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Revamping Your Cloud Data Strategy
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Top Reasons To Revamp Your Cloud Data Strategy
Top Reasons To Revamp Your Cloud Data Strategy 700 500 Xcelpros Team

Introduction

More and more companies are moving to the cloud for easy data storage and to boost technology innovations. Modern businesses understand the strategic competitive advantage and availability of customized applications to suit their needs. Especially during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, many companies are considering letting go of their onsite infrastructure and hardware, opting instead to store their data on remote servers, a process known as cloud storage.

Cloud storage makes sense for business survival, pushing all enterprises to move faster. Going forward, more and more companies will need experts who understand what cloud computing is and how it can help their business. These same people monitor and implement an organization’s end-to-end cloud computing journey.

Now more than ever cloud migration is imperative to avoid glitches in infrastructure, as the market is trying to survive the pandemic.

Figure: 1Key reasons companies are switching their operations to cloud

Key reasons companies are switching their operations to cloud

In an Aug. 2, 2021 report, Gartner compared worldwide public cloud services end-user spending and 2022 forecasts, which suggest:

  • $171,915 million for Cloud Application Services (SaaS)
  • $121,620 million for Cloud System Infrastructure Services (IaaS)
  • $100,636 million for Cloud Application Infrastructure Service (PaaS)

Many companies are looking at how they can focus on their technological and process reengineering needs. Why consider revamping your cloud strategy and what steps should you take to successfully complete the reboot?

Figure: 2Factors that drive a cloud transformation

Factors that drive a cloud transformation

5 Reasons to Revamp Your Cloud Strategy

There are five main reasons to revamp your cloud strategy today:

  1. 1.Becoming more agile in terms of the ability to adjust to customer orders
  2. 2.Better position to adopt next-generation software
  3. 3.Monitoring the transition in terms of equipment and people
  4. 4.Improving data security
  5. 5.Building a skilled worker base

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Becoming more agile

Every organization has a specific roadmap layed out to fulfill the big picture of their IT landscape. Being agile lets your company quickly change the pace at which it adapts the transformative–and at times, disruptive—process of moving into a cloud-centric architecture. By restructuring your cloud strategy, IT departments can move from slowly delivering big, single-origin and rigid applications to rapidly deploying flexible, smaller applications. Some people call this process, “byte-sized transformations.”

Revamping your cloud transformation also affects your software development lifecycle. Making changes helps make the company and its staff more nimble. It can conduct continuous development (CD) and continuous integration (CI) using the DevOps model to boost your overall business.

Better position to adopt next-generation software

The future of cloud computing is all about speeding up the process of application development. Companies are adopting cutting-edge technological advancements like artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), data analytics and machine learning (ML). An organization’s strategists must determine if their IT roadmap can access and use these cloud-native solutions.

In today’s virtual world, everything is connected. A rapid innovative delivery model is needed to predict future customer demand after analyzing historical data. Your company IT team can achieve its goal with better accuracy by starting with cloud transformation and ending at the ultimate goal: full optimization.

Cloud technologies like Microsoft’s Azure, and Power Platform efficiently handle day to day business operations while also letting your company work toward its long term strategic vision.

Monitoring the transition

No matter what solutions your organization decides to employ, the changeover needs to be watched carefully. Implementing a cloud strategy affects the organization and its people. The entire update needs intricate monitoring of the transformation through:

  • An infrastructure supporting the organization’s cloud journey.
  • On-boarding experts who train workers while implementing the upgrades, boosting the staff’s digital skill levels.

One way to achieve your goals is a willingness to alter your implementation strategy so it aligns your roadmap with a comprehensive cloud transition plan.

Figure: 3Companies are expecting a holistic development in operations from hybrid cloud

Companies are expecting a holistic development in operations from hybrid cloud

“Through 2022, at least 95% of cloud security failures are predicted to be the customer’s fault.”Source: Gartner

Improving data security

The instant data moves online, companies start worrying about security and data privacy. Backing your cloud strategy with a robust infrastructure like Microsoft Azure ensures the security, authenticity and longevity of your organization’s data, processes and applications is not compromised. The Azure platform is continually evaluated and updated automatically to protect against potential security threats.

