Are you ready to move from private to public cloud?
Are you ready to move from private to public cloud?
Time is passing, your company is growing, you're getting more employees and new customers. Business is booming. The market is changing too, and you're seeing more competitors who are quick to embrace new technologies. At the same time, you may be stuck with an IT environment that doesn't meet these new demands for scalability and innovation. It's time for a change. But how do you know if your organisation is ready to make the move from private to public cloud?
Why consider a move to the public cloud
There are several reasons why IT decision-makers are starting to look at a possible move to the cloud. It could be a matter of changing business needs or a desire to be better and faster at keeping up with new technology solutions to remain competitive. A widespread high rate of digitalisation means that you as a company need to be open and adaptable to keep up with innovation. Public cloud gives you the power and mobility to adapt to new conditions - both digital and in the market you operate in.
Have we outgrown our IT environment?
A new cloud solution can be an enabler that private infrastructure rarely is. But what questions should you ask yourself to find out if you are ready to move from a private to a public cloud solution?
- Do we have scalability issues with our current infrastructure? As a business, if you need to manage your growth, or if you notice seasonal spikes in your workload, public cloud can offer more flexibility with less hand-holding than an on prem solution.
- Are our IT costs unpredictable and hard to keep track of? Most public cloud providers have several in-built cost control tools and payment models designed for flexible use. The fact that you don't have to invest in your own hardware also reduces your costs.
- Want fast access to innovation and new services? Public cloud providers offer the latest technology in AI, machine learning and IoT - both affordable and easy to use. This allows you to tap into a power of innovation previously reserved for larger companies with more extensive budgets and expertise.
A move to the public cloud gives you the flexibility to adapt quickly to changing market conditions and customer needs. This proactivity has the potential to strengthen your competitiveness and place you at the forefront of industry developments.
“It allows you to benefit from a level of innovation previously reserved for larger companies with more extensive budgets and expertise.”
When is a hybrid solution suitable?
A hybrid cloud solution allows you to keep sensitive data in your private infrastructure, while other parts of your business are hosted in the public cloud. It is often described as the best of both worlds, where you benefit from the security and control on prem - and the scalability and innovation that public cloud solutions can offer.
This type of solution suits businesses with specific needs related to security, technology, finance and skills, among others. For example, applications or sensitive data that require local storage for regulatory reasons. Or a way for those who are not ready for a public solution to still handle peak loads and temporary increases in demand without over-investing in local infrastructure.
It can also be a gradual transition, with a hybrid solution acting as a bridge between private and public cloud.
Case: Låsteam's successful transition to Azure
Låsteam needed a new partner to take their IT environment to the next level. They wanted a solution that would not only improve their existing infrastructure but also ensure that they could meet future requirements for scalability, flexibility and security. The result was a hybrid solution that combined a physical data centre with cloud services in Azure that gave Låsteam several security and innovation advantages. Read more about the collaboration here.
“It can also be a gradual transition, where a hybrid solution acts as a bridge between private and public cloud.”
A safe transition
Whatever cloud solution you choose, you should build your environment using the Zero Trust model as a security framework. The basic principle of the framework is the assumption that no network, person or system is completely secure. This means that you need to work actively with access and identity management so that each employee only has access to the information required in their role.
Another important part of a cloud move is the classification of information. That is, the categorisation of data based on how sensitive it is in order to know where it should be stored and what layers of security are required to protect it.
Large cloud providers often have the resources to implement and maintain security systems at a level that smaller companies can rarely match internally. Again, the public cloud can provide access to technology, innovation, compliance and security solutions previously reserved for larger IT budgets. Complement this with real-time monitoring of the cloud environment for rapid response if something happens.
Is it time to act?
So, are you experiencing scalability needs and difficulty managing growth under pressure? Are you finding that you are lagging behind in digitalisation and that your current infrastructure is preventing you from embracing new technologies and innovation? Do you also want to spend more time on your business instead of spending resources on IT operations in local data centres?
If the answer is ‘YES’ to one or more of these questions, moving to a public cloud solution may be a strategic next step. The hybrid solution becomes a middle ground for those companies that are constrained by regulatory requirements related to data security or want to make a more controlled transition to public cloud. Whichever solution you choose, a continuous review of your cloud strategy is important to ensure that it continues to meet the needs of your business, your employees or your industry
