Repatriating Workloads from the Cloud

How to Optimise Infrastructure and Reduce Cost

There has been a major trend in recent years for businesses to adopt a cloud-first policy, in some cases this has resulted in them placing all workloads in the cloud regardless of suitability or long-term cost effectiveness. This is causing some to reconsider their strategy and bring workloads back into private cloud infrastructure through a process called repatriation. While cloud computing offers scalability and flexibility, it may not always be the most cost-effective option in the long run. Repatriating workloads can allow businesses to optimise their IT infrastructure and potentially reduce costs. However, this is not without its challenges. Careful planning is required, as well as a proper assessment of the impact on existing systems and processes.? For larger enterprises, repatriating some workloads from the cloud is a practical decision for those looking to regain control and optimise costs.

Public cloud is very likely to remain the best solution for unpredictable or highly variable workloads, but fixed infrastructure in the form of private cloud located in cost-effective and well-maintained colocation can be a highly attractive option. For many companies however there are challenges in managing this repatriation, not least because they may no longer have the technical resources on-hand since migrating to the cloud.

There are five key considerations when planning a repatriation project:

Strategy

From cost-saving to operational excellence, what are the key business outcomes that the project will achieve?

Auditing and Benchmarking

It is critical to gain a clear understanding of the starting point; what infrastructure do we have, where is it, how much is it costing and how does that compare with best practice?

Financial modelling and Return on Investment analysis

Building a business case for change is essential for project success, short term investment may be required for longer term gain.

Transformation and Project Management

To ensure success clear project milestones and close management of change is needed to meet financial and on-time delivery targets.

Governance

Good communication to stakeholders and clear awareness of project progress ensures that any setback or changes can be mitigated and manged through the transformation process.?

At CBRE we have a wide range of technical and commercial resources that can significantly de-risk a cloud repatriation project. From strategic planning, to selecting cost-effective colocation and project management, our experts can help to deliver the right infrastructure for today’s business.