ºÚÁÏ´«ËÍÃÅ

Do you ever wonder why tech giants like Google, Apple, Microsoft and Facebook had no problem letting most or all of their organization work from home as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic? They are allowing remote work simply because they can. These huge organizations are set up for going remote, thanks to cloud technology. Cloud technology is actually the best friend of remote jobs. It’s no surprise that thousands of companies followed suit, but unfortunately not all organizations are set up to take advantage of the cloud and efficiently continue work remotely. But it’s never too late for organizations to set their users up for remote jobs.

Over time, many organizations have found that remote work is extremely beneficial for their people. Often they are seeing increased productivity in their workforce as employees are able to do their work from home. Shorter commute times, better work-life balance, and easier access to breaks are making people more productive doing their jobs remotely, at home. Many organizations are likely to continue to support remote workers as a result of this pandemic, allowing people to continue working at their jobs from home in larger capacities than ever before. But what technology shifts were made to help organizations be able to transport and manage employees all around the country from their homes? How were collaborative organizations able to continue work forward even when they were so spread apart, in different locations, far away from clients?

This is where the cloud comes in. As organizations have made this jump from in-office to remote work, cloud technologies are key in helping them continue to run smoothly and effectively. Organizations that provide cloud options see better user engagement, and enable their workers to connect on any device remotely. Without cloud technologies, the thousands of organizations and millions of workers who have turned to remote options wouldn’t be able to function. Communication, data, software systems—all of these were made available to remote workers thanks to cloud technologies.

The cloud is essentially the ability to access software programs and services over the internet instead of having to download the program to your personal computer hard drive. Sometimes data or programs are stored on your hard drive, which is called local storage. Computers have typically worked like this for decades, requiring large storage systems in order to put all of the programs that you need on your machine. The only alternatives to saving data on your personal hard drive were using floppy disks, CDs, or zip drives. 

For example, if you need to write a document you have 2 options. You can download Microsoft Office onto your hard drive, type up your paper, and save it to your hard drive. Or you can use the cloud. You can use Google Docs to write a paper and have it saved in a folder that is all online, in your Google Drive. Nothing is saved to your hard drive, you simply go on the internet to access your document. 

These cloud technologies have been essential in helping with the transition to and management of remote work. Discover how the cloud has helped remote workers thrive as they have moved from office positions to being locked-down in their houses.

• Improves access and flexibility. Cloud technologies are all focused around the idea that people can access information on the internet. This helps remote employees because they are able to share files, collaborate on projects, communicate quickly using chat or video platforms, and access the software programs they need in their own home. Clients at various locations can manage their projects with employees all through the cloud. Cloud systems mean that there is accessibility for every program, for files, and for information wherever an employee is. Any time, any place, employees can do their work. They can meet with any client online instead of on location and still collaborate using cloud infrastructure. Cloud technologies also allow flexibility for remote workers as well. Many cloud technologies are also accessible on mobile phone or tablet, so employees can continue to work from their devices if they aren’t at their computer. This actually increases productivity and allows remote workers to continue to work wherever they are. Access was critical when organizations had to keep workers at home, and the ability for every employee to still carry on their work is thanks to the accessibility of cloud systems. Organizations that provide remote options for employees are more likely to see great success than those who can't provide remote options via the cloud.
• Increases security. Using the internet may seem like a less-secure option, but in reality cloud systems are usually more safe than hard drive programs. Data stored in the cloud isn’t at risk for hardware failures or crashes. Cloud systems also usually have tighter access controls, making it much easier to track breaches when they happen. User-specific passwords, encryption of files, sharing settings, and other security measures are put in place to help make cloud technologies safe. This means that cloud systems are much more secure for remote workers to utilize at home. Rather than an organization having to purchase many licenses for software programs, or run the risk of having those programs on a bunch of computers that can be susceptible, internet systems have password settings and requirements that help keep systems and storage options even safer for remote workers.
• Enables collaboration. With employees working at their homes, unable to walk by and see each other and connect, collaboration is essential. Luckily, cloud technology systems have been designed to allow for collaboration, greatly helping remote employees. For example, Slack and Zoom are incredibly popular cloud technologies that allow employees to use the internet to chat or have calls, or even video conferences with their coworkers. Additionally remote workers use Google Drive, Dropbox, and other collaboration software to work together on projects. This allows employees to track changes, share information, work in groups, and keep their collaborative efforts all while working remotely. 
• Disaster recovery. Cloud technologies have an important element that has benefited regular office workers and remote employees alike. Disaster recovery is essential for organizations both large and small. Hours of work can be lost without reliable backup systems. Luckily most cloud technologies are equipped with automatic backup technology that can help data be brought back to life. As workers are at home with families, it is essential for organizations to know that data will be backed up and safe in case of an accident. Cloud technologies are essential in helping employees know that their work and data is safe and secure. 

Cloud technologies have been absolutely essential as organizations have sent workers home during the Coronavirus pandemic, and as they move to increase the number of remote workers. If you’re interested in cloud technology, a degree in cloud computing could be a perfect first-step to prepare you for an exciting career path. This technology is only going to grow and get more advanced, and you could be at the center of it with the help of a degree.