Benefits of cloud computing and how to make the most of it

Cloud-based software is hosted by an external provider responsible for system updates, maintenance, and security. Several companies or individuals share these computing resources, and all data is protected by end-to-end encryption.

The need to be competitive has increased cloud adoption. Whether a company is still migrating to the cloud or at a more mature level, it is necessary to create a solid cloud strategy to make the most of its potential. 
 

Cloud strategy

A cloud strategy outlines the role played by cloud computing within the company and establishes a unified guideline for its use, the resources required, and cost optimization. 

This strategy should be an integral component of the company's digital strategy, aimed at leveraging technology to improve business performance and gain competitive advantage. As the company's assets and objectives progress, the cloud strategy must evolve simultaneously.

All departments of a company should be part of the cloud strategy so that they are aware of what needs to be included in its definition. The greater the impact of the strategy, the more important it is to have a change management plan. This plan should accompany the transformation from start to finish, helping employees adapt to the new technologies and processes.

In addition, it is essential to ensure that the strategy is aligned with the main goals of the business and to take into account the team and skills needed to operationalize the strategy. Defining alternative scenarios and security plans to deal with unforeseen situations, such as technical, time, or financial problems, is also essential. 
 

Getting the most out of the cloud

As companies adopt the cloud, the advantages it brings them become more evident. One of the main advantages is cost reduction.

The cloud offers many possibilities for optimizing costs. In the traditional Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) model, some common strategies include reserving resources, temporary downtime outside business hours, and dynamically adapting capacity to actual load requirements.

However, adopting multiple ways of using the cloud is the best way to optimize costs in the long term. This will enable gains that go far beyond the financial side. To make the most of the benefits of the cloud, it is important to include in the roadmap for transforming applications and services the use of all the options that the cloud offers, such as:

• Serverless computing
• Microservices
• Native Platform as a Service
• Dynamic orchestration

These options enable organizations to become more agile, allowing them to explore scenarios such as adopting multiple cloud service providers, minimizing risks, and opening the door to new solutions and financial optimizations.

The application modernization strategy must be closely aligned with the cloud strategy. After all, cloud resources exist to enable the applications and services that run on it.


Want to know how cloud computing services can be strategically interesting for your company? Contact Hydra iT!