The working environment has shifted dramatically towards online services in recent years, giving businesses all over the world a headache when it comes to email security, storage and management. More and more organizations are now starting to embrace the ‘bring your own device’ (BYOD) culture, and are taking advantage of online services to promote remote working.
Businesses are also adapting to the financial and practical pressures of excessive online storage needs, as important documents and emails need extensive and expensive digital infrastructure to keep them safe and secure. Microsoft Exchange provides an excellent platform for businesses to take advantage of these requirements, allowing users to access important information and emails whether online or on-premises, as well as offering off-site storage capabilities.
Why make the switch to the cloud?
By definition, the cloud is a ubiquitous organizational and storage service, accessible anywhere at any time, as long as there is an available internet connection and you possess a device capable of going online. This offers a much simpler way to access company emails and files without being confined to an office, as well as an easier way to share calendars and schedule meetings with co-workers and clients. It also offers improved connectivity for home-based and BYOD workers and improved management of important files and data.
The process of switching to a cloud-based environment like Mimecast for Microsoft Exchange is flexible depending on the needs of a business. While moving to the cloud is key to improving worker productivity and happiness, especially among remote workers, it also raises a lot of concerns regarding email security, data theft and data retention.
What are the risks?
Many businesses have opted to move to the cloud for their data solutions, providing an online company hub and centralized storage environment without the need for mass on-site infrastructure. However, email management, exchange and security is often cited as a concern. With email now a crucial part of the business process, it is essential that information can be stored and accessed securely.
Working heavily in the online environment increases the risks associated with email viruses, spam, policy management and archiving, which are often costly and burdensome when tackled in-house. The consequences of these may lead to a business experiencing downtime, or having data stolen by hackers, both factors that could be extremely damaging to a business’ reputation and finances. Unfortunately, despite cloud migration being vital for many businesses to operate effectively in the 21st century, this process can leave an organization vulnerable to cyber attacks.
How to mitigate risks
Taking advantage of an integrated cloud services provider offers an increase in online and email security, not just during the initial shift to the cloud, but also for long-term usage. For example, Exchange Migration from Mimecast works in harmony with Microsoft Exchange, offering an independent, secure, long-term cloud based archive for email data, as well as an exclusive unified email management service to take fragmented online services under one roof to minimise costs and complexity.
The move to the cloud shouldn’t be taken lightly and, depending on the size and scale of your business, it might not be a pressing concern in the short-term. However, in order to keep up with the changing and evolving business environment, utilising a cloud based offering with Microsoft Exchange is likely to be crucial for future success. The financial and business costs of an email virus or a data leak within your organization could be a huge. By mitigating this risk using additional online protection and back-up systems, your business could save money and protect against reputational damage in the long-term.
IMG Source: Flickr user frankrizzo805