Building a skilled worker base

Moving away from in-house technology to the cloud can impact roles, responsibilities and accountability across a company’s organization. Having a strategic plan to make the move should also include making sure workers are able to take advantage of the new technology.

Especially when it comes to Customer Service, the relationship between companies and their customers is more than just “order to shipments.” Solutions like Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance use artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to more accurately forecast customer behaviors and needs.

Steps to Revamp Your Cloud Strategy

While every organization has its set of challenges and requirements when it comes to strategic rethinking of its cloud journey, some pointers to remember are:

  • Build and update your employees’ skills to ensure your organization’s cloud migration is successful. A comprehensive, organization-wide training plan is an integral part of any migration.
  • It’s ok to make the change one step at a time to make it easier to move from older programs to newer ones.
  • Take advantage of predictive data analytics to preempt the expected technical and operational glitches.
  • Define your cloud milestones before starting your migration. Stick to them. Your strategic roadmap to cloud reboot is going to be as unique as your requirements.
  • Create a blueprint of the cloud revamp and let it guide you at the pace of your employees’ ability to accept the changes.
  • Hire highly-skilled subject matter experts to make the end-to-end implementation of a new cloud strategy as smooth as possible.

Revamping your cloud strategy may sound unnecessary but following these suggestions will benefit your organization. Taking in a broader, “30,000-foot view” of the core of your cloud journey makes it easier to create your transformative blueprint.

Figure: 4 Strategies to successfully complete the cloud transition

Strategies to successfully complete the cloud transition

Key takeaways

  • Cloud infrastructure is a comprehensive and disruptive technology that helps businesses operate more efficiently.
  • Rethinking your cloud architecture helps you achieve your cloud computing goals.
  • Ensure your transition is compatible with cloud-native solutions such as IoT, AI and machine learning.
  • Moving to the cloud works better when your staff knows how to get the most out of it.
  • For added security, many organizations take advantage of products like Microsoft Azure.
 
Three actions CEOs can take to get value from cloud computing
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Three Actions CEOs Can Take To Get Value From Cloud Computing
Three Actions CEOs Can Take To Get Value From Cloud Computing 700 500 Xcelpros Team

Three Actions CEOs Can Take To Get Value From Cloud Computing

The last decade has seen accelerated growth and transformation in various industries as they embrace digital trends. There’s a pressing need for companies to streamline their processes and optimize their operations in an effort to go agile. Simply implementing cloud is not going to generate value for a business. Higher-level executives (especially the CEO) need to take lead in the journey towards digital transformation. For more information see the full article here.

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Migrating to the cloud through lift and shift
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Migrating to the cloud through lift and shift
Migrating to the cloud through lift and shift 700 500 Xcelpros Team

Introduction

Most businesses had never heard of cloud computing before Google CEO Eric Schmidt introduced the term on Aug. 9, 2006 even though it originated in the 1960s. During an industry conference, Schmidt was talking about the potential of network-based computing. “It starts with the premise that the data services and architecture should be on servers. We call it cloud computing,” Schmidt said.

Now, more than 15 years after the term “cloud computing” was born, the numbers show its effectiveness. A report from Hostingtribunal states:

  • 94% of enterprises (i.e., companies with more than 1,000 employees) are already using a cloud service
  • 66% of enterprises already have a central cloud team or cloud center of excellence
  • 50% of enterprises spend more than $1.2 million each year on cloud services
  • 30% of all IT budgets went to cloud computing in 2018
  • By 2025, data stored in cloud centers is expected to top 100 zettabytes (i.e., 100 trillion gigabytes)

A majority of these end-users prefer to “lift and shift” their applications into dispersed cloud server banks. Lift and shift gained prominence in the early days of cloud computing when organizations used this approach to shadow on-premise applications into the cloud.

Lift and shift is a common and simple first step toward embracing the power of cloud.

In simple terms, lift and shift means moving an application without changing the workload framework or software architecture from the existing hardware and operating system when it moves to the cloud. It is essentially rehosting your software on someone else’s distributed computing network. This approach helps companies save time, money and resources required to redesign the applications.

