Cloud computing isn’t new anymore. Most businesses are already using some form of cloud service, even if they don’t realize it. If your team uses Microsoft 365 for email, QuickBooks Online for accounting, or Slack for communication, you’re already in the cloud. The question isn’t whether to use cloud computing, it’s how to use it strategically to reduce costs and improve operations.
At iTech Plus, we’ve helped dozens of Central Florida businesses migrate from aging on-premises infrastructure to cloud-based solutions. Here’s what the transition actually looks like and what you can realistically expect.
The Real Cost Savings
The most immediate benefit of cloud migration is eliminating the capital expense of buying and maintaining servers. A small business server running Windows Server with proper licensing, backup, and UPS costs $5,000-$15,000 upfront, plus $200-$500/month in electricity, maintenance, and support. That server needs replacement every 5-7 years, and if it fails before then, you’re looking at an emergency expense and potential data loss.
Moving to Microsoft 365 Business Premium ($22/user/month) gives you enterprise email, 1 TB of OneDrive storage per user, SharePoint for file sharing, Teams for communication, and built-in security tools. For a 15-person office, that’s $330/month, less than what most businesses spend on their on-premises server’s electricity and maintenance alone.
Remote Work and Business Continuity
When Hurricane Ian hit Central Florida in 2022, businesses running on local servers faced a tough situation. If the office lost power or sustained damage, their data and applications were inaccessible until the building was operational again. Businesses already in the cloud? Their teams logged in from home, a hotel, or wherever they had internet access and kept working.
Cloud-based infrastructure means your business isn’t tied to a physical location. This matters for everyday remote work flexibility, but it becomes critical during Florida’s hurricane season. Your data is stored in geographically redundant data centers with enterprise-grade power and cooling systems that no small business could afford to replicate.
Security in the Cloud vs. On-Premises
One concern we hear regularly is “Is the cloud secure enough?” The honest answer: for most small businesses, cloud security is significantly better than what they’re running on-premises. Microsoft invests over $1 billion per year in cybersecurity for Azure and Microsoft 365. They employ thousands of security engineers, operate 24/7 security operations centers, and implement protections that no small business could afford independently.
The caveat is that cloud security is a shared responsibility. Microsoft secures the platform, but you’re responsible for configuring it properly: enabling MFA, setting access permissions, configuring data loss prevention policies, and training employees to recognize phishing attacks. Most cloud security breaches result from misconfiguration, not platform vulnerabilities. That’s where having a managed IT provider configure and monitor your cloud environment makes a real difference.
Planning Your Cloud Migration
The biggest mistake businesses make is trying to migrate everything at once. A phased approach works better. Start with email and productivity (Microsoft 365), then move file storage from local servers to SharePoint and OneDrive, then migrate line-of-business applications. Some applications may need to stay on-premises or move to IaaS if they’re not available as cloud services.
A typical cloud migration for a 10-25 person office takes 2-4 weeks when done properly. That includes data migration, user training, security configuration, and a parallel running period where both old and new systems are available. We handle the technical work during off-hours to minimize disruption to your daily operations.
Is Cloud Right for Your Business?
For most small businesses in Central Florida, moving to the cloud is the right call. The cost savings, flexibility, security improvements, and disaster recovery benefits outweigh the downsides for nearly every business we’ve evaluated. The exceptions are businesses with very large local data sets (video production, engineering firms with massive CAD files) or specific compliance requirements that mandate on-premises data storage. Even in those cases, a hybrid approach usually makes the most sense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the main benefits of cloud computing for small businesses?
Cloud computing reduces upfront hardware costs, enables remote work from anywhere, provides automatic scaling as your business grows, includes built-in disaster recovery, and shifts IT maintenance to the provider. Most small businesses save 20-30% on IT costs after migrating to the cloud.
Is cloud computing secure for small businesses?
Major cloud providers like Microsoft Azure and AWS invest billions in security, often providing better protection than small businesses can achieve on-premises. The key is proper configuration: enable MFA, manage access permissions, encrypt data, and monitor for unusual activity. Most cloud security breaches result from misconfiguration, not platform vulnerabilities.
How do I migrate my business to the cloud?
Start by auditing your current IT infrastructure and identifying which applications and data to move first. Begin with email and productivity tools (Microsoft 365 is the most common starting point), then move file storage, and finally migrate line-of-business applications. Work with a managed IT provider experienced in cloud migrations to minimize downtime and data loss.
