If you've been hearing more talk about "moving to the cloud" lately - you're not imagining it.
More and more SMEs across Greater Manchester are ditching outdated onsite servers and clunky file systems in favour of flexible, cloud-based solutions. And it's not just for the tech-forward firms anymore. Engineering firms, accountants, recruitment agencies, charities, manufacturers - everyone's making the shift.
So what's behind the movement? Is it hype, or is there real value in cloud migration for small- and medium-sized businesses?
In this blog, we'll break it down clearly:
Let's demystify it. Cloud migration simply means moving data, applications or systems from on-premise hardware (like servers or PCs) to the cloud, i.e. remote data centres accessed over the internet.
You might already be using some cloud services without realising it:
Al full cloud migration could mean:
Your team isn't always in the same place - and neither should your systems be. Cloud platforms allow secure access to data and tools from anywhere, without relying on clunky VPNs or someone needing to "switch the server back on".
With the cloud, you usually pay per user, per month. No big upfront costs for hardware. No nasty bills when your ageing server suddenly dies.
Many SME leaders assume onsite = safer. But leading cloud platforms (Microsoft, Google. AWS) have blank-level encryption, constant patching, and threat detection you simply can't replicate in-house.
In fact, over 56% of UK SMEs are now using cloud services - up from just 35% five years ago. And that number's rising quickly.
Microsoft will stop supporting Windows 10 in October this year. Many older servers and legacy systems are also nearing end-of-life. For many businesses, it's more cost-effective to move to the cloud than upgrade all your hardware.
Let's be real: not every cloud migration is smooth sailing. The most common problems we see are:
That's why it's important to have a proper plan - and ideally, a local partner who understands your business and industry.
Don't guess. Know what you've got, what can move, and what might need replacing.
Understand how your team currently works - so the new system makes things easier, not harder.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), conditional access, regular backups - these are non-negotiables in the cloud.
The best tech is only helpful if your staff know how to use it. Invest in training early.
Platforms like Microsoft 365, Azure Virtual Desktop and SharePoint grow as you do - without the cost of adding physical infrastructure.
Migrating the the cloud won't automatically make your business more secure or productive. But done well, it gives you flexibility, resilience, and a platform to grow - without worrying about server upgrades or surprise downtime.
We've helped businesses across Greater Manchester go from "we're not sure what's next" to fully cloud-based, secure and thriving. And we're happy to share what we've learned.
Let's talk. We can help you figure out: