Using cloud-based applications may not be right for every situation, but most businesses agree that they will continue to move away from on-premises computing in the future. It’s a natural progression.
The cloud can be defined in many ways. Most would include the concept of working in a virtual environment, but it’s much more than that. It’s about increasing your work efficiency. It’s about scalability. It’s about being able to work smarter, faster, and in a better way.
For a successful cloud adaptation, it’s important to understand your IT environment and how it fits into your overall goals. But where do you start?
Start Small - Don’t start with a large program that is used predominantly throughout your business’s work cycle. Instead, start by integrating something small to test the waters. Use less critical applications like a department application before diving in and making changes to your entire company’s structure.
Internal vs External - Before you make a change that will impact what your customers see, select programs that will impact smaller in-house functions first. Employees will be more patient with changes than clients will. It can help you test how well your internal structure performs before implementing on a wider basis.
Licensing and Agreements - What does a cloud-based application cost you as you move from other platforms? What about dedicated models? Will it be fully supported internally or through a third party? How is it serviced? Ensure that cloud-based models work the way you need them to work for how you operate.
Platform - The more sophisticated the system, the more you need to verify it works with the culture of your work environment. Is there a specific operating system version required for your application? Do you need specific devices for operation? Do you have those in place?
Security - Where will your data be hosted? How secure will the information be? How much control will you have over the information you are moving to cloud-based applications? Be sure to validate if the cloud vendor supports any regulations or security issues required for your business.
Moving to the cloud can be a simple process, but it isn’t always an easy process. Make sure you consider all of the repercussions before you make a move.
Are you ready to move your IT into the future?
