TECHNOLOGY B y G a ry Lo
BUILDING A CLOUD
ROADMAP: HOW TO GET STARTED
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usinesses of all shapes and sizes are adopting cloud technology to transform the way they do business. According to predictions from Gartner, global spending on public cloud services is expected to reach $397 billion US in 2022. That’s up 47 per cent from just two years prior.
WHY SHOULD YOUR BUSINESS MIGRATE TO THE CLOUD?
But what is the cloud exactly? And how can moving your IT systems and applications to the cloud benefit your business?
Businesses of all sizes are always looking for better ways to serve customers and improve efficiency. While moving your IT services to the cloud may sound like a headache, there are many benefits that make it worth your while. These include:
At its most basic level, the cloud is simply a model of using the internet to set up servers, networks, storage and apps. It’s the technology that allows you to access files or software both at the office and when you’re out on the road. If you’ve ever used storage services such as Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive or Apple iCloud, or SaaS-based apps like Salesforce, Slack or QuickBooks Online, you’ve used the cloud. Rather than store information on your computer, the cloud stores it online − making it accessible from any device. For many, moving to the cloud became a necessity to enable remote work during the pandemic. The cloud also supports technological innovation and helps companies stay competitive within their industry. As the business landscape continues to be shaped by the rise of remote work, increased security risks and the pressure to innovate, more and more businesses will be making this choice. Although moving to the cloud is becoming the norm, developing a cloud roadmap can be complex – especially for organizations that have on-premise infrastructure or legacy technology. The following is key information you need to know to successfully leverage the cloud.
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• More flexibility: Cloud services are flexible. You typically only pay for what you need, and it’s easy to scale up and down services. • Accessible: With cloud services, you can access data, applications and files across different devices. This is ideal for businesses where a large portion of your workforce is not office-based. • Lower cost: Because of their flexible nature, cloud services often cost your business less. You may also save money by avoiding managing and replacing physical infrastructure, which can be a costly capital expense. • Enhanced security: Cloud services come with enhanced security measures. It’s easy for cloud services to be updated, meaning they can be quickly protected from new security threats. • Less risk: Cloud services often have disaster recovery and backups built into the system, meaning you run less risk of having all your data wiped or lost.
