Many professionals, including business owners, know less about cloud computing then they let on. And given how recognised and significant cloud technologies are today, particularly when it comes to IT deployment in the workplace, it can be somewhat embarrassing to broach the subject.
If you too are a little unsure, don’t worry… We’re here to help clear up some of the common cloud conundrums that business owners alike are stumbling over. So, let’s get started with the basics…
What is Cloud Computing?
Put simply, cloud computing is a combination of hosted applications, data storage and remote server access through the internet. These resources provide a user with fast access to computer power, storage and network services that can help to scale business operations up or down dependant on a company’s requirements.
What Enables a Cloud Service to Offer a Cost-Effective, Hardware Infrastructure?
Virtualisation. Several virtual machines can run alongside each other on a single physical server, sharing the same hardware resources. This lowers the cost for hardware, data centre space, power and cooling. And these savings can all be passed on to the company and its employees.
Now it’s time to take a look at some of the more complex questions…
How Can Cloud Computing Help to Save Money?
If you expect your company to grow, opting for cloud computing could see you gaining some substantial savings as you scale up. However, should you wish to continue operating at a similar level, you may want to consider the potential advantages, and whether they outweigh the disadvantages.
To fully comprehend how cloud can save cost for your organisation, you will first need a clear knowledge of the cloud-related expenses, from hardware upgrades to outsourced IT consulting and monthly fees. Then compare your findings to how much it would cost to run the same level of computing internally.
Having access to the latest hardware and software without having to upgrade your entire infrastructure, nor having to recruit more IT staff to manage the operation, can help to promise the biggest cost savings.
What Does Being “Cloud-Ready” Look Like & How is it Achieved?
For each individual business, cloud readiness will look different. It’s not a one-size-fits-all fix, for example, the more convoluted your operations, the more groundwork you’ll need to carry out.
For some companies, cloud-readiness could be as straightforward as having an IT consultant come in and arrange an automatic backup process. Yet for most, being cloud-ready means having a simple and structured view of how they want to manage their transition to the cloud.
What Are the Most Common Cloud-Related Pain Points?
Cloud-related pain points that are commonly experienced during this transition include:
- Security
- Migration/integration
- Lack of internal process
- Internal resources/expertise
- Service-level management
- Pricing/budget
- Service reliability/availability
- Network
- Limited transparency and management
Is Data Safe in the Cloud?
Data integrity is perhaps the greatest concern that most business professionals have with the cloud. After all, there are numerous sources of data loss, and even the cloud is not exempt from the likes of technology fails, such as computers freezing and servers crashing. In other words, data loss can happen, regardless of where and how your systems run.
The likelihood of such a scenario however will depend on how the data is being transmitted and stored. For example, encrypted data, will be trickier to recover if corrupted, but not impossible.
When using a cloud provider, you’ll find they have a policy in place regarding the recovery measures likely to be implemented in the event of a data loss occurrence taking place. We recommend that you discuss such strategies with your cloud provider prior to a data loss situation occurring.
Tailoring your IT Model to the Digital Age
Organisations need to move to cloud computing in order to stay agile, flexible and competitive, but they need to do so without risking business disruption, security, compliance or performance… How?
With Rio IT, you can migrate to the cloud with confidence. Let us handle your cloud migration complexities so you can focus on moving your business forward.
We understand that by outsourcing to us, you’re putting a lot of trust in a company to look after your business – to keep it running, secure, and growing. And we want you to be confident that you’re putting your faith in a safe pair of hands.
Once you have made this leap, we will work with you to maximise your IT and digital capacities. For more information on how Rio IT’s highly qualified, experienced experts can help in tailoring your IT model to the digital age, please get in touch.
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