Digital and IT technology has become a crucial factor in driving charities’ missions forward and achieving greater impact in society. One technology that has come to the forefront in recent years is cloud computing. This is essentially the delivery of computing services such as servers, storage, databases, networking and much more over the internet. Let’s delve into what cloud computing is and what are the main benefits to charities.
What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing provides computing services over the internet (the cloud). These services include servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and much more. Instead of storing files on your hard drive or running applications from software installed on your local machine, cloud computing keeps everything running on the internet. That means that all you need is an internet connection to access files and applications from anywhere in the world.
The Benefits of Cloud Computing for Charities
Cloud solutions for charities offer several benefits, including cost savings, increased efficiency, and flexibility. In the following sections, we’ll delve deeper into these advantages and explore how each benefit of cloud computing relates to the nonprofit sector.
Cost-Efficiency
One question you may be asking yourself is will the cloud save my charity money? Charity budget constraints are a constant challenge, but cloud computing can be a cost-effective solution when implemented correctly. Traditionally, organisations needed to invest heavily in IT infrastructure, servers, and data centres, which also incurred maintenance costs. However, charities can eliminate the need for expensive IT infrastructure through cloud migration. Charities can pay for their cloud environment, including cloud hosting, on an annual or monthly basis. Not only can this save money, but also allows more flexibility for charities to scale up or down.
Flexible and Scalable
Cloud computing for charities offers a great amount of flexibility and scalability, making it ideal for charities that often have fluctuating demands. This allows organisations to scale their services up or down as needed, without being constrained by physical servers. During a fundraising campaign, a charity might need additional computing resources to manage increased website traffic and input of donor data. By using cloud-based servers or storage, you can easily increase their capacity for this period. You can find out more about the best cloud storage for nonprofits here.
Accessibility and Collaboration
In today’s evolving work environment where remote and hybrid work models are becoming the norm, cloud computing offers lots of advantages. It enhances accessibility, allowing team members to share data and access files and applications from anywhere with an internet connection. It also facilitates collaboration with tools that allow multiple users to view and edit documents simultaneously. This can help to streamline project management and decision-making processes.
Security and Data Protection
Cyber security has always been a crucial concern for all organisations, including charities. Cloud solutions are equipped with robust and up-to-date security measures. The security solutions include firewalls, encryption, cloud-to-cloud backup and much more. There are also regular security updates on cloud software to ensure that charities are protected against the latest threats.
Disaster Recovery
Cloud computing for charities also provides disaster recovery. Unlike traditional systems that require manual backups, cloud services automatically backup data. This means that in the event of a data breach or human error, charities can easily retrieve data and resume operations with minimal downtime.
Microsoft 365 Integration
Microsoft offers a comprehensive suite of cloud-based tools. Word, Excel, Teams and SharePoint can be seamlessly integrated, providing charities with a unified platform. With its robust security features, scalability, and support for remote work, Microsoft 365 is an ideal solution for charities and nonprofits. Explore our ultimate guide to Microsoft 365 for charities for more information.
Cloud Computing Case Studies
At Qlic, we have migrated hundreds of charities to the cloud. One recent example of this was a migration we managed for our charity client Age UK Oldham. They were originally using an entirely hosted remote server solution. Hosting services like this make users reliant on a third party for access to their emails and files. The organisation was looking for a more collaborative working solution. We guided Age UK Oldham through the decommission of their on-premise server and migrated them to the cloud.
As a result of the transition to the cloud, Age UK Oldham experienced significant improvements in productivity and collaboration. Their staff were able to access the latest software applications and work more efficiently. The new platform also provided better data protection security and compliance features, which helped to protect the organisation’s data.
Find out more about migrating Age UK Oldham to cloud computing here.
Final Thoughts
In summary, cloud technology offers several benefits for charities, making it an essential tool in today’s digital age. Its ease of flexibility and scalability allows organisations to adapt their services according to demands. This effectively enhances accessibility and collaboration, enabling agile working in the evolving world of hybrid and remote workforces. Moreover, cloud solutions offer robust security measures that adapt to new technology and threats. This is a necessity as charity cyber attacks continue to evolve. In light of all the clear benefits and rewards of cloud computing, it’s clear that it plays a vital role in empowering charities to operate more effectively and efficiently.
Is your charity looking to migrate to the cloud? Book your free Cloud Computing Consultation with one of our Qlic IT experts by clicking the button below!
FAQs About Cloud Computing for Charities
How do you implement cloud computing in an organisation?
In order to implement cloud computing into your organisation, it’s always recommended to seek advisory services from a specialist provider. Qlic has helped hundreds of charities integrate the cloud into their IT environment. Our experience helps us recommend the best cloud solutions for your organisation, allowing you to focus on using IT as a tool, while we handle the monitoring and maintenance. If you would like to discuss cloud solutions for your charity, get in touch with our team at Qlic.
What is the most secure type of cloud for any organisation?
Private clouds offer the most secure cloud services. However, the best cloud solution for your organisation will depend on a number of factors. To learn more visit, https://www.qlicnfp.com/managed-it-services-for-charities/cloud-solutions-for-charities/ or get in touch with one of our charity cloud solutions specialists.
