Businesses are continuing to move to the cloud. Despite cloud computing offering numerous advantages to businesses, it is thought that only 3% of organisations using the cloud are achieving maximum benefits.
IT infrastructure products for deployment in cloud environments will grow by 13.1% annually to 59.5 billion in 2020, according to IDC. During the next five years, more than $2 trillion in IT spending will be directly or indirectly affected by the shift to the cloud. The two main reasons for cloud adoption growth are: the benefits are high and the repercussions of not getting the cloud right are even higher.
The IDC study also found that 68% of the business world is moving rapidly to the cloud, which means it is now essential for businesses to adopt quickly yet, strategically in order to gain the full benefits the cloud can offer. There are a number of reasons why cloud implementation and actual adaptation are not being fulfilled to optimum potential.
When considering what potential drawbacks of cloud maximisation could be, there are three major issues that will be relevant to the majority of businesses:
CULTURE CLASH
The cloud does not exclusively affect the IT department during and after implementation. By adopting the cloud, businesses are adopting a new way of working for both the onsite tech team and other employees. Many assume that because the cloud is a technical subject, it will not cross-over with their way of working.
For cloud adoption to truly be fulfilled, all departments will undergo a change in how they will access data and applications. It is essential that all members of each department are aware of the process of the cloud and how it could affect their current work style.
They should also be informed of the new opportunities for working that will be available – such as remote working and flexible working hours.
LACK OF EXPERTISE
In the same IDC report as mentioned previously, it was found that 43% of respondents believe their organisation’s IT workforce is not completely prepared to address the challenges of managing their cloud resources over the next five years. This problem is amplified by the high demand and relatively low supply of workers at an expert level of cloud knowledge.
This makes in-house cloud implementation a huge challenge instead of an opportunity. This is where managed service providers step in as they are experts in outsourcing whilst being equipped with the advanced knowledge required.
Instead of attempting to save costs by undergoing an in-house cloud implementation, businesses should consider having all implementation, servicing and maintenance taken care of by a third-party. With this method of cloud implementation, businesses will be able to focus on truly gaining the maximum benefits of cloud computing.
FEAR OF INNOVATION
In a business environment where CIOs are constantly asked to reduce their budget and drive innovation, it’s essential to introduce an approach to IT innovation that rationally assesses core IT, understands what’s essential to keeping the lights on and allows for innovation according to strategy.
With effective planning and thorough understanding within all departments, cloud computing will prove effective from the word “go” and benefits will be visible almost immediately.
Atlas Cloud can ease the journey into the cloud for any business in any sector. We offer same-day implementation with custom scalable options that suit the needs of each employee. These needs can be tailored into appropriate packages that are suitable for both budget and business needs.
For more information about easy adoption of the cloud, do not hesitate to contact us.
