However, all of this doesn’t disguise the fact that the switch from on-premise to completely in the cloud is a major step. What’s the best way for you as an organisation to tackle this Journey to the Cloud? We discuss this and more in a brand-new episode of Ctalk.
First of all, it’s good to stop and think about the different options of working in the cloud, which is often seen as a container concept. “You can set up working in the cloud in two ways”, says Paul Muller, Scale Manager at Amazon Web Services (AWS). “The first option is Private Cloud: hosting an application in the cloud. This means you install and manage the application there. The second option is Public Cloud: buying a cloud application in the form of Software as a Service (SaaS).”
Misconceptions and incorrect expectations
The increasing popularity of working in the cloud means that a lot is now being written and published about it. This leads to misconceptions and incorrect expectations, such as the idea that working in the cloud makes IT departments redundant. Yet that idea is nonsense, according to Gerben Moerland, founder of Oliver IT. “The IT department will have a different role. Under the SaaS model, for example, the IT department’s tasks will shift from technological to functional.” According to Moerland, the claim that working in the cloud makes everything easier should also be challenged. “That depends on the application processes that you as an organisation want to make accessible. If, for example, you have a standardised production process with little interaction with the outside world, then working with the cloud offers few benefits. But if you have a process where you always want to be one step ahead of the competition, you can make changes faster with cloud solutions than with traditional solutions.”
The claim that working in the cloud reduces costs was supported by more than one person round the table. Muller: “The cloud makes it possible to innovate and try things out faster. If they work, leave that particular application or service in place. If not, switch it off and don’t pay for it any longer.” According to Moerland, there is a danger here. “You pay per use. So you have to carefully monitor what you are actually using and really need within your organisation. If not, your costs can quickly balloon.”
Private Cloud, Public Cloud or a combination?
And then it’s time for you and your organisation to start the cloud migration process. What’s the first step? “Choosing between Private Cloud and Public Cloud”, says Richard Berkel, RISE Strategist at SAP. “And the Public Cloud does seem to have pulled ahead here. At SAP, I initially saw many organisations opting for Private Cloud. However, now there’s a definite shift towards the Public Cloud.” And this trend doesn’t surprise Moerland. “Public is the way forward. It allows organisations to grow quickly and flexibly without having to make major investments in hardware and infrastructure. In addition, the time-to-market is also significantly shorter, as new products and services can be launched faster.”
While the Public Cloud has many benefits, organisations may still have some doubts. And that’s no problem, because thanks to the hybrid cloud, you can also choose to have the best of both worlds. Berkel: “The hybrid cloud combines the benefits of both Private Cloud and Public Cloud. It gives organisations more flexibility and control over the data and applications they use.”
People are the most important thing
After choosing a cloud option, according to Muller, it’s important to focus on the people in the organisation. “The most important thing is to involve your staff in the cloud migration process. And that starts at the C-level. Then you need to move over very quickly to the rest of the organisation”, he says. “To make this happen, I advise organisations to migrate the most difficult application to the cloud first. If you succeed with that, you’ll wipe out all the scepticism.”
In short, you will succeed or fail depending on whether you have clear communication about the cloud migration process, a detailed strategy and a clear roadmap. “We hear a lot of questions from organisations about what their future will look like now”, says Moerland. “With our approach, we determine the future IT architecture based on the vision, strategy and processes of the organisation. This allows you to create a phased switch, maximising the benefits of the cloud and minimising its risks.”
Want to learn more about the Journey to the Cloud?
Curious about how your company can benefit from numerous advantages, including cost savings and improved resilience, flexibility, performance, and scalability?
Contact our expert Ron Janssen to find out more.
