Cloud solutions for enterprises

Software-as-a-Service and cloud services have become an integral part of a company’s IT infrastructure. Dealing with data is part of everyday life, so cloud computing is an important topic for small businesses as well as medium-sized companies and corporations.

What advantages do cloud solutions offer for larger companies? Which cloud provider offers the best service? Learn more about functional and data-secure cloud storage to securely manage and process all data within a company.

Classification of enterprises

Before we take a closer look at the benefits of clouds for companies, we classify companies. The size of a company is therefore relevant in order to derive the specific requirements for digital solutions and cloud applications in one. The following overview divides companies into four size categories:

Microenterprises

• up to ten employees
• Sales revenues up to 0.7 million euros
• Balance sheet total up to 0.7 million euros

small companies

• up to 50 employees
• Sales revenue up to twelve million euros
• Balance sheet total up to six million euros

medium-sized companies

• up to 250 employees
• Sales revenues up to 40 million euros
• Balance sheet total up to 20 million euros

large companies

• more than 250 employees
• Sales revenues higher than 40 million euros
• Balance sheet total higher than 20 million euros

Here we look at application scenarios and advantages of clouds in large companies and corporations. You are also welcome to find out more about the use of a cloud for the self-employed or the application of a cloud in small and medium-sized enterprises.

Advantages of a cloud in the enterprise

Companies should rely on cloud technologies in the age of digital transformation, because a cloud for businesses always comes with benefits, regardless of company size.

Cloud computing in companies promotes mobile working

Cloud services enable mobile working. Employees in the company can securely access stored data from anywhere if they are authorized to do so. It makes no difference whether someone accesses data via a PC or mobile devices such as laptops, tablets or smartphones. This means that employees are fully operational even when they are not in the office.

The Corona pandemic has highlighted how relevant the mobile working option can become for companies. Employees who work remotely can easily and securely collaborate on documents with colleagues. The data resides in cloud storage. Through synchronization, all files are always up to date, so clouds support effective work even though not all employees are in the same location.

Data backup to prevent data loss

Using cloud storage to back up data makes sense for several reasons. Cloud service providers specialize in IT security and thus meet the highest security standards. Compared to an internal IT department that manages its own data centers and takes care of all the tasks, this can be an advantage. External cloud service providers continuously create an automated backup of all data in the cloud. Companies can thus counteract data loss that can never be ruled out due to external influences. These include, for example, destruction by fire or water damage, but also virus attacks or ransomware.

Secure communication through encryption

Cloud solution service providers offer security not only when it comes to securing data. Data exchange is also risk-free thanks to encryption procedures. Personal data or confidential information is protected from unauthorized access and misuse. TeamDrive uses end-to-end encryption for the exchange of information, making both the storage and exchange of data secure. In addition, the content is stored on German servers. TeamDrive is therefore suitable as a cloud solution for companies because all the standards of the DSGVO and European data protection are met.

Business functions and updates

Storing and processing data does not require a company’s own servers if it decides to rely on a cloud solution from an external provider. Instead of building and using expensive internal IT systems, a cloud is the better option for companies. On the one hand, companies save costs because no employees have to be assigned to the administration of internal IT structures. On the other hand, collaboration via a cloud in the company is much more efficient.

Software such as Microsoft Office 365 can be easily linked with TeamDrive. In addition, companies do not consume any resources, as each cloud solution can be set up to suit the company’s needs. Unnecessary functions do not cause any additional costs. Another advantage of cloud solutions in the company is that no one has to deal with the technical aspects of cloud computing, because the service provider takes care of the installation and updates of the software.

Cloud solution providers for enterprises in comparison

Anyone who decides in favor of a cloud in the enterprise is faced with the question of selecting the right cloud provider. Whether a particular provider is suitable with its cloud solution for companies can be compared very well with the help of various criteria.

Server location as a feature of secure cloud storage

To comply with the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), data must be stored on European servers. Stored data is safest if it is located in a German data center. With many cloud providers, data is not backed up in Europe, but in the USA or elsewhere. Accordingly, the strict requirements of the GDPR no longer apply in these cases, but the significantly weakened rules of US data protection law instead.

The consequences of the Cloud Act jeopardize data protection and thus pose a threat to companies. For this reason, cloud solutions such as Microsoft’s OneDrive, Amazon Cloud Drive, Apple’s iCloud or Google Drive are out of the question as clouds for companies.

Other cloud services such as Dropbox, Box or Syncplicity are also not suitable for companies. In the case of hosted cloud services from Nextcloud or OwnCloud, it is necessary to check carefully whether the providers and configurations meet the required compliance requirements. Instead, it is worth looking at IT service providers from Germany that specialize in secure cloud software applications. This includes TeamDrive.

Two-factor authentication for secure access

With two-factor authentication, a second factor supplements the simple login procedure with password. This combination is essential for cloud applications in an enterprise. Compared to Telekom’s Magenta Cloud, TeamDrive uses the principle of two-factor authentication for all services, thus enabling secure access to sensitive data. Administrators can control access to content by assigning individual usage rights. This means that only authorized employees or external partners receive assigned read and write rights. Two-factor authentication increases IT security and is considered the standard for cloud solutions in companies.

Zero knowledge as a security function

Zero Knowledge stands for the principle that all stored data in a cloud actually remains in the hands of the respective users. The architecture of the system prevents unauthorized users from gaining access to content in the cloud. The method even protects the data from even a cloud provider gaining knowledge of how the data is stored on the servers.

In the case of TeamDrive, the keys required for access are held exclusively by the company’s managers and users. In contrast, Apple owns the codes for decrypting data storage, which is why iCloud is not recommended as a cloud for companies.

The principle is particularly relevant for companies that are required to store all data in compliance with the GoBD. TeamDrive fully complies with the GoBD requirements for audit-compliant archiving and supports companies in ensuring audit compliance.

Price/performance ratio as an indicator

Some cloud providers such as Dropbox or Google Drive advertise free storage capacities. Additional capacities can be booked for a low cost. With Microsoft OneDrive, companies get a terrabyte of storage for 4.20 euros per person per month. Many service providers offer similar deals in this price range. TeamDrive, on the other hand, focuses on solutions in which the storage space required is specifically geared to the needs of the respective company.

Choosing the best cloud for business

Companies have the choice of using free cloud services or relying on professional cloud providers. In any case, it is important to ensure that data security and data protection do not fall by the wayside. This is precisely why it is worth taking a closer look at the respective cloud solutions and their features. One criterion here is whether the cloud for the company is a public cloud or a private cloud.

The market provides various clouds, which can be differentiated into public clouds and private clouds. The public cloud is an open cloud. Here, several customers share an IT infrastructure. Examples of this are cloud solutions such as Dropbox or Google Drive. For private users, these types of cloud may be sufficient. However, data protection and thus the security of sensitive data is usually not a top priority here. However, this characteristic of public clouds is unacceptable for companies.

For this reason, cloud solutions are better suited as private clouds for companies. Access to the IT service is only available to the company itself. This creates a secure structure that protects sensitive data. In addition, a private cloud is individually scalable to fit the size of the company. However, configuring and operating a private cloud is challenging and requires expert knowledge. Providers such as TeamDrive offer a solution to this dilemma.

The protection of digital data is a top priority. The secure and encrypted cloud services ensure data security and additionally relieve companies of the complex configuration of a cloud. TeamDrive offers high security standards as well as numerous functions that are of great importance to companies.

All services are available as a package starting at 5.66 euros per month and user. It is not necessary to set up your own server. The package price also includes regular updates, maintenance and customer support.