Why Engineering Firms Need Cloud Services
Do you struggle with technology that fails to keep up with your requirements?
If so, you’re not alone. This is a common challenge for engineering firms across the globe.
The engineering industry is growing at an incredible rate, despite ever-evolving labor shortages, cost pressures, and trends leaning toward fixed-bid projects. However, engineering firms are under more pressure than ever before to keep their operations as efficient and precise as possible. This, in turn, means that traditional, off-the-shelf systems lack the performance and capabilities necessary to get the job done, especially during complex projects that require more analytics, automation, and other abilities.
Here’s the thing… You work in a dynamic industry that constantly fluctuates in workforce requirements. Your need for manpower and resources shifts constantly depending on the time of year, economy, and in some cases, the project you’re working on. This means your budget is always changing, too, as your firm accommodates all of the other internal and external changes happening around you.
The best way to stay ahead and scale up or down as needed? You need systems and processes that can adapt – and the cloud is the best way to achieve this. If you’re not using the cloud above and beyond a few construction-based applications, it’s time to dive deeper into the world of cloud computing.
What Is The Cloud?
First and foremost, it’s important to understand what the cloud actually does. The cloud lets you store and access your computing resources over the internet as opposed to keeping them on-premises. You get access to a pool of computing resources on an as-needed basis, including:
- Servers
- Networks
- Storage
- Applications
- Other services
You pay for what you use, as you use it – meaning it’s much more affordable compared to purchasing, maintaining, and upgrading your own equipment on a regular basis. If updates are needed, they’re automatically rolled out. Plus, the cloud can be provisioned quickly with minimal effort.
How Does The Cloud Benefit Engineering Firms?
The cloud clearly delivers a ton of benefits to engineering firms, especially given the unpredictable nature of their business requirements. Here are a few benefits:
Greater accessibility as your engineers can access all documents, client information, and project details whenever they need to, from any device or location. This means they can:
- Access and update information
- Track time
- Order supplies or request assistance
- Pay bills
- Collaborate with one another
Improved project management/control because everyone is able to collaborate with ease and keep the information updated in real-time, which means stakeholders can view, evaluate, and expedite every step of the way – offering greater transparency and control of projects while reducing man-hours, and in turn, costs.
Stronger security to keep sensitive information safe as the cloud offers more enterprise-grade, built-in security measures than most engineering firms would have access to on their own. This includes:
- Advanced firewalls that inspect traveling data packets for the purpose of responding to threats as soon as possible.
- Intrusion detection that keeps any sort of intruders from getting past the first line of defense.
- Encryption to keep all data stored at rest or in transit safe against unauthorized access of any sort.
- Physical security such as around-the-clock monitoring, security personnel, and fingerprint locks around the data center.
Get Started With Cloud Services For Engineering Firms
Since 1989, Compunet Infotech has been the leading IT services and support company for engineering firms throughout Greater Vancouver. We offer a range of cloud services designed to suit your unique requirements.
Click here to get started or call us at (604) 986-8170 and schedule a consultation.
