When researching cloud adoption, there is a particular phrase that will forever make an appearance. Plan. The emphasis put on planning the journey to the cloud is completely necessary – especially since only 1 in 3 organisations have a clear strategy when moving to the cloud.
52% of businesses have stated that their cloud initiative for 2017 is moving more workloads to the cloud. Businesses can no longer ignore the revolution that is underway. Whether considering developing their own private cloud or wanting to migrate key applications and processes off premise to the public cloud, there are a number of steps that need to be followed.
BEGIN THE PROCESS WITH DATA BACK-UP
The first priority before undergoing any IT change is the process of backing up data. Businesses should take the opportunity to archive and back up all business critical data before making modifications to their current IT setup.
Maintaining backups enables IT to restore data in minutes during a migration and also ensures that if anything were to go wrong, it could easily be restored up until the point of error.
ESTABLISH ROLES
For the most part, cloud computing services are handled outside the organisation. This does not eliminate the need for a POC internally to handle IT/technical issues.
Although the managed service provider will take control of the implementation and setup, it is still appropriate that there is a designated point of contact within the organisation to refer back to. By establishing this, you are also removing the fear and resistance from the in-house IT team.
Being able to rely on an external technical team allows you the time to focus on your core business and trust that any technical issues, if any, will be sorted by our team of specialists.
LET THE MANAGED SERVICE PROVIDER TAKE CONTROL
For those who have opted for a managed service provider to implement their cloud computing strategy, it is then time to allow them to take control. This approach to cloud adoption enables businesses to focus on their core processes and leave the technical induced headaches to the professionals.
The role of the managed service provider is to ease the transformation from on-premise to in the cloud. This process can spark fear for those who are too comfortable with seeing their data laid out in front of them in filing cabinets. This outdated method of data storage will lead to serious consequences – just take the NHS ransomware attack as an example of this.
With this real-life example, we can also address the importance of removing manual processes and instead, introducing automation. This automation can only be achieved by a team of specialised technical experts who are working around the clock to provide the crucial support needed.
As a result, businesses are left to focus on the things that matter to them.
MANAGING RISK
Regardless of what the transformation is, there will always be an element of risk. Organisations need to carefully assess what disruptions could arise and how to go about minimising them. A strategic SWOT analysis will highlight the areas that need the most consideration and precaution.
In terms of cloud migration, this could be anything from data duplication to the failure of an up-to-date backup. Areas like this need to be carefully considered to prevent the loss of data.
In addition to this, when the cloud migration is underway it is essential that data and applications are readily available throughout to prevent workloads from grinding to a halt and damaging customer service.
YOUR ADDITIONAL OPTIONS
Cloud computing is not a standalone model. It is a fully customisable computing platform that enables end-users to pick and choose their requirements throughout the lifespan of the contract. Have you opted for additional disaster recovery and automated backups? How much storage do you have compared to what is required? It’s options like these that need to be outlined from the outset and confirmed with those in charge of the cloud implementation.
If you’re looking to adopt a cloud computing strategy in your workplace, we can help you. Get in touch today to start your journey to the cloud.
More in the Journey to the Cloud blog series:
Part 1: Introducing IT Modernisation
Part 2: Establishing if your IT is Cloud-Ready
Part 3: Planning your Cloud Migration
