Cloud Services in 2025: What’s Most Important to UK Businesses Cloud Services in 2025: What's Most Important to UK Businesses Posted on 15 Apr 2025 Related Topics More about Blue Saffron & Microsoft Azure Read our blog, Cloud Managed Services: The Ultimate Guide for UK Businesses More about Blue Saffron & Microsoft 365 Download our eBook: Microsoft Cloud: the ultimate enabler for businesses looking to scale and evolve More about Blue Saffron Get In Touch In 2025, cloud services are infrastructure that matters. They’re not a forward–thinking option anymore; they’re at the forefront of building resilience, meeting compliance needs, and staying in control as IT and risk become increasingly entwined. Most UK businesses already use cloud services in some form – whether for storage, collaboration, remote access, or indeed entire infrastructure. But too many aren‘t getting the best out of it. Costs creep in, risks go unmanaged, and configurations fail to keep up with the way people do work. This article explains what to watch out for in cloud services in 2025, and where smarter choices are reaping rewards. Table of Contents Cost Visibility in Cloud Services Is Essential to Avoid Overspend Cybersecurity Expectations in Cloud Services Are Higher Than Ever Cloud Services for UK Businesses Must Offer Local Data and Support Insurers Are Scrutinising Cloud Services for Risk Cloud Services Should Make Hybrid Work Seamless Cloud Services Strategy Must Align with Business Objectives FAQs About Cloud Services Cost Visibility in Cloud Services is Essential to Avoid Overspend Cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure and AWS promise flexibility—scale up, scale down, and only pay for what you use. But without proper oversight, that flexibility often leads to overspend. That pay-as-you-go model can become a budget nightmare without proper management. According to a 2023 Forrester report commissioned by Boomi, 72% of global companies exceeded their cloud budgets in the last fiscal year, highlighting the ongoing challenge of managing cloud spend [source]. Look at the example of Harper James Solicitors, rapidly growing UK legal firm. They cloud-migrated their infrastructure through lockdown to allow remote working. But quickly learned they were incurring charges on unused virtual machines, bloated storage tiers, and expensive add-ons no one utilised. A top-to-bottom audit allowed them to lower their monthly Azure spend by 31%. Lesson: Cloud doesn’t automatically mean cheap. Get visibility, set usage alerts, and work with a partner who reviews your setup regularly. At Blue Saffron, we provide that ongoing optimisation as part of our managed service model. Clear visibility into usage and billing is the difference between cloud savings and cloud waste. Cybersecurity Expectations in Cloud Services Are Higher Than Ever In 2025, cybersecurity and cloud go hand in hand. With hybrid work now a permanent reality, sensitive data is moving in and out of cloud apps all day long. And attackers are aware of this. The UK saw a 40% spike in ransomware attacks last year alone, a lot of them targeting cloud misconfigurations [source]. Proof: Arnold Clark, the car group, had a massive breach through their third-party cloud file storage platform. Over 500GB of customer data was released. They‘re still attempting to regain trust. What it means for your business: MFA has to be the standard, not the exception Encrypt all of it—at rest and in transit Review access controls quarterly Isolate and automate backups A proper cloud services configuration doesn‘t just protect your data—it protects your right to conduct business. Your cloud services setup is only as secure as the policies and protections behind it. Cloud Services for UK Businesses Must Offer Local Data and Support Brexit changed the regulatory landscape. UK businesses must comply with stronger data residency and privacy controls. If your cloud provider stores data outside of the UK or EU, you risk compliance challenges. Platforms like Microsoft 365 and Azure have data centres in the UK, but most companies have no idea where their data is. And support? It’s one thing to have a ticket open with a US-based vendor. It’s another to speak to someone who knows your business, your compliance requirements, and your timezone. Where your data lives—and who supports it—matters more than ever for compliance and trust. Insurers Are Scrutinising Cloud Services for Risk Here’s a curveball most businesses don’t expect: insurers are now asking about your cloud security posture. Cyber insurance providers are tightening their policies—and increasing premiums—based on how well your cloud environment is protected. Many now include questions such as: Is multi-factor authentication (MFA) enforced for all users? Where is your cloud data hosted? How often do you test backups? What incident response plans are in place? If you can’t answer confidently, or if you rely on outdated infrastructure or incomplete policies, you’re likely to see higher costs or reduced coverage. Cloud security doesn’t just protect operations—it can affect your insurance premiums, too. Cloud Services Should Make Hybrid Work Seamless Everyone talks about hybrid work. But too often, it’s held together with a patchwork of VPNs, shared logins, and workarounds that frustrate users and expose risks. A well-designed cloud services setup removes those barriers. It gives your team secure, consistent access to the tools they need—wherever they are—while reducing downtime and support issues. That’s the benchmark. If your team feels the difference between office and remote, your cloud setup isn’t doing its job. Cloud Services Strategy Must Align with Business Objectives Too many cloud migrations