The fast-growing digital economy.
The pace of technological change.
The collapsing barriers of entry.
The changing consumer demographic.
All these factors are putting immense pressure on organizations to be flexible, scalable, and agile. And that’s why adopting the cloud has become vital for any organization’s success. With companies at risk of falling behind their competitors, the cloud provides the agility to scale and adapt their business model to market conditions and opportunities. Using an agile and scalable model helps organizations innovate with speed and precision while lowering the total cost of ownership (TCO).
Use our Cloud Migration Checklist to ensure that your migration is as seamless as possible. Download the checklist here.
Cloud Best Practices
With the cloud offering so many benefits, it is natural for you to want to embrace the cloud right away. But is your organization ready for successful cloud implementation? Choosing to implement the cloud for your business is a game-changing move and that’s why best practices related to implementation should not be taken lightly. That said, here are 10 cloud best practices for a successful cloud implementation:
1. Start With an End-to-End Assessment
The first step towards a successful cloud implementation is assessment. Understanding where you are today and where you want to reach through the cloud is critical. Start with assessing your current environment and envisioning the future state; identify organizational readiness, risks, opportunities, and costs with moving to the cloud.
2. Adopt a Cloud-Based-as-a-Service Business Model
With cloud paving the way for an effective as-a-service model, it makes sense to begin your cloud journey by implementing and leveraging business applications as a service – to drive growth. Through the as-a-service model, you can use cloud resources based on your needs and accelerate the use of as-a-service, as your needs grow in the future.
3. Devise an All-Encompassing Adoption Strategy
Devising a robust cloud adoption strategy can aid in a faster implementation with less risk. To build a comprehensive approach to cloud computing across your organization, consider the various aspects that will be impacted by the adoption: namely your business, your people, the governance strategy, security and platform considerations as well as day-to-day operations.
4. Educate and Train Resources as Early as Possible
The success or failure of your cloud implementation also depends on how well-educated your users are. Since it is these users who will be performing day-to-day tasks using the cloud, it is essential you provide them with in-depth training. This is not only to ensure they understand the importance and benefits of cloud adoption but also to reduce potential cloud adoption barriers.
5. Choose the Right Model
Successful cloud implementation also requires you to choose a cloud model that’s right for your business. Given the various models available, it is critical you understand the need and approach for each and select one that best fits your needs. For example, with IaaS, you can get access to virtualized computing resources over the internet. With PaaS, you can have a third-party provider deliver hardware and software tools for application development. And with SaaS, you can access software online via a subscription, rather than buy and install it on individual computers.
6. Plan and Follow a Cloud Governance Framework
The success of your cloud implementation will also depend on your ability to ensure accountability, control, and governance. Developing a cloud governance framework allows for the secure adoption of services and features. It ensures that the right programs, systems, and tools are in place to move workloads to the cloud. It also enforces the correct policies to ensure your employees are trained well enough to use the cloud effectively and safely.
7. Select a Single Workload
Although it might seem lucrative to move all your workloads to the cloud in one go, given the high cost and risks involved, it makes most business sense to start small. Select a single function or workload that you think will benefit most and move it to the cloud – slowly expanding to additional workloads as the model is proven.
8. Automate as Much as Possible
Given how intricate and time-consuming cloud implementation can be, it is advisable to automate as many aspects as possible – to reduce toil as well as operating costs. Consider automating the provisioning, configuration, and management of your cloud-based infrastructure and free up precious time and resources to minimize disruption and drive mission-critical innovation.
9. Leverage the Services of an Experienced Partner
Cloud implementation is a complex undertaking and requires organizations to take each step towards it with utmost planning. Since even a single wrong step can result in a catastrophe, leveraging the knowledge and experience of experienced service providers can help improve delivery and reduce roadblocks. Highly capable partners can provide the insight and direction you need to streamline your cloud adoption journey.
10. Monitor and Optimize
The journey to the cloud doesn’t end at implementation. To ensure long-lasting returns, organizations must invest in evaluating, monitoring, and managing cloud-based services, applications, and infrastructure. Invest in modern monitoring tools to drive cost optimization, performance improvements as well as security compliance.
Embrace Cloud Implementation
With the next wave of intelligent technologies that build onto the cloud emerging, the cloud is set to drive continuous innovation while changing the way customers interact with companies. Not only does cloud-free up IT resources, but it also results in performance improvements, reduced business risks, and better economies of scale.
However, the journey to the cloud is laden with obstacles; what is required is to have the right approach and strategies to emerge as winners. Embracing cloud best practices is a great way to reduce the risks associated with implementation while improving performance and reducing costs.
Are you ready to migrate to the cloud? Contact a Synoptek cloud expert today!
