Whether enterprises are ready or not, the cloud is innovating quickly. Advancements in security, business intelligence, virtualization, and other business-relevant avenues are allowing organizations to think more freely in terms of how they want to take advantage of the cloud; opening up substantial demand for cloud-based computing resources. How will this growth determine the decisions made by your company’s administrators?
If you’re going to make a proposal to your enterprise’s administration to expand computing resources to the cloud, be sure to keep these five variables in mind, as they could be just important enough to seal the deal.
Security Advances
Network and devices security has largely been a major pain point for enterprises. With the Internet of Things (IoT) becoming a more prominent consideration for businesses, the security of computing resources becomes an even larger consideration as IoT brings with it more points of access for threat actors. While cloud computing is getting much more secure, the reduction of control administrators have over their off-site data storage makes it much more difficult for the business to manage the inherent risk that comes with moving out critical forms of data.
Organizations will have to measure risk against the potential cost saving of moving data, applications, and other core computing responsibilities into the cloud. Any cloud solution your organization chooses to implement will need to be secured from end-to-end in the same way that your in-house infrastructure is/would be, allowing your organization to manage risk and take advantage of cloud benefits.
Cognitive Computing and Business Intelligence
The more you know, the better equipped you are to make a decision. This strategy is paramount when implementing new technology solutions. Thanks to cognitive computing and business intelligence, you can leverage data to make the best decisions through analysis. When you better understand your target audience and industry, it allows you to make better decisions regarding implementation of new practices and protocol.
Since this also applies to the cloud as well, it’s up to you as the CIO to explain to the administration at your enterprise just how cloud solutions can help them attain new heights. The cloud allows for real-time analytics to be collected and analyzed for content, allowing your business to take full advantage of its data. In fact, according to InformationWeek, cloud-based data warehousing saw one of the largest increases just a few years ago in 2014, jumping from a 24% to 34% adoption rate.
Virtualization and Reduction of Hardware
Enterprises are ditching some elements of traditional in-house infrastructures in favor of virtual machines, which take advantage of the cloud to create more favorable management and maintenance conditions for their IT network. In essence, virtualization allows you to simplify your in-house infrastructure; freeing up time spent on maintenance and management for other purposes.
Solutions Review explains that virtual, cloud-based infrastructures can be centrally updated, which means that they are generally kept up-to-date more frequently than an in-house infrastructure. Besides this fact, enterprises wind up saving on energy costs AND operational costs, as server consolidation means that enterprises no longer have to underutilize the servers that they have due to conflicting operating systems or other requirements.
Increase in Blockchain and Shared Ledgers
By design, blockchain technology is great for enterprises. Blockchains and shared digital ledgers allow your enterprise to keep shared records (often financial transactions) that are updated in real time as they are changed, including who makes these changes and when they occur. CloudTech actually likens it to the way that Google Docs works compared to Microsoft Word.
Enterprises that utilize cloud-based blockchain technology are starting to crop up, and for good reason. Running in a private and secure environment, blockchain technology can allow enterprises to intimately understand their own finances, as well as learn more about how the data that they collect is used. Blockchain technology can be implemented for a myriad of different industries, including retail, automotive, banking, healthcare, and so much more.
Increase in Remote Employment
In particular, the cloud has forced C-Suite administrators to consider how their workers go about their day-to-day routines. Since the cloud allows enterprises to access important files and applications from anywhere with an Internet connection, many employers are considering the remote work option in order to provide their workers with an incentive to stick around instead of seeking out more versatile employment.
The cloud provides access to critical data and applications for enterprises that allow employees to remain productive regardless of where they work. This difference in accessibility could keep your staff from missing important deadlines, or, give administrators the ability to keep in touch with their teams in the event of an operational crisis. Plus, remote employment gives enterprises more options in regard to hiring qualified employees for specific positions, helping them dodge problems such as a local talent shortage.
Above all else, the key point to remember about cloud technology in the enterprise environment is that it allows for spectacular versatility and flexibility.
If your business wants to take full advantage of enterprise-level cloud solutions, IronEdge Group can help you implement a secure and reliable cloud platform to meet your organization’s needs. Reach out to our team today to learn more!
IronEdge Group Recognized on CRN’s 2024 MSP 500 List
Houston, Texas, February 12, 2024 — IronEdge Group is honored…
