Cloud Transformation: A Guide For Businesses

In today’s digital age, cloud transformation is becoming an indispensable move for businesses of all sizes. By creating a secure, accessible, and cost-effective way to store data, the cloud is ideal for even small and medium-sized businesses that want a more efficient way to manage their information.

Cloud Transformation: An Introduction

Understanding the cloud is the first step in embracing its benefits for your business. Here is a look at the basics of what it means to move your information to the cloud.

Cloud Transformation Defined

Cloud transformation is the process of moving a company’s data, apps, and software to the cloud. The “cloud” refers to a networked group of servers that reside in a data center. Because these servers secure information outside of specific devices, they make it possible to access that information through virtually any device, so long as the user has the right security information (e.g. Username, password, etc.).

Do not confuse this process with cloud migration. Instead of simply moving information to the cloud, the transformation process includes all of the modernization and optimization a business’s data management and security protocols undergo. It is a complete transformation of the company from dependence on their own physical servers and devices to a more agile and scalable way of managing data.

Importance in Modern Business Environments

Cloud transformation is more than just an appealing option for businesses. It is an indispensable tool for keeping your company agile, scalable, and responsive to customer needs, without incurring high costs and expensive budget overruns. Traditional IT infrastructure can be costly, clumsy, and difficult to expand. The cloud frees you to keep up with today’s rapidly-changing markets and ever-evolving customer needs.

Goals & Objectives

Why adopt a move to the cloud for your business? The process has specific goals that benefit your company and prepare you to thrive in the modern business age. These goals include the following:

• Enhanced Operational Efficiency
• Improved Service Delivery
• Reduced Costs
• Scalable IT Solutions

Strategic Planning

The process of cloud transformation can be complex and will only succeed with meticulous strategic planning. These are the steps your business must take in order to create a move to the cloud that is both customized and effective.

Business Needs Assessment

First, you should work with your chosen provider to assess the needs and objectives of your business. This assessment should align your company’s goals with the potential of the cloud for a customized, long-term change that supports your business growth.

Identification of Key Stakeholders

Who is most invested in, and affected by, the move to the cloud? These are the people who will need to be involved as partners in your company’s cloud transformation. Identify each stakeholder, their role, and their needs to craft a move that meshes with everyone impacted within your business.

Strategy Development

Once you understand your needs and your stakeholders, you can create a comprehensive strategy that outlines every step needed to successfully transform your business.

Cost Benefit Analysis

In order to justify the expense of cloud transformation, you need to engage in a cost benefit analysis. Answer the question: Will this cloud transformation offer benefits that are worth the cost to our business? Chances are, you will find yourself saving money for more efficient data management and storage – making cloud transformation a smart step for your company.

Cloud Service Models

Model / Attribute	Infrastructure	Platform	Software
IaaS	Virtual machines, storage, networking	Basic operating systems	User-managed
PaaS	Managed platforms for development	Frameworks for application development	Managed by provider
SaaS	Full software applications	Ready-to-use software	Fully managed by provider

Not all cloud services are the same. With three different models available, there is a service for every business – As long as you choose the right one for your business.

Understanding the Different Models

When undergoing a cloud transformation, you can choose from three different models: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS. Here is a look at each:

IaaS

Infrastructure-as-a-Service provides businesses with all of the cloud-based infrastructure they need, from storage to network to virtualization.

PaaS

Platform-as-a-Service enables businesses to create applications through the cloud. Develop, run, and manage applications without having to maintain the environment where you do so.

SaaS

Software-as-a-Service are cloud-based applications that are entirely managed by the cloud service provider.

Hybrid & Multi-Cloud Approaches

Sometimes, using a single cloud, whether it be private or public, is not enough. In order to gain greater access, some businesses choose to use hybrid (combination of public and private clouds) or multi-cloud (using multiple clouds of the same type) approaches. We would be happy to help you determine if one of these approaches would work best for you.

Choosing the Right Model

Which of the three will best support your company’s technology and data management needs? You can best make that determination by gaining a clear understanding of the pros and cons of each model. Allow a provider such as Spot On Tech to walk you through your options and compare them to your company’s unique setup and needs.

Migration Planning

The actual process of moving data to the cloud does not take long, but it can be complex. Prepare for a seamless transition with careful migration planning.

Assess Current IT Infrastructure

Evaluate your current setup to determine your readiness for migration and to establish a plan that takes all of your potential needs and obstacles into account.

Determine Migration Timeline

Create a schedule for the migration that outlines which pieces of information will be transferred and when.

Apply Migration Strategies

Best practices and proven strategies allow you to create a smooth transition to cloud-based services.

Security & Compliance

Many companies’ main concern with cloud transformation is the security of their information on the cloud. However, implementing robust security measures, data encryption, and access management can make your information easily accessible – But ONLY to the people who have the right to the data. Here are our tips for creating a safe and compliant environment within the cloud.