focus on the tech: virtual machines, file storage, single sign-on. That‘s important, but the value lies when you take a step back and ask: What business outcomes do we want from the cloud? How will we know if we’re successful? Who owns performance and security? Cloud success is measured in outcomes, not uptime. You might not own the servers anymore. But you still need to own the outcomes. In 2025, cloud services are central to how your business operates—and that means they must be cost-effective, secure, and aligned with how your teams work. That means: Gaining full visibility over costs to avoid budget surprises Building in security that satisfies both regulators and insurers Choosing providers that offer UK data residency and local support, in the same timezone Enabling hybrid work that feels seamless, not pieced together Treating cloud not just as tech, but as part of your business strategy Bringing all of that together takes planning—and the right partner. Blue Saffron is a UK-based managed service provider helping businesses simplify, secure, and get more from their cloud environments. If you’d like a clear, jargon-free conversation about your setup, we’re here to help. It’s not something you have to figure out alone. FAQs About Cloud Services What What are cloud services? Cloud services are computer services—like storage, software, and servers—spread across the internet rather than resident on local devices or servers. You‘re already using them every day with tools like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or Dropbox. Are cloud services safe? Yes, they can be, but only if properly configured. Choices like encryption, multi-factor authentication, and role-based access need to be implemented in order to protect your data. How much do cloud services cost? Prices are based on what you use. All are usage or subscription based. The key is getting your setup configured so that you don’t pay for something you don‘t use. What is public, private, and hybrid cloud? Shared infrastructure (e.g., Microsoft Azure) is public cloud, private cloud is single-organisation dedicated, and hybrid combines both. The right model depends on your business needs for compliance, cost, and performance. What are the main benefits of cloud services to UK businesses? Flexible working Cost control Business continuity Streamlined compliance Scalable infrastructure without capital investment What do I need to ask before we move to the cloud? Where will our data be hosted? Who is in charge of security? How will we handle backup and disaster recovery? What are the total monthly costs? Who do we call when something goes wrong? To find out how Blue Saffron can support your business with secure, cost-effective cloud services – whether you’re looking to reduce overspend, improve compliance, or simplify hybrid work – get in touch with our expert team. We’re ready to help you take the next step. Cloud Services in 2025: What's Most Important to UK Businesses Posted on 15 Apr 2025 Related Topics More about Blue Saffron & Microsoft Azure Read our blog, Cloud Managed Services: The Ultimate Guide for UK Businesses More about Blue Saffron & Microsoft 365 Download our eBook: Microsoft Cloud: the ultimate enabler for businesses looking to scale and evolve More about Blue Saffron Get In Touch In 2025, cloud services are infrastructure that matters. They’re not a forward–thinking option anymore; they’re at the forefront of building resilience, meeting compliance needs, and staying in control as IT and risk become increasingly entwined. Most UK businesses already use cloud services in some form – whether for storage, collaboration, remote access, or indeed entire infrastructure. But too many aren‘t getting the best out of it. Costs creep in, risks go unmanaged, and configurations fail to keep up with the way people do work. This article explains what to watch out for in cloud services in 2025, and where smarter choices are reaping rewards. Table of Contents Cost Visibility in Cloud Services Is Essential to Avoid Overspend Cybersecurity Expectations in Cloud Services Are Higher Than Ever Cloud Services for UK Businesses Must Offer Local Data and Support Insurers Are Scrutinising Cloud Services for Risk Cloud Services Should Make Hybrid Work Seamless Cloud Services Strategy Must Align with Business Objectives FAQs About Cloud Services Cost Visibility in Cloud Services is Essential to Avoid Overspend Cloud platforms like Microsoft Azure and AWS promise flexibility—scale up, scale down, and only pay for what you use. But without proper oversight, that flexibility often leads to overspend. That pay-as-you-go model can become a budget nightmare without proper management. According to a 2023 Forrester report commissioned by Boomi, 72% of global companies exceeded their cloud budgets in the last fiscal year, highlighting the ongoing challenge of managing cloud spend [source]. Look at the example of Harper James Solicitors, rapidly growing UK legal firm. They cloud-migrated their infrastructure through lockdown to allow remote working. But quickly learned they were incurring charges on unused virtual machines, bloated storage tiers, and expensive add-ons no one utilised. A top-to-bottom audit allowed them to lower their monthly Azure spend by 31%. Lesson: Cloud doesn’t automatically mean cheap. Get visibility, set usage alerts, and work with a partner who reviews your setup regularly. At Blue Saffron, we provide that ongoing optimisation as part of our managed service model. Clear visibility into usage and billing is the difference between cloud savings and cloud waste. Cybersecurity Expectations in Cloud Services Are Higher Than Ever In 2025, cybersecurity and cloud go hand in hand. With hybrid work