4 essential cloud hosting tips for remote working businesses

Covid-19 has thrown up numerous challenges for businesses. Many businesses that had never previously considered utilising cloud technologies are now finding that they have no other choice. Any company in a position to transition to work from home arrangements has been forced to at least explore the possibility.

To make work from home arrangements viable, businesses need to provide their workers with reliable remote access to critical data and networks. For most corporations, this will require them to work with an external cloud hosting provider.

Managed cloud hosting offers numerous benefits to businesses in need of cloud services. Below are some simple but essential tips that every remote working business needs to keep in mind in the future.

1. Secure your applications

It’s hard to overstate how important good cybersecurity is for any business. There is still an alarming number of businesses that think they are immune from the myriad cybersecurity threats out there. But it isn’t just multinational corporations that cybercriminals are targeting today. In fact, owing to the relatively lax security measures that smaller businesses tend to have in place, a growing number of organised cybercrime groups are now deliberately focusing their efforts on these more vulnerable targets.

If you are planning on enabling remote access to your most important systems, networks, and apps, you need to ensure they are locked down properly. Hackers can potentially target any device or network that connects to the internet; malicious actors target even super-secure government systems.

With so many businesses having to adapt to remote working arrangements at speed, there are numerous security holes for attackers to exploit. You need to balance the need for speed with the need to ensure that there are no gaps in your applications’ security.

2. Train your workers in best security practices

Cybersecurity is a complex subject; it’s not the kind of thing you can pick up overnight. But by teaching your staff even the most basic cybersecurity principles, you can make your systems considerably more secure. It doesn’t matter how good your cybersecurity measures are; you are still relying on humans to maintain your networks and enforce your security policies.

One of the most common attack vectors used by cybercriminals today is phishing attacks. These attacks involve tricking staff into handing over their credentials to an attacker posing as a representative of your business. The vast majority of these attacks can be prevented before they even occur by simply educating your staff about how these attacks work and how they can spot them.

Before you open your networks up to remote access, make sure you have a training program in place to educate your workers on the role they have to play in keeping them secure.

3. Monitor your resource usage

Resources are finite; overloading your systems will deplete them. As your resources run low, your servers will slow down, or potentially cease to function entirely. For smaller businesses, the chances of exhausting all your server resources might be remote, but it is always better to be safe than sorry. Every business should implement clear protocols and guidelines to ensure that every department or individual with access to your cloud servers is using the available resources efficiently.

4. Choose your host carefully

Choosing the right provider for any business infrastructure is essential. Regardless of which specific cloud services and functionalities you want to introduce to your business, you need a reliable host on your side. The right host will ensure your files are always accessible as quickly and easily as possible.

There is no shortage of cloud hosting providers in the UK today, but the quality of the service can vary wildly. To deliver the highest quality cloud services to your business, you should look for a provider offering managed dedicated servers. These are the most powerful and capable managed cloud servers available. All but the smallest of businesses should be looking for dedicated servers; not shared hosting or virtual private servers (VPS).

Choosing a managed cloud hosting solution enables businesses to take advantage of the knowledge and expertise the hosting provider brings to the table. Cloud technology is a fast-moving field; it can be difficult to keep up, even when there are commercial incentives to do so. Choosing a managed hosting provider takes the pressure off your business. It enables you to focus on reaping the rewards without having to invest in keeping up with the latest developments.

Cloud services have never been more affordable or accessible for businesses, which is just as well considering the challenges that covid is presenting. If you have any questions or concerns regarding manage cloud hosting during covid-19, reach out to us to find out more. Our experts are ready to answer any questions you have and direct you towards the services your business needs to move into the cloud successfully.

You can reach out to us via Twitter with any questions you have at @cwcs_hosting.