In this article we will touch upon the merits of the lift and shift approach and in the process find out whether moving to the cloud is worth it?

Advantages of Using Lift and Shift

The lift and shift approach is designed to help companies wanting to explore cloud computing without replacing their current software. This method is cost effective, rapid and has higher acceptance from its users because the functionality of the application remains the same.

Advantages of the lift and shift approach include:

  • Application familiarity – Moving an existing application to the cloud means the functioning and usability of the application to end users does not change.
  • Low migration costs – The program is not modified, eliminating the need and cost of rearchitecting the application.
  • Faster deployment – Since there is no need to rebuild the application, speed of delivery is higher compared to building an app from scratch.

For example, consider a Plant Manager in charge of Production Scheduling. This person has a lot to do. They need to maximize their productivity. When the company is expanding and needs to scale up its software, some form of cloud computing—public, hybrid, private or multi-cloud—is the more efficient method than doing it on-site. Replacing an existing program with a newer, unfamiliar one is likely to be met with resistance from staff unwilling to learn new methods of performing the same tasks.

Lifting a familiar program from in-house computers and shifting it to remote servers reduces the fear of change while balancing the need for agility and scalability. According to a 2018 study by IDC, 66% of the end users preferred to lift and shift their production scheduling application to the cloud for higher efficiency compared to 33% who favored keeping it on-premise.

Figure: 1Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) perceive lift and shift.

Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) perceive lift and shift.

How do Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) perceive lift and shift?

When IDC conducted its 2018 survey, 45% of independent service vendor customers preferred the lift and shift cloud migration method for moving business applications. Combined with cloud computing, 69% of end customers understand the positive implications of using cloud-based software. These include agility, scalability, cost effectiveness, efficiency and others.

Is Cloud Computing Worth the Cost?

The most important reason to move company software to the cloud, even at an initial infrastructure as a service (IaaS) level, is cost reduction. Companies save money by lowering hardware maintenance for servers, adding computing power and virtual machines plus the expense of managing the infrastructure on-site.

Using managed services can significantly lower a company’s operating costs, directly impacting its bottom line.

In terms of actual savings, the combined benefit of minimal hardware support, higher efficiency, better manageability of resources could result in a 20 – 30 % average savings on virtual machine (VM) resource configuration alone.

Upgrading an existing application on the cloud provides an integrated platform. Other resources—such as Microsoft’s ecosystem—can be leveraged, adding agility and improving speed by up to 33%. Savings can be much higher.

For example, a multinational insurer was able to save 80% on the cost of a specific development testing environment in an application suite by lifting and shifting it to the cloud. Achieving similar results demands meticulous planning and the ability to gauge savings beyond dollar value. The wider definition of savings must also include intangibles such as the value of time and money from the faster rollout of products enabled by new cloud-enabled capabilities.

Why Microsoft Azure is best suited to lift and shift your applications

There are many cloud computing platforms to choose from. Organizations looking to adopt a cloud model need to ensure everything works correctly after the move. This means interdependencies that exists between applications, data in the system and the workload continue to function even though they are now remote.

Microsoft has a transparent lift and shift process that give you a heads-up on the cost estimates before a company makes the decision to migrate. Microsoft offers a cost calculator that assesses all dependencies and variables involved in the lift and shift process. It helps better assess the migration from a complexity and cost perspective. After analyzing your requirements and determining the effort involved in the lift and shift process, the calculator determines the cost and sequence required in migrating to Azure.

Microsoft’s Azure Migrate can help plan your cloud migration with ease, ensuring you are on top of every move. The service details the mechanisms involved in the process. It provides guidance and insights to smooth your cloud journey.

Benefits of using Azure Migrate include:

  • Discovery and assessing on-premises virtual machines
  • Inbuilt dependency mapping for high-confidence discovery of multi-tier applications
  • Intelligent right sizing to Azure virtual machines
  • Compatibility reporting with guidelines for remediating potential issues
  • Integration with Azure Database Management Service for database discovery and migration

With Azure Migrate, you can be assured that your workload and application will smoothly be lifted and shifted to the cloud without any adverse impact on the business. With the right guidance and tools from Microsoft, the ROI can be maximized, while your application performs seamlessly with the highest security and reliability.