now a permanent reality, sensitive data is moving in and out of cloud apps all day long. And attackers are aware of this. The UK saw a 40% spike in ransomware attacks last year alone, a lot of them targeting cloud misconfigurations [source]. Proof: Arnold Clark, the car group, had a massive breach through their third-party cloud file storage platform. Over 500GB of customer data was released. They‘re still attempting to regain trust. What it means for your business: MFA has to be the standard, not the exception Encrypt all of it—at rest and in transit Review access controls quarterly Isolate and automate backups A proper cloud services configuration doesn‘t just protect your data—it protects your right to conduct business. Your cloud services setup is only as secure as the policies and protections behind it. Cloud Services for UK Businesses Must Offer Local Data and Support Brexit changed the regulatory landscape. UK businesses must comply with stronger data residency and privacy controls. If your cloud provider stores data outside of the UK or EU, you risk compliance challenges. Platforms like Microsoft 365 and Azure have data centres in the UK, but most companies have no idea where their data is. And support? It’s one thing to have a ticket open with a US-based vendor. It’s another to speak to someone who knows your business, your compliance requirements, and your timezone. Where your data lives—and who supports it—matters more than ever for compliance and trust. Insurers Are Scrutinising Cloud Services for Risk Here’s a curveball most businesses don’t expect: insurers are now asking about your cloud security posture. Cyber insurance providers are tightening their policies—and increasing premiums—based on how well your cloud environment is protected. Many now include questions such as: Is multi-factor authentication (MFA) enforced for all users? Where is your cloud data hosted? How often do you test backups? What incident response plans are in place? If you can’t answer confidently, or if you rely on outdated infrastructure or incomplete policies, you’re likely to see higher costs or reduced coverage. Cloud security doesn’t just protect operations—it can affect your insurance premiums, too. Cloud Services Should Make Hybrid Work Seamless Everyone talks about hybrid work. But too often, it’s held together with a patchwork of VPNs, shared logins, and workarounds that frustrate users and expose risks. A well-designed cloud services setup removes those barriers. It gives your team secure, consistent access to the tools they need—wherever they are—while reducing downtime and support issues. That’s the benchmark. If your team feels the difference between office and remote, your cloud setup isn’t doing its job. Cloud Services Strategy Must Align with Business Objectives Too many cloud migrations focus on the tech: virtual machines, file storage, single sign-on. That‘s important, but the value lies when you take a step back and ask: What business outcomes do we want from the cloud? How will we know if we’re successful? Who owns performance and security? Cloud success is measured in outcomes, not uptime. You might not own the servers anymore. But you still need to own the outcomes. In 2025, cloud services are central to how your business operates—and that means they must be cost-effective, secure, and aligned with how your teams work. That means: Gaining full visibility over costs to avoid budget surprises Building in security that satisfies both regulators and insurers Choosing providers that offer UK data residency and local support, in the same timezone Enabling hybrid work that feels seamless, not pieced together Treating cloud not just as tech, but as part of your business strategy Bringing all of that together takes planning—and the right partner. Blue Saffron is a UK-based managed service provider helping businesses simplify, secure, and get more from their cloud environments. If you’d like a clear, jargon-free conversation about your setup, we’re here to help. It’s not something you have to figure out alone. FAQs About Cloud Services What What are cloud services? Cloud services are computer services—like storage, software, and servers—spread across the internet rather than resident on local devices or servers. You‘re already using them every day with tools like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or Dropbox. Are cloud services safe? Yes, they can be, but only if properly configured. Choices like encryption, multi-factor authentication, and role-based access need to be implemented in order to protect your data. How much do cloud services cost? Prices are based on what you use. All are usage or subscription based. The key is getting your setup configured so that you don’t pay for something you don‘t use. What is public, private, and hybrid cloud? Shared infrastructure (e.g., Microsoft Azure) is public cloud, private cloud is single-organisation dedicated, and hybrid combines both. The right model depends on your business needs for compliance, cost, and performance. What are the main benefits of cloud services to UK businesses? Flexible working Cost control Business continuity Streamlined compliance Scalable infrastructure without capital investment What do I need to ask before we move to the cloud? Where will our data be hosted? Who is in charge of security? How will we handle backup and disaster recovery? What are the total monthly costs? Who do we call when something goes wrong? To find out how Blue Saffron can support your business with secure, cost-effective cloud services – whether you’re looking to reduce overspend, improve compliance, or simplify hybrid work – get in touch with our expert team. We’re ready to help you take the next step.