The Benefits of Tampa Area Small Businesses Switching to SharePoint from On-Premise Servers
Tampa Bay area businesses spent the month of October 2024 facing the multiple challenges that came with the arrival of two back-to-back hurricanes. Power was out all over the city, some employees were out of town, some employees were dealing with enormous damage to their homes and business owners were faced with challenges of getting their business back to normal. We had multiple local Tampa businesses reach out to mpsWORKS to discuss how to improve their company’s resiliency during these challenging times. One common suggestion we make to small business customers is to move their on-premise servers to SharePoint, a cloud-based platform by Microsoft.
These are the benefits we tell them:
1. Disaster Recovery
On-premise servers are vulnerable to physical damage from events like fires, floods, or hardware failures. Hurricanes Helene and Milton demonstrated in Tampa that businesses may be vulnerable to flooding which could have destroyed any on-premise server. There were also many days when power was out where access to a company’s on-premise server was impossible. SharePoint’s cloud-based infrastructure includes built-in disaster recovery features. Data is regularly backed up and can be restored quickly in case of an emergency, ensuring business continuity.
2. Cost Savings
Maintaining on-premise servers can be expensive. Costs include hardware, software, maintenance, and energy consumption. SharePoint, being a cloud-based solution, eliminates the need for physical servers and reduces IT overhead. Businesses can opt for subscription-based pricing, which is often more predictable and manageable.
3. Enhanced Collaboration
SharePoint offers collaboration tools that allow team members to work together seamlessly, regardless of their location. Features like document sharing, real-time editing, and version control ensure that everyone is on the same page. This is particularly beneficial for small businesses with remote or distributed teams.
4. Scalability
As your business grows, so do your data and collaboration needs. Scaling up on-premise servers can be a complex and costly process. SharePoint, however, offers scalable solutions that can grow with your business. You can easily add more storage or users without significant upfront investments.
5. Improved Security
Security is a top concern for any business. SharePoint provides advanced security features, including data encryption, compliance with industry standards, and regular updates to protect against threats. Microsoft’s robust security infrastructure ensures that your data is safe and secure.
6. Accessibility
With SharePoint, your data is accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. This flexibility allows employees to work from home, on the road, or from different office locations. Mobile apps and browser-based access make it easy to stay connected and productive.
7. Integration with Microsoft 365
SharePoint integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft 365 applications like Teams, Outlook, and OneDrive. This integration enhances productivity by providing a unified platform for communication, file storage, and project management. It also simplifies user experience, as employees can use familiar tools.
8. Automated Workflows
SharePoint offers powerful workflow automation capabilities. Businesses can automate repetitive tasks, such as document approvals, notifications, and data collection. This not only saves time but also reduces the risk of human error, ensuring more consistent and reliable processes.
Switching from on-premise servers to SharePoint offers numerous benefits for small businesses, from cost savings and enhanced collaboration to improved security and scalability. By leveraging the power of the cloud, small businesses can stay competitive, agile, and ready to meet the challenges of the modern business environment.
Are you considering making the switch to SharePoint? Feel free to reach out to Robert Bohacek at 813-280-4646 with any questions or for more information on how to get started!