Why The Top 4 Business Objections To Cloud Storage Are Wrong

By Tunio Zafer, CEO, pCloud

Businesses using cloud storage providers will always have concerns about the quality of service they’re receiving and whether the benefits are worth the costs and risks involved. In addition to file size and storage space, cloud storage users want to ensure that their files are well protected. While proponents of cloud storage admire the tool’s adaptability and ability to service the masses, its objectors continue to return to the same concerns — price, security, and usability. Businesses, in particular, struggle here. Are the benefits of cloud storage worth risking big budgets, employee happiness, and data security?  

The answer is yes, because these risks are not as severe as many businesses think. This is why it is so important to overcome common misconceptions about cloud storage. Here are the top four business objections to cloud security and how to disprove them.

Misconception #1: Cloud Storage Isn’t Affordable

Objection: Every business handles a budget. Often, this means dealing with money that is not their own. For both reasons, few businesses are ready to hemorrhage extra funds toward cloud storage providers.

The Truth: As with almost any good or service, price is a valid concern. Yet, cloud storage is cost effective. It’s pricing is reasonable when cloud storage’s unique features and capabilities are considered. Similarly, the number of employees using unlimited storage space makes most packages well-priced at an individual user level (just a few dollars a month).

Cloud storage is also a time-effective solution. For most businesses, saving time will mean saving money in the long run.

Misconception #2: Cloud Storage Isn’t Secure

Objection: Businesses deal with sensitive information on a daily basis. In the wake of recent large-scale data hacks, many businesses fear that cloud storage security is not yet adequate.

The Truth: Cloud storage is highly secure, so long as it’s done right. And providers with client-side encryption capabilities are the best. Unlike popular end-to-end encryption — which leaves user files unprotected after transfer — client-side encryption’s advanced, asymmetric cryptography offers businesses the most secure cloud experience.

With client-side encryption, users have complete control over the encryption process. Users even determine their own encryption keys and passphrases. This process guarantees zero-knowledge privacy on the provider side, meaning that a cloud storage provider will never learn the content, type and name of files stored.

Misconception #3: Cloud Storage Isn’t Collaborative

Objection: Strategic business means employees working together to drive business objectives. Some businesses wonder if cloud storage allows for such collaboration.

The Truth: Certain cloud storage providers have developed all-in-one business solutions. These systems allow users to access, work, share and collaborate on company documents. This teamwork can happen at anytime, anywhere in the world. By concentrating business efforts into a single platform, cloud storage streamlines collaboration.

To address specific business needs, the best cloud storage providers model their platforms off businesses themselves. Management features allow businesses to create digital teams that reflect internal business structure. By assigning team leaders, businesses can set sharing options and optimize group work. Leaders can also generate work reports that better track and analyze business activity.

Cloud storage also makes it easier to collaborate externally. Employees can control what and when information is shared with business partners or clients.

Misconception #4: Cloud Storage Isn’t User Friendly

Objection: Cloud storage doesn’t have the legacy of other technology. Many businesses worry that developers haven’t worked out the kinks of cloud storage, which will hamper productivity rather than increase it.

The Truth: Learning a new cloud storage system is really no more difficult than manual filing or storage. And truthfully, a digital approach to storage offers business many exciting liberties.

First, cloud storage providers have call centers designed to troubleshoot user issues. These resources can address user concerns in real time. Second, some providers offer enhanced data filtering, which makes sorting through data easier. Users can even filter based on particular criteria. And third, working digitally allows for seamless file accessibility and restoration. If a physical file is lost, it’s gone forever. If a digital file is lost or deleted, some cloud storage providers can restore is for up to 180 days. With multiple users working together at once, businesses can directly benefit from these user-friendly add-ons.

When looking through cloud storage options, find a provider with a specific business solution. These solutions have the most to offer businesses, especially in response to common cloud storage objections. And these objections are real. All four exist because some cloud storage providers do not have adequate platforms. While a few bad seeds can ruin an entire bunch, this does not hold true for cloud storage systems. Great storage providers are out there. They’re just waiting for your business to find them.

Tunio Zafer is the CEO of cloud storage platform pCloud. As a leader and manager in the cloud storage space, Tunio promotes innovation in areas such as security measures and cost to end users. Tunio encourages forward-thinking throughout his team, working toward making a significant impact on the rapidly growing IT market, for individuals and business alike.