What to Think About Before You Move to the Cloud

Talk of the cloud and its importance in the ongoing operations of the average company’s business is everywhere. Research �rms, analysts, and the world’s top companies all say that moving to the cloud is critical to a �rm’s future. Still, questions remain in the IT space over why a company should move to the cloud. Indeed, while most will talk about going to the cloud, few provide the framework by which IT professionals should consider making such a decision.

IDC, one of the leaders in analyzing corporate adoption of the cloud and its future, clearly believes that for a company to survive and thrive in the coming years, adopting cloud-based solutions is a necessity.

“IDC predicts that by 2020 clouds will stop being referred to as ‘public’ and ‘private’ and ultimately they will stop being called clouds altogether,” the company argues, based on its own analysis of the space. “It is simply the new way business is done and IT is provisioned.”1

Reasons for the rapid adoption of cloud solutions have been well documented. Companies are �nding that as their existing infrastructure comes to the end of its useful life, it’s far more cost-e�ective (and secure) to o�oad some solutions to the cloud, rather than keep them running

1. IDC: 4 Pillars of the Cloud

locally. Most companies, including Microsoft, IBM, Hewlett-Packard, and countless others, all argue that the cloud is the future and have focused their operations on it. All of that seems to express one, simple fact: like it or not, IT is moving to the cloud and those that aren’t following that trend are behind the curve and potentially putting their companies in competitive peril.

For some IT professionals, making the move to the cloud can be a worrisome prospect. After all, mission-critical infrastructure and data is being entrusted to a third-party and it’s not immediately clear which solutions providers o�er the best option. Considerable research and evaluation is required before a decision on a cloud provider can be made and the risks are high if the wrong solution is chosen.

Whether it’s Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), or even Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS), it’s incumbent upon all IT professionals to follow a roadmap to �nd the best option.

Here is a simple guide for IT professionals to consider as they plan the jump to the cloud:

1. Determine Corporate Needs There is no shortage of solutions allowing companies to run nearly everything in their offices in the cloud. But for companies that have yet to take the leap, it’s important to first determine what solutions currently running in-house could be most effectively offloaded to the cloud. In some cases, a move to the cloud starts on an ad-hoc basis as infrastructure within the enterprise reaches its end of life. Rather than quickly buy infrastructure technologies, for instance, companies may consider IaaS solutions. By doing so, companies can offload a range of infrastructure while still hosting data. As time goes on, it’s not uncommon for companies to consider other solutions. Is it finally time to move certain middleware and mission-critical software to the cloud? Should a company consider running the entire office virtually? The sheer number of solutions – and the opportunities to offload technologies – is immeasurable. So, where do IT professionals start? For one thing, it’s critical to determine risk level. While it may seem simple to offload infrastructure, moving sensitive data to a third-party may raise the hackles of risk officers assigned with managing security. If a company has plans to move to the cloud, a stepped approach, starting with data backup or infrastructure, may be the best idea. Secondly, IT should determine which technologies currently running in the office are actually in need of updating. While the cloud’s allure is strong, it’s not

necessarily the best solution at any given moment. Determining which services are not ready for the cloud is just as important as determining which solutions are ready. Thirdly, it’s important to remember that there will be no shortage of cloud solutions providers as time goes on. It’s not necessary to immediately move everything to the cloud and there is ample time to systematically choose solutions. Determining what can and should be moved to the cloud is the first step in ultimately making decisions. 2. Find the Right Vendors and Ask Questions Once it’s determined what cloud solutions are desired, it’s time to find vendors. Determining which solutions provider is ultimately best for the desired need can be difficult, to say the least. A simple Google search will yield dozens of results and nearly all of the companies’ websites list the many reasons they are the best providers for the respective firm’s needs. And while in many cases, major companies are chosen for their name-recognition and seeming credibility, it’s worth examining smaller solutions providers to see if they are in fact offering better options. After the initial research phase is completed, it’s best to narrow down providers to a list of five. A pared-down list makes evaluating providers more manageable, while still allowing for a competitive process. While the questions companies will ask providers will, at times, differ based on the

