Be Cloud-first or Be Left Behind

Take a few moments to think about your network and the applications being used by your staff? How much of that tech is cloud-native or has a cloud component? In almost all cases, it will be higher than it was five years ago and likely more than two years ago. Then, it’s time to think seriously about the importance of being cloud-first.

Cloud is a favourite among consumers as it’s proven to deliver a level of security, resilience, raw compute power and expertise that no one but the largest enterprises could hope to build. The applications have made their mark too, whether it’s productivity suites such as Office 365, Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) – based versions of popular server platforms or CRM solutions like Salesforce. Most software vendors already offer a subscription-based cloud version of their applications.

The on-premises model of technology is being superseded by the cloud and whilst it may not be possible to get every application an enterprise wants as a cloud offering in most cases it is just a matter of time.

Evolution towards cloud

For businesses like yours, the evolution in the way technology is delivered creates a challenge. It’s time for you to acknowledge and embrace the idea of the cloud. You may think go ‘Cloud first’ or continue to maintain and invest in the on-premises infrastructure you already have? It’s important to realise there are specific characteristics that define the way most businesses embrace tech and every business can focus on being cloud-adaptive. The evolution towards cloud is universally applicable.

Being cloud-first does not mean ripping everything out of the server room tomorrow. Transitioning between on-premises or hybrid versions of products is now much easier than it was three or four years ago, where the process could be somewhat difficult and require specialist skills. Most cloud solutions and the people working on it have developed the migration tools and support teams to make it a lot easier – precisely because they want their future in the cloud.

Here’s 4 reasons on why you should go cloud.

Getting to cloud-first

1. Be in the forefront of technology with amazing IT skills and always ahead of competitors
2. Become more agile and innovative.
3. Cloud-first means giving fair consideration to whether a cloud solution can be a suitable replacement for any new or existing on-premises solution when it aligns with an upgrade cycle, project, or business imperative.
4. Easy to migrate while considering the speed and approach used to replace on-premises technology with cloud solutions will be unique to each business’s size and circumstances, its applications, network architecture, and its business strategy.

There are also some things that companies can do to ensure they are capitalising on cloud technology at the appropriate moment:

Zero-trust security strategy: The adoption of zero-trust security models is one of the most effective ways to protect a business against hackers. Hybrid working practices, distributed workforces, and the use of cloud technology alone have made it essential to protect employees, devices, apps, and data wherever they are located.

Formalise the strategy: The business case for going cloud-first needs to be evangelised across all teams, departments, and the C-suite. Everyone must be onside to make the strategy effective. Formalising it and communicating through the business is critical to success as individual applications and resources move into the cloud.

Architecture inventory: Enterprises can only move what they know they have. Resource modelling and discovery tools can help to shine a light on every detail of the company’s architecture, so it is easier to plan and understand where refresh cycles sit. No company should assume they already know it. There is always the chance that undocumented alterations or ‘temporary’ fixes have been made, which could have catastrophic effects on deployment efforts in the future.

Plan, plan and plan some more: Depending on the size and complexity of the business, the speed and approach taken for a cloud-first strategy will be unique and on a timeline that fits that business goals and IT refresh cycles. As business goals and priorities change, it is important to keep the IT strategy closely aligned with them. This, combined with the discovery phase, will help to identify any risk inflexion points and determine how best to mitigate them.

Talent and skills: The skills required to deploy and manage cloud systems are different to those for on-premises. They are also skills that are in short supply in the market. Enterprises must consider how they will attract the right people or invest in upskilling the existing team. Not everyone will want to learn new skills.

Planning a cloud strategy
IT systems’ future is cloud-first. For many businesses, it is an uncomfortable reality to accept but setting up a strategy and planning for the future will lessen the technical debt in the organisation. Lower CAPEX costs and provide the level of flexibility, scalability and resilience required for modern business.

Explore a comprehensive cloud strategy that could give you the extra edge over your competitors, making work easier for your teams while staying connected with your new and loyal customers in real-time. Discover Accordia Cloud contact center today.

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Source: https://www.comparethecloud.net/articles/cloud/be-cloud-first-or-be-left-behind/

Be Cloud-first or Be Left Behind

Be Cloud-first or Be Left Behind

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