The cloud presents a new landscape for building out IT infrastructure; this new landscape can be a real challenge for enterprises.
Instead of thinking in strictly in terms of cost, CIOs need to also think in terms of applications, service levels and governance. At Rolta AdvizeX, we’ve developed a Cloud Advizer engagement that helps enterprises begin building their cloud strategy the right way, by identifying which applications can benefit the most from being in the cloud, and what business users and developers require from the cloud in terms of application performance, governance, flexibility, and scalability.
After hundreds of engagements with enterprises of all sizes and industries, we’ve come up with a shortlist of helpful Do’s and Don’t’s to make your sure cloud delivers clear benefits to business users:
1. DO sit down with line-of-business managers and application developers before you start sketching out your cloud.
It’s vital to have end-user feedback in the beginning of the cloud creation process. Otherwise, you run the risk of going down a technology path that doesn’t align with the goals of your business.
2. DON’T get hung up on hardware costs.
Again, the cloud is different than a traditional or even a virtualized data center in that you have a lot more flexibility around how you build out your platform. For example, for private cloud, you may not even need to buy new hardware. Some companies, such as HPE, offer flexible leasing options that allow you to install hardware on premises but pay only for what you use. That helps you keep costs down and keep business users from jumping ship to cheaper alternatives.
3. DO identify early on which apps are cloud ready and which aren’t.
Most enterprises have some legacy apps that are still essential to the business, but it’s not essential for them to be in the cloud. These may require some re-coding for the cloud, so weighing potential disruption versus improved performance is key in understanding what needs to be in the cloud and what can continue to run in the data center.
4. DON’T think that you have to start from scratch.
Depending on the cloud technology path you choose, you may be able to leverage your existing IT infrastructure as part of your private cloud. So long as you have a unified interface to manage your IT resources, you don’t need to start building your cloud from the ground up, which means you can deploy your cloud sooner.
5. DO your due diligence when looking for cloud consultants.
Cloud technology is rapidly evolving, and you need a consultant with sharp IT skills who keeps at the cutting edge of new ideas such as application containers and composable infrastructure. Otherwise, you run of the risk of constantly playing catch-up with your cloud.
6. DON’T get distracted by data.
It’s true that a legacy data storage system can significantly slow down your private cloud performance, but with the cost of All-Flash storage systems coming down, real-time data access will soon be a reality for most enterprises. And fast access to data is key to keeping business users happy.
These tips, though helpful, are really just the tip of the iceberg. For a free consultation on the latest cloud solutions from HPE and other leading vendors, contact your local Rolta AdvizeX team or visit us online at advizex.com. ▪