solutions they’re seeking, many should always be asked, regardless of whether they’re after IaaS, BaaS, PaaS, or something else. For instance, one of the biggest concerns with the cloud is that it requires a constant Internet connection. Ask the prospective cloud solutions provider what its guaranteed uptime rate is and when it performs scheduled downtime for maintenance. If the provider cannot guarantee uptime and maintenance after regular business hours, it’s not the right fit. Easy access to data is another concern for companies. If data is being backed up to the cloud, having peace of mind in knowing that it’s readily available in the event of a catastrophe is critical. Ask providers how easy it is to access stored data and whether they provide bare-metal backups. Having hardware shipped overnight (or better yet, same-day freight) is a nice option for those concerned with losing data. In a world where data security is decidedly in doubt, evaluating a company’s security functions is critical. Find out if the provider offers end-to-end encryption over its network and how it backs up its own data centers. Ask where its data centers are located and how they are protected. Determine whether there are any backdoors built into the systems that could make data readily accessible to third-parties. See if background checks are performed on employees to maximize security. There is no end to the security questions IT professionals should ask.

Finally, consider the worse. What if the solution provider doesn’t live up to its promises? What if it’s acquired by another company or worse, goes out of business? In those instances, having quick and easy access to company data is crucial. Although providers will typically say that they are in stable condition, have no reason to sell their operation, and customers shouldn’t be worried, such claims may simply be an attempt to get the client’s business and not based in reality. Find out how long it would take to offload data from its systems and get the promise in writing on the contract. The worst-case scenario sees companies with their data tied up in provider data centers with no simple or quick way to offload it. Don’t allow that to happen to your company. 3. Consider an Agency Approach With constrained IT budgets putting pressure on CIOs to manage resources effectively, it’s not always easy for a company to dedicate significant employee time to finding the best cloud solution. In far too many cases, companies opt for the wrong provider after failing to properly vet prospective solutions. The process is rushed and the decision-making flawed. The result? The possibility of headaches later on. To address such issues, some companies will opt for an agency approach to finding a cloud provider. Rather than dedicate internal resources to finding the best solution, companies will instead rely upon experts who work with dozens of cloud providers to do the vetting and ultimately

bring to them the best solutions more quickly. �e agency , strategic-sourcing approach creates a slightly di�erent scenario from the point of information-gathering to implementation. Rather than speaking to vendors directly, companies will explain their needs to the chosen agency. �e agency then compares the company’s need with the strengths and weaknesses of cloud providers to �nd best solutions. In contrast to a vendor-�rst approach, an agency may recommend using di�erent providers to e�ectively meet the company’s needs. In some cases, the multi-vendor approach will do a better job of servicing and protecting the company. �e agency will also work on the company’s behalf to negotiate the best terms and facilitate implementation of the chosen platform(s).

Reputable strategic-sourcing agencies that work on its behalf will not charge the company for its service. Instead, the agency will negotiate terms with the solutions provider, which will pay the agency directly. After implementation is completed, a reputable agency will provide all customer care to the company, ensuring issues are addressed in a timely fashion and needs are met. Regardless of the tack companies take, the path to the cloud is fraught with potential peril that could cost time and money. Having the right gameplan in place, and e�ectively implementing it, means the di�erence between �oating happily on the cloud and falling from it, wishing certain mistakes weren’t made.

To learn more about Subsidium Technologies, please visit us online at subsidiumtech.com.If you would like to discuss with us the services we provide, please do not hesitate to contact

Subsidium Technologiesfor the cloud, telecommunications, and other integral technology solutions. We work on behalf of our clientsto identify their technology needs and use our vast knowledge of the industry, coupled with our understanding of vendor attributes, to pair them with the best solution. Upon determining client needs, we identify the ideal solutions and work with the vendor to implement them. After the service is up and running,we provide white-glove service to our clients, free of charge.

© Copyright Subsidium Technologies | 2015 | All Rights Reserved