Is your company planning to move to the cloud? You’re not alone. In fact, 60% of the world’s corporate data is stored in the cloud. From scalability to cost reduction, there’s no shortage of reasons to make the switch.
Before you do, however, you’re going to want to create a reliable cloud strategy to ensure a seamless transition. Continue reading to discover what you need to account for.
What Is a Cloud Computing Strategy?
Simply put, a cloud strategy highlights the role cloud-based platforms will play within your organization. It’s usually a physical document and is designed to bridge the gap between high-level corporate strategies and implementation/migration plans.
You could develop a cloud strategy on your own, but here’s the secret: it’s much easier to work with a professional cloud provider. They already have years of experience migrating digital infrastructures, so they’ll be able to take a more coherent approach to your cloud implementation and optimization plan.
Key Factors to Account For When Creating Your Cloud Implementation Strategy
When creating a cloud strategy, there are several factors you’re going to want to focus on. To help you along on this journey, we’ve listed out a few critical steps you should follow to lay the groundwork for a successful migration. The first step in the process is to:
Change How You Think About the Cloud
The cloud migration process heavily involves your IT department, but that doesn’t mean they should be the only ones making decisions. Adoption is something that affects your entire organization, so other leadership roles in your company also need to participate in the decision-making process. Being under the impression that your IT team should make all the implementation decisions is one of the most common mistakes most business owners make when switching to the cloud.
As a helpful tip, keep in mind your IT department probably sees project goals in a different light than you. Your vision for what you want may not align with what they want. That’s why it’s helpful to start thinking of cloud migration as more of an enterprise-wide strategy and less of an IT strategy. This will help ensure your cloud solution ultimately plays into your business’ long-term goals.
Take Some Time to Explore Benefits of Switching to the Cloud
It’s widely known that cloud computing is advantageous for many businesses, but how beneficial would switching actually be? What features does the cloud offer that could improve your day-to-day operations? Knowing the answers to these questions makes it much easier to develop an accurate cloud strategy, helping you avoid the common pitfalls other businesses often fall into during the migration process.
Identify Your Cloud Infrastructure Goals
Once you have a rough idea of what you can do with the cloud, it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty of the cloud strategy process. You should start by evaluating how your company operates, as that will help you better understand the current capabilities of your IT environment.
From there, you’ll want to develop an outline of what you want to accomplish with your cloud solution. Clearly identifying your goals for cloud migration makes it easier to rank each aspect in order of priority, so ask yourself questions like:
- What outdated tech, software, or processes do we currently use?
- What needs aren’t being met by our existing infrastructure?
- Are we running an internal mail server that should be moved to the cloud?
Cloud workloads suffer at least 60% fewer security incidents than onsite data centers. Considering 91% of cyberattacks start with a malicious email, it’s never a good idea to run an internal mail server.
Find Out What Cloud Model Is Best for Your Business
Once you’ve identified specific solutions for the cloud, strategize how you want your platform deployed. Do you want a flexible option, or should you prioritize a high-level of security? Different cloud models bring their own unique advantages and disadvantages.
Do some research into what each model offers, and pick a platform that best fits your company’s needs. As a general rule of thumb, it’s helpful to consult with a professional cloud provider during this stage. They know exactly what it takes for a smooth transition while ensuring it aligns with your business’s long-term goals.
Assess Your Cloud Readiness
Once you have a good idea of the type of cloud environment you need and the specific services you’re interested in, it’s time to assess the feasibility of a migration. Similar to the previous step, professional cloud providers can perform a cloud readiness assessment to figure out if your infrastructure can handle the switch. This inspection can also identify if you’re likely to run into compliance issues, helping you proactively address any potential problems or risks.
Schedule Your Cloud Readiness Assessment With TenisiTech
Looking for a dependable cloud strategy and planning company to assist in your digital migration? TenisiTech can help.
From CIO advisory services to implementing your cloud infrastructure, we have decades of experience helping companies work smarter through automation, analytics, and technology-assisted workflows.
We’ll develop a custom-tailored cloud strategy for your business, evaluating cumbersome processes to streamline your tech approach. An enterprise-wide cloud migration is a hefty project. If you want to ensure it’s done right, schedule a cloud readiness assessment with the experts today.