CLOUD SOLUTIONS
Virtualization and cloud computing provide a technically viable (and cost-effective) alternative to traditional capital-intensive IT systems and infrastructure.
The commercial and strategic impact of this alternative is significant and is transforming the way businesses view IT expenditure.
More and more, businesses are approaching IT as a consumable set of services they can integrate as needed from a range of providers.
Why Transition to Cloud?
A Cloud-First IT Strategy intentionally designed to simplify IT architecture can achieve unrivaled levels of IT infrastructure flexibility compared to traditionally complex, bespoke networks of legacy hardware and software.
Cloud technology has a number of inherent capabilities which promote infrastructure flexibility.
- Scalability
- Resiliency
- Compatability
- Connectivity
- Continuity
- Modularity
Leveraging these capabilities allows your business to be more agile and responsive to emerging IT requirements from ever-changing markets.
Other benefits include:
- Predictable operating costs
- Optimized resource utilization; and
- Reduced costs
Choosing the Right Cloud Solution
When designing a Cloud-First IT Strategy, there are a number of factors to review before arriving at a solution that is right for your business.
VirtueUk offers both project-based and contracted Strategic Consultancy engagements to help equip Board and Executive Members with the answers they need to make informed investment decisions – including whether to adopt a Cloud-First IT Strategy.
Conduct a business functions and capabilities analysis to determine your IT requirements.
- Review existing or desired applications
- Assess the readiness of each application for transition to the Cloud
- Benefits and opportunities
- Impediments, challenges, risks
Your existing infrastructure and compatibility challenges will dictate a great deal about which cloud platforms and deployment models are viable.
Reviewing the compatibility of your existing infrastructure will also help you understand if any remediation is necessary before you are able to move towards your desired Cloud Solution. This is important for the development of a realistic budget and transition timeline.
There are a number of regulations surrounding proper data storage and security.
Different applications access different data which means your various business applications will likely have different security and regulatory requirements.
The cloud service models and deployment options available to you will largely be dictated by the requirements for your suite of applications.
Your cloud solution is only as good as the network it operates on.
When examining the various mix of cloud models and deployment options available to you, it is important to review your existing networks to see if they are fit for purpose as your cloud solution design evolves.
Network remediation costs and timelines should be factored into your overall cloud strategy.
Two of the most common and effective ways of using cloud computing are for backup and disaster recovery.
Data Backup
Maintaining a set of tapes or drives, manually collecting them, and dispatching them to a backup site is time-consuming, complex, and rife with problems. The restore operation is similarly time-consuming and prone to malfunctions and human errors.
A cloud-based backup allows data to be dispatched automatically to any location and eliminates security, availability, and capacity concerns.
Disaster Recovery
Considering a cloud solution for your disaster recovery needs is not only a more cost-effective alternative to operating traditional DR sites with fixed assets but can also provide faster recovery from multiple physical locations in different geographic areas.
One of the benefits of switching to a cloud solution is the reduction in IT overhead as elements of managing your infrastructure, platform, and applications are transferred onto a cloud vendor.
However, not every element. As such, it is important to give due consideration to the utility of the platform you are considering to manage your cloud solution(s).
Having factored in all of the above, you are equipped to make a considered decision when it comes to which deployment option you will choose as well as the mix of cloud services that will make up your Cloud Solution.
Cloud Computing Service Models
Cloud vendors typically package their cloud technologies as three service models: SaaS, Paas, and IaaS.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
This is the most widely used type of cloud service. In this model, the product is application software (business applications).
The desired business applications are hosted on cloud servers, with users accessing them on their devices over the internet.
In this model, the vendor fully manages the:
- Servers
- Storage
- Networking
- Virtualisation
- Operating Systems
- Middleware
- Runtime
- Data
- Application
The vendor eliminates the burden of managing the infrastructure, platform, and application from in-house teams and service providers.
Users can access the same files and applications from any location, making SaaS ideal for remote working, and businesses that operate from multiple sites or internationally.
SaaS removes IT overhead as applications do not need to be installed on physical devices.
Microsoft O365
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
In this model, cloud providers offer businesses a cloud platform with which they can create and manage their own applications.
The cloud vendor fully manages the cloud infrastructure and platform, including:
- Servers
- Storage
- Networking
- Virtualisation
- Operating Systems
- Middleware
- Runtime
The IT burden on businesses is significantly reduced as they only need to manage their application and data.
This model allows businesses more control over the customisation of their business applications.
Microsoft Azure
Amazon AWS
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
In this model, cloud providers are offering infrastructure and platform resources.
In this model, the cloud vendor manages the infrastructure including:
- Storage
- Networking
- Virtualisation
The business manages their:
- Applications
- Data
- Runtime
- Middleware
- Operating Systems
This model offers businesses the greatest level of in-house control as it allows them to access and directly maintain most cloud resources.
Iaas is extensively automated and scalable so clients can buy server and storage resources as needed.
Microsoft Azure
Amazon AWS
Cloud Deployment Options
Cloud infrastructure can be offered in three forms. The amount of security, control, and management varies with each option.
Public Cloud
Public cloud infrastructure is owned and managed by a cloud service provider at their data centre(s). It is accessed by users via the internet.
Public clouds are open to an unlimited number of cloud tenants.
They are typical free, or pay-for-use.
Public cloud is ideal for:
- CRMs
- Email Tools (Microsoft Outlook)
- Online Office Applications (O365, Google Suite)
- Collaboration Applications
- HR Applications
Large cloud providers typically offer enterprise-level infrastructure and are always improving their protections, making them very secure.
However, public cloud offers reduced security and control compared to private cloud and hybrid cloud options meaning this option may not meet all of your regulatory compliance needs.
The public cloud infrastructure is fixed.
However, online accessibility makes this option highly flexible for sharing, collaboration, and remote working.
Private Cloud
Private cloud infrastructure can be on-site or off-premises. They can be hosted in your own data centre or a cloud service provider’s data centre.
When in a cloud service provider’s data centre, infrastructure is dedicated to your system (single tenancy).
Private clouds tend to be more expensive to deploy and maintain than public or hybrid architectures.
Private cloud is best suited for data and applications your business revolves around.
It is ideal for:
- Research and Development
- Analytics
- Supply Chain Management Systems (SCMs)
- Enterprise Resource Planning Systems (ERPs)
- Business Information Systems (BIs)
Unlike public clouds, private clouds allow you to maintain complete security and control over your stored data and applications as you are the only organisation accessing that cloud.
Private clouds can be designed to meet your specific IT needs and can be continually customized at any time making them a highly flexibly option.
Hybrid Cloud
Hybrid Cloud architecture includes a combination of private and public cloud offerings, providing the cost-efficiency of public cloud with the security and flexibility of private cloud.
They have a mix of tenant structures, and can be on-site and off-premises. They allow you to incorporate resources from your environment with those in third-party data centres.
All application types can be safely stored and accessed.
Hybrid cloud enables you to control where specific data is stored and accessed to fit your security and accessibility needs.
Hybrid cloud solutions can provide the advantages of both public and private clouds.