Report: Cloud storage services benefit business

Cloud services are deployed for a variety of purposes in enterprise settings, including flexible collaboration and efficient communication between employees. According to a recent Sys-Con Media report, many businesses have much to gain by employing cloud-based storage solutions.

According to the report, a key advantage of cloud storage is its ability to offer instant, automatic backup of important data. Enterprises that utilize cloud storage do not need CDs, local servers or tapes to reliably backup their data. Perhaps more importantly, cloud-based backup can be set to take place automatically, ensuring data is backed up when it needs to be.

Ease of access is another significant benefit of cloud storage, according to the report. In the event that a business's physical infrastructure is lost, stolen or damaged, there is no need to worry about lost data. Cloud services enable data to be stored off-site - sometimes in a number of locations - and thus to reduce dependence on physical infrastructure.

These benefits may already be recognized by many companies. According to a recent Gartner study, CIOs expect approximately 43 percent of companies to move most of their IT infrastructure to the cloud within the next four years.