Augmenting legacy disaster recovery strategies is one of the main reasons organizations implement cloud computing technologies, as the hosted services enable companies of all sizes to leverage a third-party data center to store mission-critical information. In doing so, executives can improve the odds of successfully restoring operations in the wake of an emergency, as the external architecture was likely unaffected by the disaster.

In a recent study of 500 IT professionals, AT&T revealed that 76 percent of respondents are currently using the cloud or plan to do so this year. Another 62 percent of executives said they have incorporated the cloud into their corporate infrastructure, likely to reduce costs, eliminate management complexities and boost the overall availability of sensitive assets.

As for disaster recovery, AT&T found that 66 percent of decision-makers said they are using or planning to invest in the cloud to strengthen business continuity efforts, which will improve their long-term chances of success. For the most part, these organizations are using storage and cloud infrastructure technologies to augment restoration capabilities.

"Companies today are very aware and concerned about the potential threats that could disrupt their operations," said Michael Singer, assistant vice president of mobile, cloud and access management security at AT&T. "With their business continuity plans in place, businesses are investing in new technologies like network enabled cloud services to help strengthen and expand their overall continuity strategies."

Cloud and DR work well together
While there are numerous benefits associated with incorporating cloud computing into disaster recovery initiatives, the ability to quickly restore operations is among the most important advantages. A recent TwinStrata report highlighted this capability, noting that roughly 80 percent of organizations using cloud infrastructure services claim they can recover sensitive data in less than 24 hours after an emergency.

This means that companies using the cloud no longer need to worry about experiencing downtime in the aftermath of a disaster - a problem that used to lead to significant short- and long-term performance and financial issues. By taking the time to develop a well-rounded recovery program, firms can improve their chances of survival.

Because no two clouds are exactly the same, however, it is important that executives select the right solutions. If companies implement poorly designed clouds, they will not reap the same rewards as those that embrace disaster recovery projects leveraging cloud services sharing the same long-term objectives.

Today's businesses have more opportunities to improve operations and reduce costs than companies of the past, as executives currently have an abundance of technology to choose from. Cloud computing in particular enables both large enterprises and small firms to embrace unique competitive strategies - when the hosted services are implemented properly and their use aligns with long-term corporate goals.

A recent Smart Business Network Online report highlighted how cloud adoption rates are growing and allowing organizations of all sizes to level the playing field between small companies and large enterprises that have a more exhaustible supply of resources.

"It's a really exciting time for small business. For the first time, you have access to tools and solutions that may have been cost prohibitive in the past, and you can buy them by the seat and without the need to build and support an enterprise infrastructure," IT expert Frank Cox, Jr. said, according to SBN Online. "This allows you to build a cost effective, end-to-end automation platform that really impacts your business."

Cloud from the small-company perspective
When the cloud first emerged, the technology was primarily focused on the enterprise, giving decision-makers the opportunity to eliminate on-premise hardware and take advantage of a cloud infrastructure. More recently, these benefits have also been extended to smaller organizations, as the cloud can strengthen their ability to compete, according to a report by Microsoft.

"Gone are the days of large enterprises holding the keys to enterprise-class IT and services," said Marco Limena, vice president of operator channels at Microsoft. "The cloud levels the playing field for [small and medium-sizes businesses], helping them compete in today's quickly changing business environment, by spending less time and money on IT and more time focused on their most important priority - growing their businesses."

Cloud computing enables smaller firms to take advantage of enterprise-level applications and services for an affordable price, SBN Online noted, making it easier to develop and support a resilient data center without worrying about overstraining the budget.

As the cloud continues to evolve in the coming years, small companies will turn to the hosted environment in an effort to keep pace with an increasingly competitive business world. By ensuring cloud usage aligns with long-term corporate objectives, decision-makers can be sure the technology provides numerous advantages to their organizations.