Industry commentators and media have clearly realized the significance of cloud computing to modern business. However, there still exists a lesser understating of the essential steps that IT managers need to consider when moving to cloud services. Technology experts are facing a staggering amount of choice and complexity as well as confusion.
Even so, you can take some practical steps as your company moves towards cloud to embrace on-demand technology at the present and in the future. If you consider these factors carefully, you will make the transition as smooth as possible.
1. One size does not fit all so you should integrate services
Around 87% of IT managers believe that cloud services are now essential to their companies. Nevertheless, an almost equal number attach the same significance to on-premise systems. Technology leaders must deal with a future of hybrid environments, which integrate cloud-based and on-premise applications. Integration is the key since one size of off or on-site provision cannot be sufficient for all business needs. In addition, most users say that integrated hybrid solutions are not as complex as other solutions.
2. Realize that cloud can offer you a competitive edge
Currently, IT managers are spending significant cost on on-demand service compared to the past decade. However, still cloud computing represents a tiny portion of the overall IT market. According to some analysts, only 40% of companies are using cloud technology today but that number is rapidly rising.
Already, more than 80% of the businesses are using some form of cloud technology now. Hence, if you are not among these companies yet, you had better start preparing for the move otherwise, you will lose your competitive edge.
3. Create business benefits by managing implementations
Even once you implement a cloud system, auditing will remain crucial. Analysts say that chief information officers are spending a lot on tools that enable the company keep a close eye on on-demand technology performance. Researchers predict spending on cloud tools related to management, security and automation would grow by 21% yearly through to 2016.
The need by chief information officers to secure and control on-demand environments is fueling the growth on spending on cloud-auditing technologies. IT managers can prove the positive results of on-demand computing to companies by checking and maintain the performance of cloud deployments.
4. Overcome shadow IT by focusing on your business demand
Technology savvy users who are not receiving access to the systems they need might go around the chief information officer and apply their own technologies. This is called shadow IT and is a rapidly growing menace for chief information officers. According to statistics, one in every four companies has to deal with an unofficial use of cloud file-sharing services such as DropBox.
To overcome better shadow IT, IT managers have to approach cloud computing from as business-centric instead of technology-centric. They need to understand the needs of users to use cloud to apply approved on-demand solutions that enable users to do their work flexibly. This will eliminate the risks associated with shadow IT.
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