Before signing up, ensure it by checking through integration directories. 

Don’t Underestimate Growth 

Readiness increases rapidly in terms of storage requirements. When your platform is not scalable, you will experience delays. Therefore, it is important to choose one that has built-in enterprise functions and flexible tiers, even though you are still small. 

Don’t Forget Redundancy 

Not everything that is cloud is a backup. Ensure that your provider applies multi-location data storage, data redundancy and replication approaches and 3:2:1 Backup system (3 copies, 2 formats, 1 offsite). Redundancy guards against error or attack. 

It’s About Fit, Not Fame 

The best cloud storage is not necessarily the most popular one. It is the one that fits your flow of work, helps your team, and stays in growth with your business  

Still unsure? Here at EB Solution, we are at your service. Get professional help for your cybersecurity, IT management and AI business solution needs with top-notch customer care and assistance. 

Get in touch today!