It has been more than a year since the outbreak of the pandemic. Time has shown that the tools that companies had intended to implement for several years turned out to be needed now. Digital transformation, including the cloud, conditioning the continued smooth functioning of a hybrid or remote work environment, has become one of those tools, as seen especially in the SME sector.
Until recently, the main strategy of the small-medium business sector was to increase productivity with little inclination to invest. The pandemic has changed this perception – companies have realized that a secure IT environment is necessary to maintain business flexibility and build competitive advantages.
Data processing space crucial for SME sector
Small and medium-sized enterprises have begun to implement cloud services, but on their terms The report compiled by Polcom and Intel “Digitization, cloud and new technologies ” shows that for the SME industry when choosing a cloud service provider, cloud security and the fact that the data center is located in Poland are particularly important.
The location of the data center in the country is not only a guarantee of security, but also lower data transmission delays. In the process of selecting a provider, it is also worth considering an analysis of the innovativeness of the solution, but also a review of other services offered by the provider that can help in the efficient management of data, such as data migration, assistance in implementation or additional services related to the security of systems. Not only the security of the data, but also the quality and greater flexibility of the services provided will depend on this – says Agnieszka Dymek.
What should the SME sector pay attention to when choosing a cloud service provider?
Dynamically changing market and customer needs and the need to open up to new technologies – in order to remain competitive in the market – has accelerated the digital transformation process in the SME sector. Senior figures have recognized that cloud computing and using external data center solutions is a cheaper option than investing in their own infrastructure.
Companies deciding to implement cloud computing should pay close attention to several aspects when choosing a provider:
- Data processing location
- Security
- Service availability guarantee (at what level is the SLA)
- Standards and certificates held
Digital solutions make work easier
It’s no surprise that the trigger for a change in thinking and priorities for the SME sector turned out to be a pandemic. It has emerged that digital solutions are not simply a way to make work easier, but a prerequisite for the continuity of production or service delivery. What’s more, they’re also part of a company’s cyber-security strategy, allowing it to protect itself against cyber-attacks, extortion and other increasingly new threats that have intensified over the past months – says Agnieszka Dymek, Key Account Manager at Polcom.