23 Apr 2010

Cloud could reduce impact of disasters

The recent impact of the volcanic eruption in Iceland on air travel in the UK has meant that companies should consider investment in cloud computing in order to boost their flexibility in the future.

Rob Lovell, chief executive officer of ThinkGrid, said that cloud computing enables businesses to post the applications and data workers need to carry out their job online, thereby allowing them to successfully work outside of the office environment and reducing the impact of disasters such as this.

He commented: "This isn't the first and it won't be the last time business productivity is impacted due to natural phenomena or even adverse weather conditions."

According to absence management services company FirstCare, restricted travel can have a major impact on a firm's finances and productivity.

Figures from the company revealed that for each worker off this week there has been an average direct cost of £168 per day of absence, which could cost UK businesses over £3 million a day.