Cloud Strategy for Organisations in 2023

Over our 25 years of software development experience, we’ve come to understand that the world of technology is constantly evolving, and businesses need to keep up. One such area that’s seen significant growth in recent years is cloud computing. In fact, Gartner predicts that by 2023, 78% of CFOs will increase or maintain enterprise digital investments, even if inflation persists. That’s why it’s crucial for organisations to have a comprehensive cloud strategy for their business in place.

In this blog, we’ll delve into what a cloud strategy is, debunk a couple of common myths, and provide tips for successful cloud adoption and management. If you’re a Director, Managing Director, Chief Tech Officer, or anyone in a similar role, this information is essential for your organisation’s success in 2023.

Understanding Cloud Strategy for Your Business

A cloud strategy is a plan that outlines how your organisation will adopt, manage, and optimise cloud resources to achieve its business objectives. It involves data centre transformation, where traditional on-premises infrastructure is replaced or augmented with cloud-based services. This shift can lead to improved efficiency, agility, scalability, and cost savings, which we’ll explain in more detail a little later on.

Despite the numerous benefits, many Chief Information Officers (CIOs) struggle to understand what a cloud strategy is and how it affects their business. To help CIOs and other decision-makers, we’ll cover some key considerations when implementing a cloud strategy for your business.

Firstly, it’s important to align your business interests to make sure that your cloud strategy supports your organisation’s overall goals and objectives. For example, if your aim is to enter new markets quickly, adopting a cloud-based infrastructure can help you scale rapidly. It’s also crucial that, before diving into cloud adoption, you evaluate your existing IT environment and identify areas that could benefit from cloud services. This will help you determine the right mix of public, private, and hybrid cloud solutions.

With numerous cloud providers available, make sure you select the cloud provider that most closely matches your organisation’s needs in terms of security, compliance, and cost. This will allow you to more easily outline the steps needed to move your applications and data to the cloud. This may include rearchitecting applications, migrating data, and training staff on new processes and tools.

Debunking Myths About Cloud Adoption & Management

When businesses don’t take these considerations into account, they can experience significant challenges when adopting a cloud strategy. This has led to a couple of common misconceptions about cloud computing that can hinder organisations from fully embracing this technology. Let’s debunk these common myths:

Cloud is Less Secure

Cloud providers often have robust security measures in place, such as encryption, access controls, and regular security audits. However, it’s crucial for organisations to implement their own security policies and practices to protect their data. This can be made easier by working with a specialist organisation that can facilitate holistic cloud migration.

All Applications Can be Easily Moved to the Cloud

Some legacy applications may require significant reengineering or even complete redevelopment to work well in the cloud. It’s essential to assess each application’s compatibility before migration and ensure that you engage expertise where required to make the transition as straightforward as possible.

Cloud is Always Cheaper Than On-Premises Solutions

While it’s true that cost saving can be a benefit of cloud adoption, it’s essential to understand that it isn’t always the cheaper option for every business. Factors such as the complexity of applications, required resources, and data storage needs can all impact the overall cost of cloud adoption. Additionally, organisations can sometimes oversize their cloud infrastructure or fail to optimize resource usage, leading to higher expenses.

To ensure that a move to the cloud is cost-effective, it’s crucial to engage experts to conduct a thorough analysis of your organisation’s specific needs and requirements.

Cloud Computing Trends in 2023

As we look ahead to the rest of 2023, there are several emerging cloud computing trends that organisations should be aware of:

Hybrid and multi-cloud environments

Businesses are increasingly adopting hybrid and multi-cloud strategies, which involve using multiple cloud providers and on-premises infrastructure. This approach offers greater flexibility, resilience, and cost optimisation.

Edge computing

With the rise of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, edge computing is becoming more prevalent. This technology processes data closer to its source, reducing latency and improving performance.

Artificial intelligence and machine learning

Cloud providers are integrating AI and machine learning capabilities into their services, enabling businesses to harness these advanced technologies without significant upfront investment.

Serverless computing

This trend allows developers to build and run applications without managing the underlying infrastructure. It offers greater scalability and cost efficiency, as organisations only pay for the computing resources they actually use.

Sustainability

As concerns about climate change grow, businesses are seeking eco-friendly cloud solutions that minimise their environmental impact. Many cloud providers are now offering sustainable options, such as carbon-neutral data centres.

Benefits of Cloud Adoption

Adopting a cloud strategy can offer numerous benefits to organisations across multiple sectors.

Faster time to market

Cloud-based infrastructure can be provisioned quickly, allowing you to access key computing requirements rapidly and with ease. This means you’re your business is able to launch new products and services faster.

Scalability

Cloud services can be easily scaled up or down to meet increases or decreases in demand. This gives you the ability to constantly optimise your expenditure and return on investment.

Cost savings

By leveraging cloud resources, organisations can reduce capital expenditure on hardware and maintenance like filing, office space and traditional communications routes. This precipitates a shift to a more flexible pay-as-you-go model.

Advanced security

Cloud providers often invest heavily in security measures, offering robust protection for your organisation’s data. That said, it’s important that business users and owners are doing everything they can to ensure that the highest possible levels of security are being achieved.

Cloud Migration Services at One Beyond

At One Beyond, we understand that for many businesses making the migration to the cloud can seem overwhelming. That’s why our comprehensive cloud migration services break the process down into three simple steps. From assessing your application for cloud migration to the careful calculation of cost assessment to, finally, assessing the risk and planning the duration of the project, we can support you with the entire process.

As an accredited Microsoft CSP (Cloud Solution Provider), we can take any application written for a Microsoft environment and make it operational in Microsoft Azure. To find out more about our Cloud Migration Services, feel free to get in touch.