It seems since the advent of cloud we’ve done nothing but
talk about; the features, benefits, downsides, concerns, and how it is going to
change the face of business. On the latter point, cloud has already transformed
organisations, and will no doubt continue to do so. For many, moving processes, systems and data is a foregone
conclusion. And let’s face it, cloud delivers significant benefits, including
cost savings, greater agility and being able to get to market quicker.
Making the
(continued) case for colocation
However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that cloud is the
solution to every operational issue or challenge. In fact, more traditional
hosting services like colocation still have a significant role to play. This is
supported by research
that shows the global colocation market will likely reach £49bn (£63bn) in the next four
years, growing at a rate of 14% year-on-year.
The reason? Colocation is an ideal way to begin the cloud
journey, staging your approach until you’re ready to migrate. You can take advantage of the lower costs and
improved security, with your datacentre provider supplying your connectivity
and power requirements. The right provider can even deliver dynamic connectivity
to cloud fabric to accelerate the journey to cloud.
For example,
if you are at the start of a colocation contract, it doesn’t make commercial
(or practical) sense to waste that investment and move it all to cloud. If
whatever is being hosted in that third-party datacentre is working as it should
and performing well, this should be factored in to your cloud strategy. Some
elements of your infrastructure also might not be ready for migration, either
due to legislative requirements, security concerns, storage limitations or
other operational issues.
It’s a hybrid world
It’s more about assessing the maturity of your cloud
adoption in relation to business change. Some organisations need a slow
progression to public cloud and similarly there is a limit to how much they can
use. As a result, a hybrid approach will add more value. Many businesses have
hybrid environments already, making use of cloud in some form, be it a SaaS
application or Microsoft Office 365; on-premises hosting and colocation.
So instead of a cloud question, to move or not to move, it
becomes more about asking what is going to best help your business achieve its
goals, like growth, moving into new markets or spurring innovation, and what
will deliver the best return on your investment.
In the longer term it is likely that most of your services will be delivered in the cloud, but that doesn’t mean you need to migrate now, rather maximise your existing technology and investment with a view to migrating systems and services further down the line when it’s actually needed.
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What if cloud is the answer
Moving to cloud may very well be the solution to some of
your challenges. But how can you be sure? The best place to start is to work
with a service provider on a cloud readiness assessment. This approach helps
you analyse your entire IT estate to determine which systems, processes and
applications are best suited to a move.
If you have
elements of your infrastructure that would flourish in the cloud, you
then need to start thinking about migration. Migration, be it a staged move to
the cloud or a complete transformation, can be challenging. It affects the
entire organisation, including your staff and your processes, not just your
technology. As a result, it requires a cultural change too and buy-in is needed
from the staff who are affected, as well as the board and C-level.
Before you begin looking at migration or increased use of
cloud services, there are three key questions you should ask yourself and your
provider. The first is: why do you want to move? What are your technical and
business goals, and are they aligned? The second question is how are you going
to move? You need to consider the impact this will have on your infrastructure,
your staff, your processes, and your business overall. And finally, when are
you going to do it? Will you evolve at your own pace, using a hybrid approach;
or transform completely?
Conclusion
It’s true, cloud isn’t the only answer. In order for your
organisation to meet its objectives, whether that’s growth, reducing
operational costs or improving speed to market, you need the right mix of
solutions as an optimised hybrid approach.
Whether you are thinking about migration, maximising your current IT investment, or focused on getting that cocktail of solutions right, a key ingredient is working with the right partner. A vendor agnostic partner can help guide you along your journey, whatever your objectives are and help you ensure you’re getting the right solutions for your business.
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