How can you plan a good Cloud Strategy?8 min read

Cloud is nothing but a metaphor for the Internet. Cloud-based operation involves providing data storage on the Internet instead of using physical computer hardware. It is used, along with that, to handle and store information. Cloud is approaching the role of traditional practice because of the tangible cost advantages proposed by cloud movement or migration. In tandem with the possibilities provided by edge computing and co-location data centers, switching to cloud design provides enterprises with unmatched IT versatility.

Enterprises or companies need to build systematic plans for transitioning to the cloud-first way of operating, where the cloud is a priority and preferred IT model because: 

• Enhances Efficiency and company results.
• Disrupts corporate models;
• It accommodates a changing modern landscape

Developing a Cloud Strategy

You need to be mindful of a lot of things and have to plan for the same thing in order to build the right cloud strategy.

1. Know which cloud best suits you

Until you migrate to the cloud, you need to know what type of cloud your company or business wants. Structuring the cloud is important. Any enterprise or organization that plans to move to the cloud will face a major decision as to what kind of cloud operation is better tailored to their needs. Some of the cloud forms available are:

Private Cloud: is considered to be the most costly and safe choice. Private cloud exists in a materially protected world free from public and external entry. Applications and data should be processed locally, allowing only permitted workers to view them, and most of them by rigidly controlled equipment.

Public Cloud: Public Cloud follows the common concept of cloud computing, such as third-party providers such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure. Moderately fair for size or maintenance and easy to access. Public cloud business idea or approach is suitable for typically smaller businesses who cannot afford the burden of handling their computing capacity and servers. The general design of the atmosphere makes it more of a safety threat than most options. Many businesses are moving away from strictly distributed cloud enterprise solutions and companies recording confidential data in the public cloud need to be mindful that their data processed in the cloud could be placed at risk even more easily.

Hybrid Cloud: Incorporates the benefits of a private and public cloud system by receiving data and sensitive operations in a secure private cloud while adding the maximum non-critical application and data requirements to the public cloud.

Multi-Cloud: Multi-Cloud is often a distinguished implementation that involves many public servers with a single architecture. They spread data and software through a range of specialized networks. It operates on some of the same problems as the public cloud, which can mitigate the shortcomings and strengths of different systems to decide where sensitive assets and processes can be hosted.

2. Start Working on Strategies for Cloud Adoption

When decision is taken about what kind of cloud interface you want, the next step is to define the techniques that will help you transition to the cloud. That’s why you ought to:

Develop an internal Team – Establish an in-house personnel team that periodically participates in IT related work and begin preparing the right course of action to move to the cloud. If they appear incompetent, take the aid of the cloud vendor to identify the correct migration route for the enterprise.

Start Creating Decision Criteria – Try to find answers to questions like what are the applications and software you regularly focus on? What are the data weaknesses and data needs? What are the cloud efficiency criteria for handling workloads effectively? If the questions have been addressed, it can help you build a user-optimized cloud plan that will help you prevent expensive errors.

3. Be mindful of risks and perks of Cloud Migration

When transitioning to the cloud, you should be conscious of the risks and incentives of doing this.

Some of the risks are as follows:

Security: One of the main issues when learning about the cloud is security. Thanks to modern global affairs, the emphasis on data privacy and security is intensified most of the time.

Public Cloud: Public Cloud means that, for optimum cost-efficiency, services are spread between businesses or organizations. The cloud company manages and owns the overall model, and connectivity is provided through the Internet. Adopted by many dealers, this strategy gives them a great deal of scalability. However, it narrows the setup possibilities for each client, making them cope with the limited market process.

Private Cloud: these services are important and the easiest way to transfer the current properties to the cloud.

There are possibilities where a cloud platform operates exclusively with a single entity or agency, whether operated privately or by others and distributed internally or externally. You can not only focus on virtualization and gains in the overall valuation of ownership at IT level, but also pay attention to cloud offerings that can gain business from innovation.

Regulatory Compliance: There are a range of regulations that govern the standards for particular forms of data that are applicable to anybody passing, processing or maintaining it must meet stringent criteria. If you can not take these laws seriously, this leads to felony prosecution and fines. Organizations or businesses should ensure that any migration to the cloud goes hand and hand with regulatory steps.

Some of the Benefits are as follow:

Flexibility – If you’ve moved to the cloud, you’ll have access to data from your house, as well as workspace, making it work-flexible.

Automated Updates – Auto upgrades arrive with migration to the cloud. The system will be updated periodically with latest or newer technology and upgraded servers, etc.

No data has been destroyed –  Cloud guarantees that no matter what happens, i.e. power outage, a natural catastrophe, or any other problem, the data can stay unaffected in the cloud, safely.

When you are aware of the risks, collaborate with the cloud provider to strive to reduce or mitigate the risks.

4. Start working with cloud-based software and applications

When you’ve figured out the complexities, start using cloud-based applications as a tool that can substitute any of your application with easier access to changes, implementation, and scaling.

5. Always Be Ready

Just how other programmes are revised, in the event of a catastrophe, you need to change your recovery plan. The cloud is perfect for heavy lifting when it comes to data recovery. If the computer on the property goes offline, you can operate out of the cloud with just a click of a button.

Shifting to the cloud has its advantages; it should not, however, be hurried. A well-considered cloud Strategy should be set in motion before any action is taken.

Other things to be kept in mind for better Cloud Strategy

SaaS – Software as a service

User experience is important to any programme. Cloud applications are more dedicated to end-user interaction than other solutions. They respond to patterns such as social, mobility, collaboration, etc. and are innovating faster. An application may look good, but the user interface may not be that great when you need to solve business problems. This produces a complicated and crappy user interface.

PaaS – Platform as a Service

Getting a creative stage that allows the environment to be agile in adapting to the current setup and to be able to create new ideas as needed. All this though it doesn’t have to start from the beginning, it’s the way to go.

Cost

What’s your budget when it comes to migrating to the cloud, and how much more you can pay if appropriate. It will help the organization keep an eye on the expense and resources expended on relocation, saving a lot if a proper strategy is made.

Integration

As the functionality of cloud solutions advances, there is a possibility for businesses or organizations that user experience would be compromised if solutions are not expressed without any complications. There should be a rather harmonious collection of monitoring, diagnostics, error handling, metrics, error tracking that can be performed and that can be compatible across many forms of integrations that are being developed.

Data Requirements

Understanding how much data capacity is required in the cloud is crucial and makes a lot of difference. It prepares the business to be cost-efficient, because they won’t have to go back and forth and do stuff again.

Infrastructure

Cloud offerings need to be based on a stable basis or infrastructure and should be scalable to accommodate and maintain diverse configurations from various vendors.

Company Size

Cloud amenities can depend on the size of your business or organization. The third party or the person taking charge of cloud migration has to be aware of this vital detail, the rest of which can be tailored accordingly.

Why Do you need a Cloud Strategy?

A cloud strategy is especially important if you’re planning to move to the cloud. It points out the market results you’re aiming for and explains how you can get there. With the aid of a cloud strategy, migration can be simpler, smoother and cost-effective with better performance. Once you’re prepared for the pros and cons of the strategy, you don’t need to redo something to get it right because the strategy covers it all.

A well-considered and specifically established cloud strategy is what will make migration to the cloud a success. Knowing the pros and cons and making you aware of all the problems that can be dealt with, you can take the right action to fix them. In addition, efficient cloud transformation means higher performance, a better organization and a versatile workload for employees.

Platingnum helps you to define better and clear Cloud Strategy for you. Contact us now.