Summary

Companies unwilling to make wholesale changes to their computer software environment can still take advantage of many cloud computing benefits: they can move their existing programs to the cloud using the lift and shift method. Working with Azure Migrate allows the software and data to move with minimal impact on daily operations.

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Cybersecurity improving Data Security
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Cybersecurity: Evolving Technologies in Data Security
Cybersecurity: Evolving Technologies in Data Security 700 500 Xcelpros Team

Background

Cyber attacks aimed at businesses are increasing in frequency. The days of posting a message bragging of an attack are over. Instead of fame, cybercriminals want money. Specifically, they want untraceable electronic currency such as bitcoin.

Greed is the reason why many cyber attacks use ransomware that locks a network until the money is paid.

Figure: 1Annual number of ransomware attacks worldwide

Global Cybersecurity Attacks

According to PurpleSec, the estimated global damage from ransomware was:

  • $8 billion in 2018
  • $11.5 billion in 2019
  • $20 billion in 2020

The same PurpleSec report states that an attack on a supply chain affected more than 18,000 customers. Fortune 500 companies and government agencies were among the victims.

“Threat actors search for targets that can be easily compromised and have significant monetary value. Attacking a supplier to gain entry to larger organizations is one way to bypass their sophisticated security controls,” PurpleSec states.

Other numbers important to business leaders are:

  • 45%: The number of breaches involving hacking compared to 22% for phishing and 17% using malware (Verizon)
  • 68%: The percentage of business leaders who believe their cybersecurity risks are increasing (Accenture)
  • 86%: The number of financially motivated breaches compared to 10% from espionage (Verizon)
  • 95%: The number of cybersecurity breaches caused by human error (Cybint)
  • 11,762 recorded network breaches from Jan. 1, 2005 – May 31, 2020

Source: VARONIS.COM

Reducing Cyber Attacks

Companies big and small are rightfully worried about keeping their data secure, especially today. 2020 saw a dramatic increase in the number of employees working from home, many using basic home internet to connect with company networks.

A Dec. 9, 2020 Pew Research study of workers who can perform their jobs at home shows:

  • 20% worked from home before the coronavirus outbreak
  • 71% are working from home during it
  • 54% want to keep working from home after virus-related restrictions end

Many companies store their data in distributed computer server centers collectively known as “the cloud.” The widespread adoption of cloud computing and the internet of things (IoT) IoT systems potentially exposes businesses to cyber attacks. Add to this explosive growth in the number of people working from home and it’s easy to see how much more vulnerable businesses are now than ever before.

Is Cloud Computing Safe?

In short, the answer is yes.

“Information stored in the cloud is likely to be more secure than are files, images and videos stored on your own devices. Why? Cloud companies often rely on far more robust cybersecurity measures to protect your sensitive data,” antivirus company Norton suggests.

Figure: 2Key security advantages of Cloud data storage over using an in-house server

key security advantages of Cloud data storage over using an in-house server

Cloud data storage has four key security advantages over using an in-house server:

  • Limited physical access: Few people have access to warehouses holding the large server farms.
  • Constant security updates: Larger cloud storage companies immediately apply security updates even though they are already using high-grade and more robust operating systems.
  • Distributed computing: Cloud data is not typically stored on just one set of servers in a single location. The data is typically backed up to at least one remote site, preventing data loss should a natural disaster strike.
  • Data encryption: All data is kept secure behind robust firewalls to prevent unauthorized access. Should a hacker make it past the firewalls, they then have to decrypt the scrambled data. Top-level encryption methods include Rivest-Shamir-Adleman (RSA), the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and others.

Data Encryption

Using codes to hide messages from view is no longer limited to spies. Businesses have been using encryption methods for millennia starting with the Spartans in 600 BC.

Note that Microsoft Office 365 lets company IT administrators turn on encryption by default for all emails in Outlook. Individual Outlook users can also send and receive encrypted messages.

