Cloud Computing is a commonly-used term, but the concept has been in the works for decades. In recent decades, cloud has come into its own as a powerful mode of computing used for businesses large, medium and small. Read on to learn about current and future trends in cloud computing.

A Brief History of the Cloud

CompTIA gives a brief history of the development of the cloud in an article about cloud trends. The first vision of the cloud, in the 1960s, was put forth by MIT Professor John McCarthy. Cloud computing would offer computing as a public utility, each subscriber paying only for what they use. In the next ten years, machines were linked to a host machine. Internet protocol had proved itself late in the 1970s, and by the 1980s, many more computers were connected to the Internet. By the 1990s, mobile devices became part of the landscape, and were able to access the Internet remotely. The code that helped Amazon to provide its online marketplace led to developing the model cloud. Cloud continued progressing to the point of “powering business operations in some form for nearly every organization.” 

The Present State of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is currently experiencing widespread demand, and focusing on efficiency. Edge computing, which may have a major role in the future, is currently decreasing latency (the time it takes for data to travel from its point of energy to its destination, and back again). Organizations can expand their capabilities and retain functionality across locations; this could be vital for Unified Communications. The “anything as a service” (XaaS) model provides multiple services that businesses need to make processes efficient. Desktop as a Service is part of this, providing a virtual desktop that users can access via the Internet. The back-end infrastructure and software are handled by the cloud provider. With remote work still popular, DaaS is still in demand. Artificial intelligence is still part of the picture, automating processes and increasing personalization. Deploying multiple cloud environments, either through multi-cloud or hybrid-cloud can help keep systems running when user demand is high; a backup cloud can take on workloads from other clouds that become overwhelmed. 

Future Trends in Cloud Computing

Efficiency will continue to be a desired goal in the future. Cloud automation’s role is to eliminate the need for humans to complete rote tasks, allowing systems to run more efficiently. Automation will also help businesses tie together cloud technologies to enhance efficiency. Edge computing will cut down on the use of data centers; instead, data will be handled on peripheral devices. Cloud computing, with its vast data stores, will give quantum computing the power it needs to operate. The cloud will also support artificial intelligence (AI) giving it the vast stores of data it needs for its models. In turn, AI will help with automation of cloud services. 

Exciting developments are in the future, though they can be overwhelming. To learn how to capitalize on upcoming trends, contact your trusted technology advisor today. 

Cloud computing, with its many benefits and options, is here to stay. Its popularity continues to grow each year. Read on to learn how cloud offerings will benefit your company, and how to know which offerings to choose.

Trends in Cloud Computing

Cloud computing, and the spending on it, continues to grow. An article from CompTIA predicted that spending on Software as a Service (SaaS) will reach more than $145 billion in 2022. Interestingly, many businesses show an appetite for public cloud computing. Benefits of cloud computing in general, are the ability to access computing resources over the Internet; infrastructure management by the cloud service provider (CSP) removing the necessity for on-premise infrastructure; the ability to scale resources for varying demand; and the ability to manage costs using a subscription model. Public cloud computing offers these benefits, along with numerous data centers. If one center goes offline, another will pick up the traffic.  The rise in demand for public cloud services also offers opportunities for managed service providers to transition to provide more of those services; with this opportunity for growth will come the need for retraining of staff to provide such services.

Considerations in Choosing a Cloud Deployment

With its benefits, deployment options, and delivery models, cloud computing requires considerations before adoption. When choosing a deployment option, consider your company’s needs before choosing. Public cloud is shared by multiple tenants, and careful attention needs to be paid to security. Since public cloud is expected to be popular, according to CompTIA, security will need to be a key consideration. Additionally, trends predict a change in focus from device security to habits of end users. This brings up the need for training (or retraining) in policies and best practices in cybersecurity. Breaches are still expected to occur, though training hopefully minimizes cyber attacks and the resulting damage. 

Options for Cloud Deployment

There are many options allowing your business to take full advantage of the Cloud.  Desktop as a Service (DaaS) provides remote employees access to a reliable, secure computing environment with access to critical applications from multiple locations or while working from home.  Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) lifts workloads, such as legacy applications, to the Cloud for “work from anywhere” access.  Many Software as a Service (SaaS) applications can modernize your business with the latest functionality for most business processes.

Whichever cloud options you choose, your company will need to evaluate how well it meets your needs. For assistance in choosing the best cloud option for your business, contact us today. 

