“Moving to the cloud” sounds straightforward but means different things for different businesses. This guide cuts through the jargon and tells you exactly what it means for a Perth small business - and how to do it without downtime.
What Does “The Cloud” Actually Mean?
The cloud simply means software and storage that runs on someone else's server, accessible via the internet - instead of a physical server in your office. When you use Gmail, you're using the cloud. When files are on OneDrive or Google Drive, they're in the cloud.
For Perth businesses, a cloud migration typically means moving some combination of: email, file storage, business applications, or your server workloads to cloud-hosted platforms.
What to Move to the Cloud First
Moving from on-premise Exchange or a local email server to Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace is the easiest, lowest-risk migration with the biggest immediate benefit. Zero hardware to maintain, automatic updates, and access from any device.
Replace your on-site file server with SharePoint (Microsoft 365) or Google Drive. Files become accessible anywhere, automatically backed up, and shareable with clients without emailing attachments.
Accounting software (Xero, MYOB), CRM, project management - most of these are already cloud-based. If you're still running desktop versions, moving to cloud subscriptions reduces maintenance overhead.
If you run an in-office server for line-of-business applications, moving to Azure or AWS virtual machines is possible but requires careful planning. For most small Perth businesses, this isn't necessary immediately.
The Real Benefits for Perth Businesses
Work from anywhere
Your team can work from home, on site, or interstate without VPN complexity or performance issues.
No server hardware costs
Server hardware fails, needs replacing every 5 years, requires cooling and power. Cloud eliminates all of that.
Better security than most offices
Microsoft and Google invest more in security than any Perth business can. Cloud data is often more secure than on-site.
Scales with your business
Add a new staff member in minutes. No hardware to buy, no licences to physically install.
What About Internet Speed?
This is the most common concern Perth businesses raise. Yes, cloud services require a reliable internet connection. For most businesses, the NBN (even a basic NBN 50 plan) is sufficient for Microsoft 365. Video-heavy workflows may benefit from NBN 100 or a business-grade fibre connection.
If your internet connection is unreliable, address that first - but don't let it stop a cloud migration entirely. The right solution is often a combination of a primary and backup internet connection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should we move to the cloud first?
Email, almost always. Moving from an on-premise mail server to Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace is the lowest-risk migration with the biggest immediate payoff, no hardware to maintain and automatic updates. File storage is usually the next sensible step once email is settled.
Do we need to move our server workloads to the cloud too?
Not necessarily, and not straight away. Moving in-office server applications to Azure or AWS is possible but needs careful planning, and for most small Perth businesses it isn't an urgent priority compared to getting email and file storage sorted first.
Will our internet connection be good enough for cloud software?
For most businesses, yes, a standard NBN 50 plan is generally sufficient for Microsoft 365. If your workflows are video-heavy or your current connection is already unreliable, it's worth addressing that alongside the migration rather than as a reason to delay it.
Is cloud data actually less secure than keeping things on our own server?
Generally the opposite, providers like Microsoft and Google put more ongoing investment into security than most individual businesses realistically can. That said, moving to the cloud doesn't remove the need for good practices on your end, like MFA and proper access controls.
Microsoft 365 is usually the fastest, lowest-risk starting point for a Perth business moving email and files to the cloud.
Microsoft 365 & Cloud →Ready to move your Perth business to the cloud?
Top Tier Computing handles cloud migrations for Perth businesses every week - email, files, applications. We migrate without downtime and train your staff to make the most of the new setup.
For related reading, see our guides to Azure Cloud for Perth Businesses, Cloud Backup vs Local Backup for Perth Businesses, and Data Sovereignty and Data Residency Explained.