Microsoft states that Dynamics 365 encrypts data at rest and in transit. “Microsoft uses encryption technology to protect customer data in Dynamics 365 while at rest in a Microsoft database and while it is in transit between user devices and our data centers. Connections established between customers and Microsoft datacenters are encrypted, and all public endpoints are secured using industry-standard TLS. TLS effectively establishes a security-enhanced browser-to-server connection to help ensure data confidentiality and integrity between desktops and datacenters. After data encryption is activated, it cannot be turned off.”

Encryption and CGMPs

The Food and Drug Administration’s Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) regulations list 188 instances where encryption is mentioned. One frequently used section is the use of electronic signatures for regulatory documents known as SOPP 8116 from the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. Part of this requirement is using secure email to communicate with the FDA. That requires encryption.

Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations covers the FDA’s portion. Many of the CGMPs listed require stored data to be either encrypted or hidden in some way, especially if it contains personally identifiable information.

Using Blockchain with D365

According to Microsoft, blockchain, “is a secure, shared, distributed transaction ledger database that decentralizes data, eliminates the need for trusted third parties and enables the anonymous exchange of digital assets such as bitcoin,”

“It is a replicable database that is immutable, verifiable and cryptographically secure, establishing trust through a network of untrusted nodes.”

An updated version of blockchain, Blockchain 3.0 with cloud servicing, multilayer middleware and cryptlets, is one of Microsoft’s greatest innovations.

An important part of the pharmaceutical business is the supply chain. Microsoft’s blockchain version helps create smart contracts, process micropayments, filing taxes, shipping and logistics management.

The Microsoft Azure platform on which D365 sits can also use blockchain technology to help manage physical assets across the supply chain.

Summary

Any business serious about protecting its data will want to explore cloud data storage. It’s now more secure than many private networks. Cloud computing companies such as Microsoft go to great lengths to encrypt all data, which they keep stored behind robust firewalls.

Additional functionality in the form of blockchain technology helps track and protect pharmaceutical supply chains from raw materials to delivered goods.

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Top Reasons Why Companies Are Actively Moving to The Cloud
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Top Reasons Why Companies Are Actively Moving to The Cloud Computing
Top Reasons Why Companies Are Actively Moving to The Cloud Computing 700 500 Xcelpros Team

Introduction

Cloud computing has remained a hot topic for quite some time now and businesses are rapidly shifting their processes to the cloud for streamlined workflows and increased productivity. With cloud efficiency saving millions of dollars, companies are eagerly coming forward to reap its benefits. Let’s find out how moving to the cloud is helping companies transform themselves.

Top Reasons Why Companies Are Actively Moving to The Cloud

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Also Read: Clearing The Air About Cloud : 7 Cloud Myths Debunked

Three actions CEOs can take to get value from cloud computing
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Three actions to take to see cloud computing benefits
Three actions to take to see cloud computing benefits 700 500 Xcelpros Team

Cloud computing benefits: At a glance

  • The decisive role of C-suite executives in a company’s digital transformation is crucial in driving business towards success.
  • When it comes to the goals and benefits of cloud computing, CEO’s need to take charge and be involved in strategy to make sure that the blueprint matches the company’s requirements.
  • CEOs need to align with the CTOs and CIOs to get maximum advantages of cloud computing and be sure that their digital transformation journey is a smooth one.
  • Partnering with a business advisor can make or break a digital transformation.

Introduction to the benefits of cloud computing

The last decade has seen accelerated growth and transformation in various industries as they embrace the digital thread. There has been a pressing need for companies to streamline processes and optimize operations to go agile. Then, the Covid-19 pandemic left a mark on every industry, making agility (and flexibility) an inevitable aspect of business growth. Remote work is the new normal, so the advantages of cloud hosting are even more apparent.

There are quite a few benefits and moves a company can make around their move to cloud computing. These strategic moves must start at the top and cascade down for maximum efficiency. This is where CEOs come into the picture as the catalysts of accelerated growth. You can take your company down the path of agility and explore the benefits of cloud computing. When these actions are taken while closely with other C-level executives, such as your CTO and/or CIO, the more likely you are to be successful in your transformation.