Cloud computing, with its benefits, considerations and even risks, can be a way to transform your business. When considering your cloud strategy, it must aid and advance your business strategy with its mission, values and goals. Read on to learn more about developing a cloud strategy tailored to your business strategy.

Business Strategy Determines Cloud Strategy

Now might be a good time to closely review your business strategy, and what you hope to accomplish in the coming year. Do you plan to have workers continue remote work, for example? Then you might need to extend access to more people, which brings up bandwidth and security concerns. According to an article from Gartner, your cloud strategy “needs to align with and actively support [your] organization’s business strategy, regardless of whether your organization provides consumer services, business services, or other products.”  Broad categories of considerations include:

• Risks associated with cloud computing–agility, availability, supply chain, security and compliance. Also, having a clear exit strategy (or even more than one) before committing to any project, can help you reach balanced cloud deployment strategies. Some risks may pertain more to certain industries (security risks may be the most important consideration for healthcare organizations in protecting patient data, for example).
• Route and approach to the cloud. Will your business opt for moving all applications to the cloud, or rehosting some and completely rebuilding others? And what sort of platform is the best fit, whether Software as a Service (SaaS) for rapid access or adoption of cloud infrastructure for building new functions? What will your business do about migrating current and legacy applications? 
• Whether your business is aiming for cost savings with the cloud. Cloud, even with its benefits of flexible subscription models, and capacity for speed and innovation may cost more in the short run, especially if taking the rebuilding route to cloud adoption. 
• Understanding of shared responsibilities between the customer organization and cloud service provider (CSP). 
• How adopting cloud, at whatever level, will change your IT department. New skills and certifications for staff may be needed. 

Cloud adoption–even complete digital transformation–brings with it risks and questions that must be balanced with its benefits. For help in reviewing your business strategy and developing your cloud strategy, contact us today.

While many businesses have already adopted cloud computing to a certain extent, others are still new to the technology. Whether your business is using cloud computing already, or is considering a move, it’s never too soon to develop a strong strategy. Read on to learn more about developing a strategy to guide your business in considering cloud computing.

Strategy, Then Implementation

A key feature of a cloud strategy is that it addresses why a company might move some or all of its operations to the cloud. According to a report by Gartner, “a cloud strategy explores and defines the role that cloud computing should play in an organization.” Formulating a strategy is a task of the entire organization, not simply the IT department. Departments such as human resources, legal and finance can provide valuable input, since they will use the computing resources that the cloud can provide.

A company that has already moved some of its data and applications to the cloud can also develop a strategy moving forward. It’s easy to assume that if a business has moved to the cloud, it’s too late to develop a strategy. Quite the contrary, a strategy can help refine a company’s motivation for adopting cloud technology, based on lessons already learned. Strategists can examine how the cloud has benefited the business so far, meeting its needs (conforming to data regulations, for instance). Along with accomplishments, it gives a business  the opportunity to correct any mistakes going forward. Once a strategy has been formulated, then implementation (including choosing a provider and a cloud environment) can begin.

Contingency Plans as Part of Your Cloud Strategy

It may seem odd to consider an exit strategy at the starting point, but developing an exit strategy makes sense. An exit strategy outlines contingency plans, what to do in case of the unexpected. For instance, what if something happens to the data center that your cloud service provider uses, or if you need or want to change providers. An exit strategy entails more than simply ending a service level agreement (SLA); it also affects what happens with your data. Is it portable, as well as secure? Another option is scaling back, instead of exiting entirely. These are issues to consider in developing a strategy.

Before implementing cloud computing, and choosing a provider or cloud environment, consider the overall needs and goals of your business. For assistance in developing a strategy, contact us today.

Cloud computing is now a common way for small to medium-size businesses to provision computing resources for flexible, cost-effective results. Read on to learn about how one cloud model–Infrastructure as a Service or IaaS–can help your business manage spend and maximize results. 

IaaS Provides Flexibility

According to Gartner, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is a standardized, highly automated offering, wherein computing resources, complemented by storage and networking capabilities are owned by a service provider and offered to the customer on demand. With the infrastructure owned and managed by the cloud service provider, the business using the resources no longer needs to maintain infrastructure on-premises. The business can let the provider do the work of maintenance and updating, which converts a capital expense to an operating expense paid on a monthly or annual basis. In an IaaS model, a company can purchase extra resources for experimental technical initiatives, then scale back when needed. On-site infrastructure is available, to which new applications can be added.

