How to Get Started with Cloud Data Management??

As an executive navigating today’s complex digital landscape, your ability to manage data effectively has a major impact on your organization’s growth, productivity, and sustainability.?

• 85% of organizations will be “cloud first” by 2025.?
• 75% of tech leaders are building all new products and features in the cloud.???
• 71% of companies with high cloud maturity quickly adopt cutting-edge technology and innovate aggressively.??

And it all starts with cloud adoption.?

Taking the first steps toward cloud data management can seem daunting, especially given the complex nature of today's data environments. However, organizations can navigate this transition smoothly and effectively by adopting a strategic approach. In this article, we’ll give you a comprehensive view of what you need to get started:??

• How to develop a robust cloud data management strategy??
• 15 fundamental questions to guide your cloud data management strategy?
• Best Practices for managing data on the cloud?

How to Develop a Cloud Data Management Strategy??

Before rushing to adopt a cloud data management platform, it's essential to lay a solid strategic foundation first. This strategy should align with your organization's cloud ecosystem and help you extract the maximum benefit from your chosen system.??

If your organization already has a data management strategy in place, it can be adapted to accommodate the cloud environment. During this adaptation process, key considerations typically include remote user access, appropriate security levels for various data types, regulatory compliance, and data standardization.?

15 Fundamental Questions to Guide Your Cloud Data Management Strategy?

If you're mapping a cloud data management strategy from the ground up, it is crucial to answer a series of fundamental questions to shape your approach. Here are some key questions your cloud data management strategy should be able to address:??

1. What are your company's business goals???

1. What data is necessary to manage to support these goals???

1. What type of data are you working with???

1. What are your current data sources???

1. What data sources do you plan on using in the future???

1. How will you ensure regulatory compliance for your data???

1. Who needs to access this data???

1. What cybersecurity measures are necessary to protect this data???

1. What are the available disaster recovery options???

1. How do you go about data collection???

1. How is data analysis performed in your organization???

1. What processes do you use to transform data???

1. How do you clean data???

1. What data privacy measures do you need???

1. How transparent are your data management practices???

By carefully considering these questions when establishing your cloud data management strategy, you can ensure a more suitable evaluation of available solutions. This will help save resources on platforms that are ill-suited to your organization's data ecosystem or lack the critical functionality needed to achieve your business goals.?

Download the Ultimate Cloud Data Management Guide for Executives?

Best Practices for Managing Data on the Cloud?

While managing data on the cloud shares several similarities with managing data on-premises, it involves a few additional elements to keep in mind. While many cloud providers offer support in various facets of data management, it's important to remember that the ultimate responsibility for data management lies with the organization itself.?

Start with a Plan?

Simply moving data to the cloud doesn't qualify as 'cloud data management.' It would be best if you started with a strategic plan. Will all data migrate to the cloud, or will you establish a hybrid environment? Who needs access to what data? Where should different processing tasks be performed? Now is an excellent time to discuss ETL vs. ELT.?

Ensure Data Quality?

Prioritize maintaining data health, as this is crucial for the success of other data management practices. Healthy data is valid, complete, and high-quality, leading to reliable analytics that decision-makers can trust for making informed business decisions.?

Regularly Backup Your Data?

Most cloud software-as-a-service (SaaS) providers automatically schedule regular backups. If your company hosts its cloud, ensure your IT department conducts regular backups.?

Stay Vigilant About Data Governance?

If you already have a data governance policy for on-premises data, you can modify it to suit a hybrid or cloud data management architecture. Remember that transitioning data to the cloud often introduces additional compliance considerations. Make sure these are noticed.?

Download Step-by-Step Cloud Management Guide?

With 60% of companies noting enhanced IT operations from cloud migration and over half reporting better end-user experiences, the cloud is clearly the future. As projections indicate that most businesses will be cloud-first in just a few years, staying ahead is essential.?

Our free eBook equips you with:?

• A roadmap for your cloud data management journey?
• Benefits and risks of cloud data management?
• Blueprint for an impactful cloud data management strategy?
• An overview of leading cloud data management platforms?
• A comprehensive checklist for cloud data management?

• Proven best practices for effective cloud data management and more?

Download the Cloud Data Management Guide?