Implement robust security measures

In an age of increasingly savvy technical criminals, robust security is non-negotiable. Layers of security, multiple security tools, and ongoing monitoring create an impenetrable space where your data can exist.

Ensure Compliance with Regulations

Some information falls under stringent security guidelines such as GDPR and HIPAA. Your security steps should ensure adherence to all applicable regulations.

Leverage Identity and Access Management

Cloud transformation walks a fine line between security and access. Identity and access management (IAM) helps you put in processes to allow access to individuals who need your cloud-based information and to deny access to any unauthorized person.

Use Data Encryption & Protection

Encryption refers to scrambling data in order to make it unreadable to anyone who does not have the “key” to unscramble the information. Ensuring the encryption of data anytime it is moving to or from devices helps to shield it from attacks from bad actors.

Cloud Architecture and Design

Your experience of cloud transformation will depend in large part on the cloud environment you create. Your goal should be to enhance your environment’s agility and efficiency by integrating these features:

Scalable and Resilient Architecture

Scalable means that you can increase or decrease your architecture’s capacity based upon your changing needs. Resiliency refers to the ability of your system to minimize downtime through features such as redundancy that keep your cloud-based systems up and running even in the event of a problem or failure.

Microservices and Containerization

Breaking down software into small, self-contained services allows you to more quickly develop and scale the software and applications you need for cloud transformation. Plus, placing these microservices in virtual containers allows for easy portability and greater security within your cloud architecture.

Serverless Computing

Serverless computing moves the burden of creating and maintaining a computing infrastructure to your cloud service provider (CSP). As a result, adding serverless computing to your design can help you and your developers focus on what matters for your business.

Network Design and Connectivity

An efficiently designed network will make it easy to transfer data, communicate, access, and scale within the cloud environment. Opt for a partner who can bring expertise to the design of your cloud network in order to make it easy to use and seamlessly connected.

Cost Management

• Understand cloud pricing models.
• Implement cost management and optimization strategies.
• Monitor and control cloud expenses.
• Use tools for cost analysis and reporting.

Operational Excellence

A successful cloud transformation demands and plans for excellence. Build exceptional performance into your transformation process by adopting these critical strategies:

Cloud Governance Frameworks

Cloud governance frameworks define the policies that determine the type of activities allowed on the cloud network and set up procedures and tools that help ensure compliance with these policies.

Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)

CI/CD involves the frequent creation and implementation of minor code changes within the cloud network. By using it in your cloud transformation, you increase the speed with which you maintain and upgrade your systems, keeping them modern and functioning at all times.

Monitoring and Logging

Keep a close eye on your cloud network’s performance with monitoring and logging. Track everything from uptime and downtime to metrics and events and use that information to catch, prevent and repair any problems that arise. Regular monitoring can help you scale resources and optimize performance for long-term success.

Incident Management and Disaster Recovery

Without careful planning, a single incident or disaster could permanently affect your business by destroying critical information. A carefully planned incident management and disaster recovery strategy can safely backup your files and help you recover them quickly, no matter what disaster may befall.

Change Management

Cloud transformation will impact almost everyone in your organization. Preparing for these changes involves comprehensive change management. Implement the following preparatory steps before the transformation begins.

Prepare the organization for change

When your organization knows what to expect and what role everyone has, the cloud transformation will go more smoothly. Consider taking steps such as creating teams to manage the transition, informing key stakeholders of the strategy, and following your tech partner’s guidance regarding other preparatory steps to take.

Train and upskill employees

Your employees will not automatically know how to manage in the cloud. Prepare them ahead of time by training them in the skills they need to succeed after your cloud transformation.

Develop communication strategies

You want the transition to the cloud to be easy. Develop communication channels and strategies that allow key stakeholders to communicate in an appropriate way about the transformation and any problems that arise. Also make sure that your communication strategy includes extensive communication with employees about the process and what to expect as it occurs.

Manage cultural shifts within the organization

The onset of a cloud transformation will bring with it cultural shifts within the organization. From security protocols to communication strategies and new processes, employees may need support in navigating these shifts. Before beginning the process, set up a strategy for managing cultural shifts and supporting employees as they learn how to leverage the cloud in their respective roles.

Innovation and Future-Proofing

You need your business to remain competitive. A cloud transformation process can provide you with technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning to keep you on the cutting edge of technology in the field. To future proof your business further, stay current on all emerging cloud technologies and how they can impact your business and help you achieve your goals.

Cloud transformation is a strategic process that can improve your company’s ability to affordably scale,  securely manage data, and boost the efficiency of your processes. With careful planning and execution, the preparation of your organization and the training and support of your employees, you can enjoy a successful cloud transformation. Need help? Let Spot On Tech make moving to the cloud, and manage all of your technology, faster and easier.