You might not know who John Chambers is, but you’re probably familiar with the tech company he used to manage -- Cisco. Before stepping down as the company’s CEO, Chambers predicted that at least 40% of all businesses would die in the next 10 years if they didn’t figure out how to accommodate new technologies.

As bold as that might sound, it’s exactly the wakeup call many business owners need. Why? Because digital transformation isn’t an option, it’s a necessity. Adopting the right technologies into all areas of your organization will improve processes, competencies, and customer satisfaction. Fail to do so and it’s only a matter of time before your competitors pass you by.

For over half a decade, cloud computing has epitomized digital transformation. It allows companies to utilize resources on-demand to maximize mobility, efficiency, and growth opportunities. The cloud is so significant today that Forbes predicted 80% of IT budgets would be allocated to cloud solutions by July 2018.

Despite that, many organizations are still haunted by prevalent cloud misconceptions that hinder their digital transformation. Here are the top three:

Cloud computing is only for large companies

Just because huge enterprises were the first to leverage cloud technology, that doesn’t mean small- and mid-sized companies can’t do the same. We get that you don’t want to be the first or the last to try anything, but with cloud technology, you don’t have to be. Its relative simplicity, flexibility, and pay-as-you-go pricing model lets businesses of all sizes innovate at their own speed.

Cloud computing should be a primary part of your IT roadmap because it accentuates two of the most important modern business requirements: speed and agility. When you evaluate the cloud from an outcomes perspective, rather than thinking of it as a new technology, you’ll be astounded by a new-found ability to meet user demand for digital services.

Cybersecurity is a cloud problem

Early adopters were first hesitant to implement cloud technology due to security concerns. However, it has become evident that the cloud’s built-in security solutions far surpass those available with on-premises technology. These include infrastructure management tools, monitoring tools, compliance solutions, outbound traffic restriction, multi-factor authentication, and more.

With all this functionality at their disposal, companies that suffer from security issues in the cloud usually have themselves to blame. Culprits include a lack of employee security training, partnerships with inexperienced cloud service providers, and pure negligence in disaster preparedness.

The cloud is difficult to keep up with

In today’s world, new hardware and software is being introduced every day, leading people to assume that cloud computing requires large amounts of tedious upkeep. This couldn’t be further from the truth as cloud services are automatically updated, eliminating the need for your team to partake in exhaustive development, testing, and maintenance.

Partnering with a cloud provider will make life even easier for you as they’ll take care of all systems customization, monitoring, and support. This ensures you’ll always be able to take advantage of the latest technology with the understanding that your investments won’t become obsolete.

No one wants to be the first or the last to try anything, so the real question when it comes to cloud computing and your digital transformation is this: “If not now, then when?”

We’re not called SimplyClouds for nothing; we’ve been fascinated by cloud computing since its inception and have extensive experience with cloud migration, customization, and support. Whether you have questions concerning the cloud, need clarification on cloud misconceptions, or are looking for a knowledgeable provider, just give us a call.