 

32%

of IT budgets will be dedicated to the cloud within the next 12 months.

Source: Bloomberg

Any number larger than 30% of a budget is a significant amount. When a company makes such a big investment, there is a lot riding on the shoulders of the person in charge. Any CEO guiding their company through digital transformation can harness economic advantages of the cloud. Taking decisive actions while collaborating with other C-level execs can aid in the process. Read on to learn more.

Three game-changing actions CEO’s can take when it comes to cloud adoption

It is important to understand why the role of a CEO in cloud strategy is so important. To make cloud adoption a success for your company, a CEO needs to strategize transitional moves and make sure that all cogs in the machine are functioning properly for a smooth journey.

According to David Cearley, Vice President and Gartner Fellow, “Organizations that do not have a high-level cloud strategy driven by their business strategy will significantly increase their risk of failure and wasted investment” (from “Cloud Strategy Leadership” by Gartner).

Following these steps can help to ensure employees understand the importance of cloud computing and are comfortable with the change so that the company can see all the benefits from your digital transformation.

1. Communicate change within the organization, to the organization.

First of all, as a company executive, this might be one of the most important actions you can take to ensure a successful cloud implementation. As you know, any disruptive change within an organization creates certain resistance amongst employees. While some might be worried about their skills becoming obsolete, others may feel apprehensive about the security of cloud-based systems.

Basically, with direct communication, employees stay in the know-how and won’t be taken back by any steps in the process which may change their daily routine. This can occur through in-house campaigns, alignment with department heads, announcing new HR policies, and many other means of organizational communication- all helping to ensure a smooth cloud implementation.

2. Keep the financial flow stable.

Second, meeting the goals and benefits of cloud computing can only happen through proper funding. As a CEO, creating a financial funnel that supports every step in the company’s cloud transition journey is vital. Seeing  the advantages of cloud computing may take some time for your business. Because of this, being sure that the financial backing is stable and consistent is very important.

Figure 1: Benefits of Cloud Computing

Cloud Adoption Strategy Drivers

 

3. Create a cloud business strategy blueprint.

Third, transforming a businesses processes is only as efficient as the planning that goes into the transformation. Creating a strategy and supporting technology operating model to get optimal value from the move to cloud computing is crucial. Such a model harmonizes interactions between IT and business processes.

4. Partner with a business consultant to aid in strategy and execution.

Finally, there are companies whose sole mission is to aid other businesses in moving to cloud computing. Because this is the sole focus of these businesses, their expertise can be the one thing to make an implementation successful. Consider partnering with a business advisor or consultant to assist with planning, strategy, and change management during your move to cloud computing.

In summation, reaping the advantages of cloud computing can happen via high-level strategy. Seamless harmonizing amongst CEOs, CIOs, and CTOs can turn a digital transformation journey into a profitable benefit for the business.

Cloud computing benefits: Key takeaways

  • CEOs should be looking at cloud computing strategies from a long-term point of view and ensure that the company is allocated with the budget and resources for cloud implementation.
  • Proper communication is the key in migrating to the cloud: employees should receive communication from C-suite executives or department heads to develop trust.
  • Partner with a business consultant who has done this before and can provide expertise in planning and moving to the cloud.
  • Simply moving to the cloud won’t generate value for a business. Higher C-level executives should take lead in their company’s digital transformation to make sure the investment makes its return.

Take your first step towards moving to the cloud with a consultation from XcelPros.

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Clearing the Air About Cloud- 7 Cloud Myths Debunked
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Clearing the Air About Cloud: 7 Cloud Myths Debunked
Clearing the Air About Cloud: 7 Cloud Myths Debunked 700 500 Xcelpros Team

At a Glance

  • Cloud migration is one of the most prominent IT overhaul strategies that many companies need go through to become more agile.
  • As often witnessed with any new technology (and its offerings), there are certain misconceptions about cloud computing, migration to the cloud and data security.
  • To harness the most out of your company’s investment in the cloud, you need to understand the misconceptions and be able to see past them.
  • Upper management needs to realise the significant business gains when moving to the cloud.

