Virtual workstations and cloud integrations can help businesses to thrive and survive. By comparison with on-premise IT infrastructure, workstations and applications - cloud-based workstations that use cloud integrations are changing the way businesses are able to operate.

Using virtual workstations, businesses can access the latest technologies and by using cloud integrations they can ensure that all their different software, data, applications and systems can be used seamlessly together. 

Cloud integration therefore helps businesses both streamline and optimize their communications, collaboration and business processes. And it helps enhance the functionality of IT systems, improves access to data, applications and systems and it allows users to liaise in real-time. 

This flexibility and ability to easily scale your business needs is part of what is driving such high demand for cloud-based technologies. This rise in popularity and growing demand is set to increase: it’s estimated that the global market value of cloud technologies will be USD $1,240.9 billion by 2027. 

Virtual workstations can be configured to integrate with cloud platforms using on-premise workstations (cloud to on-site integration). Or you can use virtual workstations together with a range of different cloud applications that are able to be integrated together so you can work seamlessly across different software (cloud to cloud integration). 

That means that your data no longer has to be in a variety of compartmentalized siloes - but rather it can all be accessible from one central location, allowing staff to collaborate, share, and store data in real-time. 

Below we look at what cloud integration is, how cloud integrations help businesses to thrive and how they are transforming the future of work.

What is cloud integration?

Cloud integration technologies allow users to connect different cloud technologies together to exchange data in real-time and to streamline how businesses are able to operate. 

For example, instead of having different applications for your accounting, customer relationship management and emails, you can integrate and connect all of these so that they work seamlessly together. 

As many companies move to use cloud solutions, they find that there are legacy software applications that can’t be integrated well which can cause bottlenecks in business processes. 

But as cloud integration services are innovating and expanding all the time, new platforms are gearing towards solving these integration challenges. Now companies can choose to have some on-premise applications that work together with their cloud-based applications and tools - or they can opt for fully cloud-based solutions and integrations. 

Cloud integration and virtual workstations: How businesses can thrive

Through consolidating data from different cloud and on-premise systems to a single and unified data store, businesses can then access data in real time and from anywhere. That’s the benefit and aim of cloud data integration. 

Now that so many businesses have virtual workstations, cloud integration is becoming increasingly necessary and widespread. Cloud integrations help businesses to be more efficient, productive and competitive, and provide a range of other benefits which we explore in more detail below.

1. Lowered costs

One of the most attractive benefits of virtual workstations is lowered costs. Companies no longer have to purchase powerful and expensive laptops and other hardware - they don’t even need to have on-site servers. This can save on upfront expenditure as well as space, and ongoing maintenance and management costs. 

And by switching to paying on a monthly subscription basis, companies can also transition their budgets from having costly capital expenses to less expensive monthly subscription-based, non-capital expenses. This also helps businesses to remain agile and able to scale if and when needed - only paying for the resources that they actually need and use. 

2. More flexibility and scalability

Virtual workstations that have the required integrations allow businesses to be more flexible, especially when compared with on-premise workstations. It makes it quick and easy for companies to purchase or test out new applications and software, without the need to physically configure and update software on individual machines. 

This means that businesses can easily scale their operations when they need to, and this can happen very quickly which can also help to save costs.

3. Enhanced security

With cybersecurity concerns being among top business priorities nowadays to safeguard data and privacy rights, cloud-based workstations offer enhanced security for businesses. Cloud-based technology and service providers often use cutting-edge and advanced security features like biometrics, encryption and multi-factor authentication to ensure their systems stand up to mounting cyber threats and risks. 

Cloud-based solution providers also have teams of highly skilled staff to deal with any threats and issues that may arise, working around the clock on maintenance and surveillance. These security features may also help businesses to remain compliant, while also freeing up their IT staff’s capacity to work on other matters. 

4. Improved collaboration and communication

When businesses use on-premise workstations, it can be costly and challenging to configure proper data sharing solutions. But with virtual workstations, it’s far easier to enable data sharing which helps to improve collaboration and communication - with staff able to share documents and feedback in real time.

And because of the great number of integrations available, businesses can seamlessly use a variety of applications at the same time to share data. This assists with business efficiency and productivity and can help improve both internal and external communication and response times. 

The ability to easily communicate via the cloud also helps to enable efficient remote and hybrid work, which seems to be increasing rapidly in popularity around the world. 

5. Enhanced disaster recovery and business continuity

Quite often companies that use on-premise workstations end up using software and technologies that become outdated and they are left having to upgrade and transition to new systems which can be challenging and costly.

By comparison, companies that choose cloud-based technologies are able to stay up-to-date with the latest technologies and that means the software will have support, updates and security enhancements so that they can keep using these applications safely.

This cloud-based technology also allows companies to store and backup their data on secure cloud-based servers, which are monitored and managed 24/7. This can save businesses significant costs associated with on-premise backups and security, and can help with disaster recovery readiness and business continuity.

Using cloud integrations, company data from across a wide range of applications can be stored and backed up from one central cloud-based location, making it easier to ensure and manage compliance and disaster recovery resilience.  

Cloud integration: a disruptive business technology that is transforming the future of work

Cloud integration has changed the current status quo of the business environment, enabling users to be more flexible, adaptable, scalable and agile. 

Cloud integrations also help businesses to have employees working anywhere in the world, as they are now able to access virtual workstations and cloud-based technologies from anywhere, using any device. 

This new mobile workforce and agile business environment is a result of disruptive business technology in the form of cloud integration - expected to revolutionize the future of work for decades to come. 

How to plan a move to the cloud for your business?

If you’re planning to move your business to the cloud, there are many options, many different providers and a host of factors to consider to ensure you make the choice that’s right for you. That includes thought into how your cloud-based tools, applications, data and software will integrate to optimize business communication and collaboration. 

At NB Technology, our highly skilled and experienced staff can help you plan your move to cloud-based technology solutions and navigate the complexity of ensuring integrations and business efficiency. 

Contact us at (704) 644-1220 for a no obligation consultation to discuss your network and cloud services needs and any inquiries you may have.