The path to the cloud(s) — and what you might encounter along the way
Digitalisation isn’t always a linear road that leads from point A to B. Your organisation’s path to the cloud – or clouds – is likely to have twists and turns, sometimes doubling back on itself.
Like most roads you’ll travel on, there are signs you should pay attention to along the way. In this article, you’ll see some signs you’re likely already familiar with — but do you know how they apply on the path to the cloud? Read on to find out.
Traffic goes both ways
Your organisation may currently have its data in an on-premises environment, public cloud(s) or a combination of them all in a hybrid cloud environment. Or maybe you have plans to move your data from one of these models to another in the future. In any case, it’s important to remember that your business is not locked into one of these models forever.
For this to be possible, however, it's essential to have an exit plan. In the next section, we'll elaborate further as to why this is so important.
Dead end/no turnaround
Regulatory changes are happening all the time. Or maybe your business just undergoes a change in direction. Either way, it’s a good idea to have an exit plan in place in case you ever want to switch deployment models (as described above).
What should an exit plan entail? Knowing your organisation's current IT environment and its requirements is key to answering this question, and mapping your complete IT estate is a great way to get started. But complete data visibility around the entire infrastructure can be complex. If the organisation doesn't have the internal resources to do this, reach out to an IT services partner that can help. They can also assist in developing an exit plan once all the components of your environment have been identified.
Limited visibility
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It’s difficult to predict exact prices when it comes to public or hybrid cloud. That's because there may be some unexpected factors around the corner. These can range from price changes on the part of the provider to the unexpected scaling up of resources to meet demand.
In low-visibility situations on the road, you’ll rely on resources outside of yourself to see the most you can. You’ll probably use your full beams or fog lights and check your mirrors more often. It’s very similar with your cloud setup — don’t feel like you have to handle everything on your own. Having an expert examine your IT environment and make recommendations on how to use it most efficiently – and what to keep an eye out for – can save the organisation money in the long run.
Go slowly
If you realise you’re late to an important meeting, you might feel tempted to step on the accelerator a little. The path to the cloud is often similar. Many organisations sign up for the latest and greatest SaaS solution because it promises to help them meet goals fast. But a few months on, it might not have the desired effect and the business remains locked into a multiple-year contract.
You don’t want to be heading nowhere fast. Take the time at the beginning to make sure whatever solutions you implement support your path to the cloud and move you forward in the desired direction. And don't be afraid to ask for directions and seek advice from outside your organisation to see if you're heading the right way.
Do not overtake
When you’re in the fast lane, it’s logical that you’ll want to overtake the slower cars ahead of you. But when you’re so focused on passing the next driver, you might miss some important landmarks you’ve been told to look out for on the way to your destination. Even worse — you might completely miss the junction and continue driving down the wrong path for much longer than you intended.
It’s the same with the path to the cloud. There are some steps you simply can’t afford to skip when moving to, away from or between clouds. These include:
Over time, your path to the cloud may include migrating to one or more public clouds, a hybrid cloud setup or even deciding to return to a completely on-premises environment. To make sure your travels along the way are as smooth as possible (and cover all the points raised here), contact us at [email protected]