What to Consider Before Adopting IaaS

Infrastructure as a Service, with its many benefits, still needs to be evaluated according to business needs. Some companies such as health care organizations are subject to compliance with HIPAA and HITrust, and will need a private cloud environment. Encryption of health-care data is vital, when it is in motion (as in the case of a telehealth appointment) or at rest. IaaS offers the most control for health-care organizations, including the ability for IT admins to modify how data is handled and stored. While some organizations might need to spend more for this level of security, maintaining security and compliance is worth the extra spend. Organizations need to examine their budget to make sure they can handle the expenditure for trained staff as well as increased data storage. 

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) provides the benefits of cloud computing while eliminating the need for control and management of on-site infrastructure, in many cases. To evaluate your business’ readiness for IaaS, contact us today. 

Cloud computing, once an emerging technology, is now common, and is proving valuable in this time of remote work resulting from the COVID-19 quarantine. To access data and applications, all that is needed is a computer and an Internet connection. Each type of cloud environment–public, private, and hybrid–comes with its own benefits and considerations. Read on to learn more about what each offers, and to consider which is best for your business. 

Benefits and Considerations of Public and Private Cloud Environments 

While all cloud environments have benefits, your business’ needs will impact which one you choose. Public cloud, often used by businesses, schools, and government organizations, is the least expensive, and is easily accessible. All that’s needed is a computer with access to the Internet. Public cloud, like other cloud environments, is flexible and easily scalable, depending on how much demand your business receives. A consideration is sharing computing resources with other entities, and how much bandwidth is available. Another question to ask your IT professional is security of data during migration to the public cloud, and once it resides there. Private cloud environments, in contrast, can help a company keep its data and applications secure, since the public cloud environment is used exclusively by one organization. For organizations needing to follow data-protection regulations, they might ask about private cloud. Private cloud has the same flexibility as public, with added security. 

Considering a Hybrid Cloud Environment 

A hybrid cloud environment is a combination of on-premise, third-party, public cloud and private cloud, with some infrastructure owned and used by a business, and some owned by a cloud service provider. A company might consider hybrid cloud if it wishes to have some infrastructure onsite for failover in case an off-site data center experiences an outage. If a ransomware attack occurs, locally stored data can be accessed easily. One advantage of off-site resources is access to new features not available on a legacy system. Another consideration for use of hybrid cloud includes the health of your network;is it strong enough to keep from developing bandwidth bottlenecks resulting in loss of productivity? 

For assistance with determining your ideal cloud environment, or looking at a new way of using the cloud, contact us today. 

In little more than a decade, cloud computing has changed from a cutting-edge technology to a well-established part of the IT function in many businesses. Cloud computing offers the benefits of cost savings and access to new technology. Read on about what cloud computing can do for your business, as well as what to consider before migrating to the cloud.

The Growth of Cloud Computing

According to a report published by CompTIA in 2018, 81% of companies say that operating in the cloud has had at least a moderate, if not outstanding, effect on their automation efforts. Even though the hype over cloud computing has decreased, this mode of computing is still a key feature of IT planning in most companies. The IDC expects that cloud spending will reach $162 billion dollars by 2020. And more and more IT spending in companies is cloud-based.

The Benefits of Cloud Computing

A key benefit of Cloud Computing is providing new tools companies can use to grow their business. One such tool is desktop as a service (DaaS), a utility often included in Cloud services. Other commonly used applications are VoIP, Call Center and Cloud backup of data. Since companies can move their data and more routine operations like VoIP, call center and data backup to the cloud, they can focus on strategies for long-term growth and explore new prospects for business growth. For IT workers, the prospect of job loss lessens, since they can learn new skills and expand their roles. Finally, migrating to the cloud can help reduce costs by changing capital expense—perhaps in the form of aging infrastructure—to operating expense. But even with all the benefits of cloud computing, certain factors need to be considered before migration.

What to Consider Before Choosing the Cloud

When your company is considering migrating to the cloud, first consider whether public or private cloud is right for your business. If your company is subject to regulations such as HIPAA, a private cloud solution may be right for you. If you are migrating to a public or hybrid cloud, ask the potential provider about the security of their datacenter. Also consider, data centers near reliable power grids are the least vulnerable. If you have employees working remotely, make sure they know proper security procedures. Other options for your company may be using virtual desktop for applications or software-as-a-service to get life out of aging infrastructure.

To learn about the benefits of moving to the cloud as well as what to consider when choosing a cloud service provider, contact your technology advisor today.