Dec

7 Steps to Achieving Success with your Cloud Deployment

Cloud Success Factors

Cloud is only getting better and so are the businesses that have adopted it. The once skeptical CTO’s are now vouching for it as they experience increased productivity, reduced costs and agility in their business functions.

Cloud services are being across a wide range of industries and from HR to ERP everything can be run from the cloud. More and more cloud based services and SaaS solutions are being introduced which only makes the case of cloud more strong.

When you consider moving over to a cloud solution there are certain thing which you must do which would allow you to reap maximum benefits from your cloud.

Find out what will go on the Cloud

The uses of cloud are many and it is being used for lot of function and in different industries. Before seeking a cloud solution you need to identify which systems and business function you can migrate to the cloud. This would provide you a better understanding of which cloud solution you should opt for.

Choose the right Cloud Web Hosting Service Model

There various models of cloud and the uses and benefits are also different from another. While a Public Cloud is available to all and is shared by lot of users, whereas a Private Cloud is deployed on premise of the business and is solely for the use of the business owner and employees only. A Private cloud is relatively secure as the company has control of it. Then there is Hybrid Cloud which is a combination of Public and Private Cloud and provides the best of both to business that need agility and control.

Estimate the Savings

If you are directly deploying a cloud solution then you can estimate the cost against the hardware which you would otherwise purchase. However, when you replace your traditional hardware you need to estimate its cost and the amount of savings you would make in the long term by moving to the cloud.

Have an SLA

There are instances of service disruption and even though it may not always be the provides fault you would suffer. So it is essential that you have a Service Level Agreement with your cloud vendor which clearly outlines what is covered in the service and what level of performance you can expect. The SLA would also include details about issues and what would be done in such cases.

Establish Internal Usage Policies

While a public cloud makes it easier to remotely access data and transfer data in and out simply over the web, this makes it more difficult to regulate data use and track usage. In order to have good control on the organizational data it is essential that internal data use policies are establish which clearly outline how the data can be used. This would make people aware of what they are not supposed to do and reduce chances of data leaks.

Monitor Use

The monitoring of cloud is not only limited to deployment and one must constantly monitor the usage as well. Having a preventive maintenance approach would allow you to spot discrepancies, if any, well in advance and avoid future issues. It would also allow you to keep the processes in line with your business objectives and achieve maximum efficiency.

Keep abreast with new Developments

Unlike traditional hardware which was not possible to upgrade, you can easily update your SaaS solution as the changes can be made over the entire network with ease and you can benefit from the latest updates with little effort. Using the latest iterations of your application also means that you do not have outdated version which may be vulnerable to any security exploitation.

Although Cloud as a whole is capable of providing all that it promises, however, making sure everything is in place and you get what you expect from it requires effort and these points guide you achieve the same.

Resources: