Vandaag heeft 11:11 Systems, een toonaangevende aanbieder van oplossingen voor beheerde infrastructuur een belangrijk inzicht gedeeld in de manier waarop ondernemingen gebruik kunnen maken van MSP’s (managed service providers, aanbieders van beheerde diensten) als oplossing voor het tekort aan vaardigheden in cloudcomputing.
Many organisations struggle to take advantage of cloud technology because they lack the necessary expertise. MSPs have the specific knowledge and experience to help businesses achieve their business goals using the cloud.
Sam Woodcock, Senior Director of Cloud Strategy and Enablement at 11:11 Systems, said: “For organisations that are always looking to leverage the latest technology to gain a competitive edge, public cloud computing is at the top of the wish list for most decision makers. The feasibility and cost-effectiveness, combined with the ability to outsource traditional infrastructure management to third parties, offers numerous benefits to businesses across a range of industries.”
“Migrating an entire organisation’s data and workflows to a public cloud is a huge and complicated task and it’s hard to even know where to start,” he continued. This is also heavily impacted by a lack of technical skills, an issue that is affecting the entire industry and has been a hot topic of discussion in recent years. The core issue is that the industry is short of skilled workers, potentially limiting business growth. This is particularly true in areas where highly specialized knowledge is required, such as cybersecurity and migrating data to the cloud.”
“Of course, the skills gap is not a problem that any one organization can solve alone, but for companies looking to move their data to a public cloud and lacking the necessary skills, partnering with a specialist is the answer,” Woodcock said.
Data Security and Compliance
One of the biggest concerns for businesses when considering migrating to the cloud is the issue of securing data that is critical to their operations. Unsecured networks can lead to data breaches, whether that’s the result of a malicious attack by an actor or an unfortunate mistake by an employee. A data breach can have far-reaching consequences for a business, ranging from lost revenue to the costs of remediation and associated downtime, to the loss of customer and partner trust. It comes as no surprise that policymakers are wary of moving their data from an internal server to an external server in the public cloud.
Additionally, many businesses must adhere to strict industry standards regarding data security, particularly in highly regulated industries such as healthcare and finance. Businesses need to be aware of and understand these regulations, including DORA (Digital Operational Resilience Act), NIS2 and GDPR, and how to apply them when considering cloud migration. For global businesses, this can be even more complicated, as different regions often have their own unique standards and requirements.
Sam recommends assessing these risks, working with a cloud service provider to understand how to configure the chosen public cloud to ensure the right cybersecurity protocols are in place to protect corporate data. “Service providers can lend their specific expertise to achieve this, particularly as most organisations are unlikely to have this knowledge in-house. A third-party cloud provider will also be familiar with all relevant industry regulations and ensure the platform is compliant,” he says.
Integrating Legacy Systems
Another key issue that can make decision makers reluctant to migrate critical workflows to the cloud is the integration of legacy systems into the new network. Many critical business applications predate cloud technology and were therefore not designed to operate in a cloud environment. These systems, which are often vital to the organization, will likely require significant modification to make them compatible with the new environment. Furthermore, migrating these applications can result in downtime if the transition is not properly planned and executed.
“It is therefore essential to work with a cloud partner to ensure that legacy applications are configured correctly for the new cloud environment,” says Woodcock. “The cloud service provider can fully review the current IT infrastructure and determine which systems can be easily migrated and which will need to be modified, and also know how to reconfigure them. A cloud partner can also develop a plan for the best way to execute the migration to minimize downtime and ensure the new cloud environment is tailored to the organization’s needs.”
Cost Management
Cost-effectiveness is one of the key benefits of cloud computing and one of the main reasons why executives are interested in its adoption. The fact that companies only pay for the assets they use and do not have to invest in infrastructure can significantly improve long-term costs. However, in the short term, and particularly around migration, companies can face unexpected expenses. This can be due to a variety of factors, including poor planning, unforeseen disruptions or the need for additional resources. It is also essential that the organization understands public cloud pricing structures, which can be extremely complex and vary between providers. Migrating to the cloud without any understanding of what the company will be paying can lead to overspending on duplicate or underused services.
“This is another area where engaging a cloud partner can make for a much smoother migration,” Woodcock argues. A cloud partner understands the pricing structure of each public cloud and, after a thorough cost analysis of the migration plan, can ensure that the company only pays for the services it needs. The partner is able to determine usage prior to migration, estimate future needs and choose the right service model for the organization.
Performance Optimization and Monitoring
While the actual migration is the most complex part of the process, it is essential that companies take the right steps after migration, primarily performance monitoring and optimization. After migration, organizations could face issues with latency, bandwidth or resource allocation. No matter how comprehensive the migration plan, there are always unforeseen situations that can only be identified once the system is up and running.
Without a cloud partner, it can be difficult for organizations that lack the in-house expertise to identify and address these challenges, according to Woodcock. “Working with a specialist who can monitor the proper functioning of cloud-based systems and identify performance bottlenecks can help ensure the best results after a successful migration to the cloud.”
Cloud migration presents a significant opportunity for businesses and can become the backbone of a modernisation or digital transformation strategy. It is therefore imperative that organisations have the right knowledge at their disposal to ensure the process is as smooth as possible and that the benefits of the cloud are maximised.
Given the lack of cyber skills, which leads to a shortage of in-house knowledge and experience, a relationship with a cloud partner who can fill these gaps is the best way to achieve a successful cloud migration without any headaches.
About 11:11 Systems
11:11 Systems is a managed infrastructure solutions provider, enabling customers to modernise, protect and manage their business-critical applications and data using 11:11’s robust cloud platform. For more information, visit www.1111Systems.com.
Contact
Destiny Gillbee
11-11systems@c8consulting.co.uk
