In fact, according to a 2022 Microsoft survey, 95% of survey participants (from medium to large U.S. companies) said that hybrid or multicloud were critical to their business success. 

Those benefits include enhanced productivity, better collaboration, simplified maintenance, better disaster recovery and enhanced cybersecurity. One of the most attractive features is that cloud PCs offer a highly scalable and flexible solution for businesses of all sizes. 

As companies replace on-premise IT hardware with cloud computers, they are able to lower IT operating costs and reduce the amount of time and money spent on IT infrastructure maintenance.

And as the world has rapidly transitioned to remote work and hybrid working models, cloud PCs offer an attractive solution that allows for remote work mobility, flexibility and heightened security.

What is a cloud PC?

A cloud PC (which is also sometimes called a virtual desktop or cloud computer) is one that stores data and software applications on a remote server or cloud. That means that your business won’t have to host a server on-site, and the management of the server and backup of all your data is done by a cloud vendor.

This type of service is often called Desktop as a Service (Daas). 

Because a cloud PC has all the software and data stored remotely on the cloud, it means that users can access that from any device, anywhere as long as they have an internet connection. 

Even a mobile phone can be used for access, which means you no longer need to have the most powerful machines to be able to perform your job.

8 reasons why more companies will start using cloud PCs

There are many benefits to using cloud PCs, which is probably why they’ve become such a trend among businesses. 

Inspired by these benefits, below are 8 reasons why companies are expected to increasingly adopt the use of cloud PCs:

1. Enhance productivity

If your employees use cloud PCs, they can then access all their files, data and software in one location and can easily collaborate, share files and backup their data from one central location.

This helps to streamline how employees work, especially compared with traditionally having to use and sign into a range of different applications and data storage. 

That in turn can help to enhance productivity as staff no longer have to spend hours on IT troubleshooting and logging into different applications.

2. Cost savings

There are various ways that companies can save costs by using cloud PCs. 

Firstly, you no longer need to invest in powerful and costly IT hardware, as you can access cloud services via any device on a subscription model. This pay-as-you-go model means that businesses can then avoid being locked into long-term contracts where they have to pay to maintain their costly IT infrastructure. 

By avoiding capital expenses (CapEx) for IT hardware, businesses can significantly reduce their capital costs, while shifting their IT expenses to being tax-deductable operational costs (OpEx). 

This can translate into big savings on annual IT budgets and expenses as your business may then be able to deduct all these operational costs within a financial tax year, reducing overall company tax. This in turn can help companies remain agile and better able to pivot and adjust as needed. This “pay as you grow” approach to expenditure can also help companies be more financially strategic so they can grow and scale.

And while you will have to pay for your cloud PC services on a subscription basis, it may end up being less than having to have full time IT staff to take care of your on-site servers, hardware management, software updates, and backups.

And in addition, if many of your staff work remotely, you could even have a bring your own device (BYOD) policy, which means you can save even more on not having to provide hardware. 

When it comes to scaling up or down your IT resources, this can be done quickly and cost-effectively as your employee numbers change. Plus you may be able to save on IT insurance costs if you have less on-site infrastructure, and also on IT maintenance costs.

3. Better IT security

Cybersecurity is front of mind for most businesses as the risks and implications of data loss or malware infections can be significant and even crippling.

One of the many reasons that companies are increasingly adopting the use of cloud computers for their staff, is because of the security enhancements they offer. 

Most cloud service providers employ the latest cybersecurity protections, which helps minimize the risk of a hack, malware or ransomware. This includes cybersecurity monitoring, the use of two-factor authentication and encryption, and access controls to different types of data. 

That helps make the cloud generally safer and more secure compared with hosting your own servers on-site and managing your own backups and cybersecurity.

4. Scalable and flexible solution

Cloud PCs offer a scalable and flexible solution compared with traditional on-site computers. That’s because cloud computers allow you to add extra users, more storage or additional software apps rapidly without having to buy any additional hardware or IT infrastructure. 

This is a huge advantage, particularly for organizations that want to scale and grow their workforce significantly. It helps them to customize their and change the software they use and number of uses they have almost at the touch of a button. 

This can help companies to pivot and remain agile, while saving costs and being able to test out new software quite affordably without having to invest in costly hardware.

5. Simplified maintenance

If you have a traditional computer then you’re responsible for running updates, installing security patches, and maintaining your on-site server. If there are any problems, you may have to fix them yourself or call in a specialized IT service provider.

But if you have a cloud computer, then your service provider will take care of all maintenance and troubleshooting issues, as well as backups and storage. 

That means your IT staff won’t have as much of a workload, so they can take care of other important matters. 

It also means that you’ll generally experience less downtime, and you’ll also be able to access the latest software or easily change to a new SaaS product or even operating system.

6. Better collaboration

Cloud computing allows all users in your team to access the same data at the same time, make edits, share files and communicate instantaneously. This enhances collaboration in real-time and helps with productivity and efficiency as operations are more streamlined and centralized. 

For remote teams that are location independent, it also enables collaboration and communication across physical boundaries. Teams can access the same tools, apps and data from anywhere in the world - all they need is an internet connection.

7. More sustainable

If you’re keen to operate your business responsibly and sustainably, then you’ll probably be happy to know that cloud solutions are generally more environmentally friendly. 

That’s because each company is able to reduce the amount of physical hardware they need, and because cloud data centers and servers are often powered by renewables which can reduce carbon footprints. 

And cloud computing is also generally more resource efficient, because you are able to use only what you need. That way if you need to scale up or down, you're not left with excess hardware that goes to waste.

8. Better disaster recovery

Cloud computers can make use of cloud based backup and disaster recovery, which can help businesses recover from disasters like ransomware attacks or physical damage to IT hardware. 

That’s because cloud based storage and backup solutions can help to better protect your data and systems, and can help you get back to being operational more quickly than with traditional PCs. 

It is of course important to have a disaster recovery plan in place, but having cloud backups can help eliminate downtime in the case of a disaster. This can help ensure better business continuity and if done right, can help avoid the damage of a ransomware attack.

Final thoughts on the future of cloud computers and virtual desktops

Cloud computers and cloud computing is expected to continue to be a growing trend in the IT sector for many years to come. 

As more and more organizations opt to migrate over to using cloud computers, it’s becoming evident that there are a multitude of benefits of doing so. 

Customized, scalable and flexible cloud computing solutions can help enhance efficiency and productivity, save costs and enable better collaboration and communication. They can also help you access the latest software technologies, and take advantage of the latest in cybersecurity protection solutions. 

If you’re interested to figure out whether a cloud computer and other cloud computing options would be a good solution for your business, contact us at (704) 644-1220 for a no obligation consultation to discuss this and any inquiries you may have.