Cloud

Hybrid cloud solutions suit the enterprise.

Research published by the Harvard Business Review in 2017 points to how companies of all sizes are responding to the shift to cloud computing:

• 42% combine services form both public and private cloud platforms
• 40% operate mostly in the private cloud
• 13% operate mostly in the public cloud

Using a combination of public and private cloud services, enterprises can use customized cloud solutions to address complex business challenges, such as gathering and processing data, improving service reliability, and controlling service costs.

Small businesses increasingly turn to the cloud for their data storage. The cloud typically offers more cost-effective and secure storage than an on-premise solution, especially for businesses with small budgets and few employees.

How do small businesses select the best cloud storage provider for their needs, though?

Clutch surveyed 300 IT decision makers at U.S. small businesses that use cloud storage to determine how they selected their provider and how they regularly use their cloud storage.

For small businesses, our data gives insight into what to look for when shopping for a cloud storage provider.

For cloud storage providers, this report highlights what to showcase about your tool when marketing to small businesses.

Cloud Security in 2017

• Ninety percent (90%) of small businesses say their cloud storage is secure, a small increase (+3%) from 2016. (Annual Cloud Storage Survey 2017)
• The majority of small businesses that store customer credit card and banking information (62%) or medical data (54%) in cloud storage say they do not follow industry regulations, despite some regulations being mandatory. (Annual Cloud Storage Survey 2017)

Is your cloud storage provider secure?

More small businesses are turning toward the cloud to store their data. Cloud storage providers offer significant benefits for small businesses, including greater data mobility, cost savings, and stronger security – as long as the business uses the service properly.

Small businesses should keep cloud storage security in mind. A cloud storage security breach can be a death sentence for small businesses, especially if the breach involves sensitive customer information.

What is the current state of small business cloud storage security? What can a small business do to protect the data stored with their cloud storage providers?

We surveyed 300 U.S. small businesses with 1-500 employees to better understand cloud storage security and to provide actionable advice for small businesses seeking to protect their data in the cloud.