Agility and flexibility are perhaps two of the biggest drivers for companies looking to overhaul their IT infrastructure. For many companies, cloud adoption is an important step in that direction.

74%

of participant companies have moved a cloud-based app back on their premises after failing to see an anticipated return.

Source: HIS Markit

The upper management and IT departments of most companies often start with a vision of unlimited possibilities when they begin exploring the idea of integrating their IT strategy into the cloud, and often get discouraged because they buy into certain cloud myths and misconceptions. These myths can often poison an otherwise perfect vision, making it difficult to see the real benefit that migrating to the cloud can offer any business. From an early stage, it’s imperative to understand that simply transitioning to cloud computing is not a one-step-solution for better performance. You will need to make it work for you – and that’s the beauty of computing in the cloud, you can customize your experience to suit your unique business needs.

The first step is to dispel misinformation in some of the most commonly heard cloud computing myths.

7 Common Myths about Cloud

1.Cloud is All About Cost-efficiency: Many CIO’s we come in contact with have a notion about the cloud – that it is (or should always be) the cheaper option. Truely, when you compare CAPEX vs. OPEX, the cloud is most certainly a cost-effective option. Unfortunately, this is a somewhat layered and nuanced determination. It should be understood that the initial migration of workload to the cloud can be a very disruptive and resource-intensive process. There can be latency issues and if the entire strategy is not in place before the migration begins, these issues can multiply rapidly.

2.Everything in Cloud is Automated: The cost of skilled resources often gets forgotten when a company believes that the cloud can operate without interaction. While it is true that the cloud offers high levels of automation and many self-reliant features, there will still be a need for skilled professionals to manage the infrastructure. Additionally, simply managing and maintaining the cloud will continue to require human intervention.

3.Security on the cloud is not on par with in-house data centers: This is by far one of the most prevalent cloud myths that becomes a major sticking point and concern for CIOs. While data security is not something to be taken lightly, the fact is that cloud computing security issues only occur because of failure to adhere to regulations and governance guidelines. In fact, in recent years, cloud service providers (CSPs) have invested millions in strengthening their security capabilities.

Figure: 1Know Your Cloud Concerns: Myth or Fact?

Cloud Concerns Myth or Fact?

4.Application-wise transition to cloud is the best way to go:A lot of planning goes into cloud adoption and migration strategies. However, a common misconception is that the transition needs to take place for each individual application. Doing it this way results in significantly higher costs for the company as they end up paying more for the in-house data centers and the CSPs to host the apps. The right way is to move entire business domains to the cloud at once.

5.The downtime in cloud migration will have a huge impact on business:While it’s true that any big transition can be intimidating, companies are most often apprehensive about migrating to the cloud because of the misinformation regarding downtime and other difficulties involved. This is one of the older myths, no longer applicable as the larger number of experienced service providers available to help companies smooth the transition all but eliminates this risk.

6.Cloud is yet to approach maturity:We may have all heard this by now, and we’ve been hearing it a long time – the benefits sound enticing, but the cloud is still at a nascent stage and the many disadvantages of cloud computing present red flags, but this is no longer entirely true. In fact, the rapid pace of new innovations when it comes to the cloud is because the cloud in fact has reached maturity, and will only get better from here.

7.Moving to the cloud can cost jobs:Cloud adoption often meets with resistance as there’s a big misconception that it will lead to resources becoming obsolete. Fortunately for us, this couldn’t be farther from the truth as the constant innovations in the cloud are actually paving the way for more opportunities for skilled professionals. In the future, we should see educational branches dedicated to training young coders and developers in shared, public and dedicated cloud environments.

Misconceptions can lead a company in the wrong direction. Knowledge about the cloud and understanding the benefits helps you discern the myths to unlock your business’s true potential. Modern cloud computing capabilities far outweigh the difficulties in cloud adoption and should support your vision every step of the way.

Key Takeaways

  • Companies need to look at the cloud as a comprehensive step towards agility and flexibility and not simply as a cost-effective investment.
  • Getting skilled professionals onboard is imperative to dispel cloud myths and get the maximum ROI.

Book a consultation on cloud migration.

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References: Debunking seven common myths about cloud

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