Cloud is one of the faster growing trends in the market, the concept appealing to businesses of all sizes. Wider acceptance rate has been noticed across the globe because it is viewed as a practical solution that prevents data storage constraints.
Since data has become the essence of decision-making and planning, proper storage and handling is essential to maximize profitability. Some of the prominent cloud service providers in the market are Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services and Google.
Businesses can take advantage of cloud services to reduce IT costs, improve productivity and revenue, which align with most core business objectives. Cloud computing services such as IaaS, Platform-as-a-service (PaaS), and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) have changed the way organizations manage their data storage needs.
Different approaches for migrating data to cloud can be chosen by organizations depending on their internal capabilities. Optimum cloud migration strategies are essential for a systematic and organized effort. Make sure to research on cloud migration tools available in the market to enhance procedures and manage risks effectively.
Let’s take a closer look at why cloud migration benefits you:
Faster Project Deployment:
Much of the complex processes of project deployment are handled by the cloud service provider. The configuration is easier, downtime is limited and there is no pressure on in-house IT infrastructure or teams. Overall, this accelerates the progress and success rate of the process. Popular Project Deployment tools include Bamboo, AWS CodeDeploy, PDQ Deploy, and Codeship.
Implementation of Robust Plans for Business Continuity
Migrating to cloud will improve scope of business continuity in the event of some natural disaster, calamity or malware attack. In any situation, it will maximize efficiency and clarity in terms of the next steps to be ensured for maintaining productivity. Downtime and allied risks will be reduced significantly, since data is stored at a secure location.
Ease of Monitoring:
Cloud services available provide the flexibility of monitoring stored data, and providing much-needed transparency. Notifications and alerts are activated which increase the capability to handle system issues in a timely manner. Unexpected outages can be avoided by measuring storage health and capabilities. A few of the best cloud monitoring tools are Microsoft cloud monitoring, BMC TrueSight Pulse, Hyperic, and Solarwinds.
Increases Flexibility:
In each sector, demand for products and services is changing at a faster pace. Companies need to possess the resources to adapt to these changes. Restricted capabilities are not ideal, especially in a risky and volatile market. Migrating to cloud is useful to cope with changing market trends. Since it does not involve complex hardware and software modifications internally, organizations are not burdened with any additional responsibilities.
Enhances Capacity Planning:
Storage capacity planning can be improved by migrating data to cloud. Forecasting and elaborate metrics are made available that let you monitor application usage and review workload analytics. Storage performance metrics provide useful insights and capacity trend reports, facilitating better planning. Businesses can take advantage by mapping capacity demands with business needs for cost-effectiveness.
Increases Employee Productivity:
Without cloud, technical teams tend to be more involved in installing updates, troubleshooting applications, solving network issues, maintaining servers and providing support to application systems. With cloud migration, there is a better chance for teams to drive innovation and develop advanced business services and applications to generate higher revenue.
Ease of Access:
You have the means to access your applications anytime, anywhere. Business information is available at your fingertips. Using mobile cloud computing, employees and authorized personnel get the chance to access information irrespective of their location. This is primarily useful for businessmen on-the-go. Employees are able perform their duties through tablets and mobile devices. MCC has emerged as a new model of cloud computing and it is all set to dominate the cloud market in the next few years.
Brings Down Infrastructure Complexity:
IT infrastructure that includes servers and other networking and storage elements incurs maintenance costs, apart from requiring regular upgrades and validations. The complexities increase further as the business grows and more data is stored and managed.
Migrating to a cloud platform will limit operating expenses and overall upkeep required. Given that Cloud infrastructure offers services like data security and recovery, network monitoring, and load balancing, organizations find it easy to adapt even after expansion.
Increases Cost-effectiveness:
Over a period of time, maintaining data internally may incur unexpected costs. Cloud provides better transparency and clarity in this regard. Cloud providers allow applications to be tuned-off when not required, continuing charges for other applications. There are pricing calculators available to estimate cost of products and services, which helps in optimizing usage. Useful budget analytics software in the market includes Rackspace calculator and MS Azure’s calculator.
Assuring Data Security:
Maintaining information on cloud is more feasible than physical servers and data centers, which require constant monitoring, evaluations and round-the-clock staff. Cybersecurity is important, since unauthorized access to sensitive company and client information will have negative consequences on company image and share price, leading to financial losses. Security challenges are handled by cloud service providers themselves, so businesses need not worry.
Facilitates a Collaborative Workplace:
Cloud makes it easier for employees to gain timely access to useful information. Teams can benefit from the kind of efficiency offered by sharing real-time information, editing documents, and updating project details. There is no chance of missing information or time lags, which is a huge plus point when you are looking to maximize workplace co-ordination. Systematic communication and virtual meetings are useful for optimum time management.
Reduces workload:
Having your data on cloud offers better structure and management capability through automation. Teams do not need to think about planning and evaluating system vulnerabilities when software updates are required. Service providers handle these tasks so that businesses can steer clear of maintenance costs and investments for new installations. The finest tools for Cloud Automation are AWS CloudFormation, Ansible, Kubernetes, and SaltStack.
Going Green with Cloud:
Moving to cloud will limit the use of hard-drives, networking material, and paper. A considerable amount of wastage and contamination can be avoided, allowing any business to reduce its carbon footprint. In comparison to onsite equipment, cloud servers require a less complicated infrastructure. Although this is not the primary motivation for many, it is a viable reason to consider the conservation of the environment.
To conclude…
Switching to a cloud platform will improve IT capabilities and productivity. Make sure the process of switching is well-planned and that teams are prepared for it. List out financial details and timelines specifically, and select a platform that is suitable for data needs and business functions.
In case there are internal cloud migration challenges being faced, opt for cloud migration services, which will assist in seamless planning and execution. It is time to leverage the many benefits offered as technology is progressing at a rapid pace, and adopting new solutions should be prioritized for a competitive edge.
Christina has been working as a freelance content writer for more than seven years, continuing enthusiastically to present insightful information in a creative manner. She is knowledgeable about various fields and has ample amount of experience creating original content. Her main focus is creating detail-oriented, well-researched and apt content as per key requirements. Most of her experience is associated with corporate business development, strategizing, proactive decision-driving tactics and topics related to trending market concepts, each specifically designed with the target audience in mind.
