Companies large and small have migrated to the Cloud Computing model for economic and competitive advantage. As you evaluate your options, here are some questions to ask that will help you get ready.
On-Premise vs. Cloud?
Do you have mission-critical files and applications on premise? If so, your applications and their data may be at risk. If you are in a flood zone, fire zone or area of extreme weather your systems could be in jeopardy. Cloud computing data centers consolidate infrastructure in areas that are adjacent to reliable power grids, like near hospitals and police stations. Your cloud infrastructure is likely out of harm’s way and/or reliably redundant in multiple locations.
Is Your IT Infrastructure Near End of Life?
We all try to get the most from our investments. Your Infrastructure may be at the end of a warranty period or perhaps your applications and operating systems are no longer on the current version or are no longer supported.
You may be able to squeeze a little more out of your desktops and laptops if you access your applications and data via a virtual desktop or software-as-a-service solution, provided the operating systems can be upgraded and secured. However, your on-premise servers may put your business at risk if you are relying on older hardware that is subject to failure. What’s more, this may be the weak link in your network security, inviting unauthorized users to access and infect your network.
Do your Employees Work Remotely?
Cloud computing lets you access your applications and data from anywhere, any time, in a secure manner. Many popular Cloud applications also provide optimized access from mobile devices. With the proper security, your employees can have 24/7/365 access to improve customer service, employee productivity and employee morale.
CapEx vs. OpEx?
One of the many benefits of Cloud Computing is the economic model to subscribe to computing resources and only pay for the portion you use. You may have flat-fee monthly subscriptions (based on user counts, mailboxes, data size and other attributes) that can simplify how you pay for and account for technology. Rather than making a large upfront investment in capital, you can subscribe to services and pay as an operating expense over time.
If it is time for you to migrate to the Cloud or accelerate Cloud Adoption in your company, there is no need to go it alone. Contact your trusted technology advisor for a complete assessment of your Cloud Readiness today.
