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By Alberto Jessurun / January 20, 2021 / Blog

How the Pandemic Has Changed Cloud Storage

More people are working remotely, and that means more companies are depending on cloud storage. Here are 5 ways the pandemic has shifted cloud IT strategies this year.

Since the coronavirus caused record shutdowns and an economic downturn, workplaces are continuing to change and adapt around the world. New technologies were rapidly altering processes for many industries already, but COVID-19 caused many of those shifts to happen much faster, including a global dependence on cloud computing.

A Snow Software survey of IT leaders found that 80% have increased their use of cloud services overall, and 60% believe usage will continue to increase.

Aside from increased remote work and greater flexibility requirements, how has the cloud-computing landscape changed because of the pandemic? Let’s take a closer look at these five key shifts:

Cloud communication
Connectivity
Cloud storage
Cloud security and disaster recovery
Long-term changes

1. Need for cloud communications services

One of the most significant changes to cloud usage was the nearly instant need for virtual communications tools as offices shut down in spring 2020. Zoom, Google Meet, Skype, FaceTime, and Microsoft Teams quickly became requirements for many workplaces so teams could continue meeting regularly. Businesses also had to adjust to conducting meetings and sales pitches with clients virtually.

This major shift in most industries created an increased need for cloud-connected services to stay in touch. Cloud-based peer-to-peer software and applications are now a requirement for businesses to continue operating and stay connected.

2. Greater connectivity requirements

While most offices have long depended on an internet connection, operations now depend on it. Remote workers must have access to a connection to perform normal work functions and keep productivity high.

Because of this even greater dependence on connectivity in virtual workplaces, companies have transferred more data and processes to the cloud so they can be accessed from anywhere a worker has a connection. And while this is more convenient for access purposes, it does put new strains on Wi-Fi networks. IT staff have to shift to troubleshooting remotely and using new technologies to be able to monitor connections on employee devices.

3. Reevaluating cloud storage

Companies now have to rethink their investments in cloud computing to deal with these new challenges and transitions. The Snow Software research above showed that 91% of IT leaders expect to change their cloud strategy in some way, and 56% say they will increase cloud spending.

The increasing demand means both business leaders and cloud storage platforms will likely alter their approach and negotiation tactics around storage pricing and plans.

4. Cloud security and disaster recovery

While cybersecurity and protecting company information have always been primary concerns, security is now at the top of many leaders’ priority list. Almost 40% of businesses are prioritizing cloud security investments, and 58% are increasing security budgets.

Companies are widely adopting a “zero-trust” architecture, which assumes devices and individuals always need to be authenticated to access important information stored in the cloud. Companies are using multi-factor authentication methods to confirm identities on the cloud, in which workers have to authenticate in a few different ways before they can log in.

Another point of change for companies is cloud-based disaster recovery. Because IT staff members are not onsite alongside employees, they have to depend on cloud tools and services to ensure that servers and data centers are continuously protected and monitored.

5. A long-term shift to the cloud

Many are predicting that the transition won’t completely reverse once the pandemic ends. Just as telecommuting is likely to stick around because its adoption has maintained, and even improved productivity, in many cases, the cloud will likely continue to be an integral business strategy.

Snow Software data showed that 66% of survey respondents say they will continue to use cloud applications and services that they adopted during the massive transition to remote work. Once a reliable, successful, cost-efficient, and secure infrastructure is in place with the cloud, businesses are not likely to turn back, at least not completely.

Exploring cloud-based applications with Unisol International

Your business has been through a lot this year. Make sure you have the right tools, services, and applications in place across your organization to empower remote workers and keep productivity high. That includes integrating cloud-based services and applications that will make processes more efficient.

Unisol International assists customers in retail, transportation, healthcare, education, finance, industrial, and many more industries with finding the right technologies and deployment approaches. Browse our selection of audio, video, and security products like cameras and video management software, or contact Unisol International to learn more about our solutions for telecommunications, servers, and storage systems.

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How the Pandemic Has Changed Cloud Storage

More people are working remotely, and that means more companies are depending on cloud storage. Here are 5 ways the pandemic has shifted cloud IT strategies this year.

1. Need for cloud communications services

2. Greater connectivity requirements

3. Reevaluating cloud storage

4. Cloud security and disaster recovery

5. A long-term shift to the cloud

Exploring cloud-based applications with Unisol International

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