Businesses, services, and data centers continue to migrate to cloud environments en masse. With the fast pace of change for updates and features, an effective cloud strategy simplifies the process.
Comprehensive cloud strategy removes unnecessary distractions and simplifies billing. For straight-forward data migration or multi-cloud environments, public or private accessibility, a guided roadmap allows organizations to leverage all the benefits of cloud computing.
Identify Your Cloud Strategy Plan
Businesses should first identify their needs and goals to best estimate the scope needed for their cloud strategy. With a clear understanding of key vitals, organizations can make a well-informed choice when choosing their cloud platform.
Measure and assess:
- Acquisition, initial set-up, and ongoing operational costs
- Unique client and industry needs
- Security features
- Compliance and regulatory requirements needed
- Scalability and ease of expansion/contraction
A cloud strategy defines the key steps when migrating to all digital environments. This comprehensive approach provides a clear vision of every step and further allows for deeper insights throughout your cloud journey.
Benefits Of A Complete Cloud Strategy
A comprehensive cloud strategy will reap the most benefit from cloud-based services. From the setup and migration to the ongoing day-to-day, a cloud-first approach keeps pace with ever-evolving tech.
Adoption is not a one-size-fits-all. Different personnel, services, and tech can take advantage of specific cloud apps, and this framework is designed to identify how each piece can fully benefit. Cloud strategy is the perfect guide for adoption.
While the distribution of data across cloud servers inherently carries security risks, a cloud strategy helps plan for diligence, building in protections and initiatives to maintain utmost security.
Considering the growing trend of SaaS over physical software and perpetual licenses, most businesses will need to invest in more services to keep pace with demand.
Cloud strategy forecasts infrastructure adaptation and estimates costs of growing cloud services, storage, and bandwidth. A complete cloud strategy better predicts future investments and costs.
Perhaps the best benefit of cloud strategy, companies are empowered to adopt specific cloud services based on need. As the business evolves, organizations have the flexibility to change and update or even scale back services. Companies better understand which services to use now and which to consider for future applications when they employ a cloud-first approach.
Challenges Of Cloud Migration
With every major shift comes challenges. Comprehensive cloud strategy aims to mitigate these pitfalls of migration and prevent unexpected costs.
Moving to any cloud server carries compliance and data risks. There’s the obvious issue of hackers striking at any moment, especially during the initial migration. The larger question looms when a cloud host goes out of business or gets bought out.
There may be little to no change in the way services are provided, but security and compliance standards may differ, affecting access, logins, and encryption.
Infrastructure may be an initial hurdle as well, depending on the network. In some cases, initial migration may require a hefty upgrade to hardware and software to accommodate the demand of cloud services.
Not all aspects of your tech environment should be moved to the cloud. If apps need to be accessed within business hours or sensitive data needs to be on-premises to support, those services should be considered for staying on premises.
A Comprehensive Cloud Strategy Prevents Pitfalls
Cloud has cemented its legitimacy. More than a fad, the technology has planted firm roots in the tech sphere, and more companies are adopting to fulfill their goals. Additionally, services and apps are taking full advantage of cloud-based storage and capabilities. Companies will move some, if not most of their infrastructure to a cloud model.
Creating a comprehensive cloud strategy sets businesses up for maximizing the benefits, staying flexible, and mitigating the risks. By planning migration with a cloud-first mindset, organizations avoid headaches and hidden costs often associated with ongoing cloud services.
Many businesses may not know where to start with their strategy. When considering the move, they may know their budget and needs but fall short of getting the conversation rolling.
Cloud providers are a dime a dozen. Telecom advisors provide expertise and insight that most companies just don’t have readily available. Even with a robust IT department, time isn’t always on their side.
Worldnet’s advisors guide you through cloud strategy, assessing businesses’ needs, goals, and budgets. Our cloud-first approach plans for success and optimization in building a complete roadmap for cloud strategy.
