When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, many businesses were faced with a choice, either have their employees work from home, or shut down business. Now, that was easier said than done as their network infrastructure and data were often tied to the hardware and software that is in-house. Many business owners knew it was time to forge ahead, and they chose to move their onsite infrastructure and systems into the cloud.
If you have paid any attention to the world over the past decade, you have heard the term “The Cloud” used constantly. On a personal level, you probably have pictures, music, and your important documents saved there so all you must do is log in and all your treasured data is accessible anywhere. For your business, the cloud is a powerful tool to keep your technology up to date, and your team up and running from anywhere, at any time.
WHY THE CLOUD
Technology
The benefits of the cloud go beyond having your data accessible from anywhere. Cloud services keep costs down and innovations up. It gives you access to new technology and software at a fraction of the cost of keeping everything on site. The cloud gives you access to innovation and cost savings from the efficiencies gained when multiple tenants share infrastructure on a larger scale. In fact, in terms of software, most are offered at a fraction of the cost on a subscription service, just like Spotify and Netflix are offered for your entertainment needs. For hardware, you no longer need to dedicate rooms to gigantic servers to store your data and infrastructure, as they are now stationed offsite, available when and where you need them. On top of all of that, think about how good you will look to investors with the reduced energy costs and carbon footprint now that you no longer need a server farm on site.
Scalability and Flexibility
Scalability is simple with proper cloud services and management. As your enterprise grows, so does your bandwidth requirements and storage needs. Cloud solutions, like those offered by Delval, give you access to high bandwidth and large storage arrays, making sure that your infrastructure needs are met as your business grows. The cloud also allows your workforce to be flexible and fluid. They can work from anywhere that has internet access. They can collaborate with ease as they can share and access documents, data, and applications in real time .
Protection
One of the main benefits of having your infrastructure in the cloud is that you get to enjoy the benefits of high availability and decreased downtime.. In the old days if a server malfunctioned or was hit with a cyber-attack, the best-case scenario was spending massive amounts of time and money to recover the system data, buy new hardware to house the data, and pray to the data gods that everything transitioned smoothly. The worst-case scenario, a total loss of your most valuable asset, your company’s data. Manually
backing up your data takes time and investing in a high-end disaster recovery plan is costly. However, with your infrastructure in the cloud, your data is backed up across multiple servers automatically, to make sure that your data and systems remain accessible, and your downtime is eliminated so you can keep operating your business and moving forward.
MIGRATING TO THE CLOUD
I’m sure you are reading this and saying to yourself “All of this sounds fantastic. If I’m going to do this, I need to do it right, and it is a bit confusing”. Think of your trip into the cloud as a journey, and just like any journey, a proper roadmap is a key factor in getting to your destination safely and in good time. Start by figuring out where you are. Are
your systems and applications compatible with the cloud? What is the cost benefit of moving to the cloud? How long will it take to get there? What needs to stay onsite,
and what is no longer needed after migration? Set your goals, be it saving money, growing your business, backing up your data or having a remote workforce.
In fact, it can be all these things. A proper Cloud Service Provider such as Delval Technology Solutions can help you answer your questions, avoid potential
pitfalls, and navigate you through them, giving you a cloud system that is right for your business.
An additional question you may be asking: Are all my licenses up to date and can they be carried over? Your cloud provider will often have current operating systems licenses available for you, but you may have to consider your 3rd party licenses for proprietary. Many companies offer subscription models allowing you to pay for licenses as needed. It is important to make sure all your licenses are both up to date and compatible to moving to a cloud system, so you remain compliant and your software remains accessible
to your team.
From there, it’s time to pick your Cloud Service Provider. Consider all your concerns, hopes and goals for your new system. Compare prices and features. Look at where they store your data, do you want a huge conglomerate that has servers across the globe, or a local solution like Delval Technology Solutions provides, so you can see where your data is backed up, and have a personal relationship with the company handling your cloud services. When you hop in a plane and fly into the clouds, you want to be as comfortable as possible, and the same goes for when you move your network into the cloud.
When it comes to moving your network to the cloud, keep in mind the phrase “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” While many companies had to rapidly migrate at the beginning of Covid-19, you may want to start small and expand as needed. Hasty decisions can cost you valuable time and money. Work with your cloud service provider and your team, be it an MSP such as Delval Technology Solutions or your in-house IT team to make sure that you are moving at a pace conducive to growth and not causing unneeded headaches and issues.
Having a backup plan ready to employ is also a key to successful navigation. Just as if you are going to visit friends and family, you have an alternate route in case of encountering accidents and road closures, you should have a contingency plan in place. As with employing any new technology, you are bound to encounter some hiccups and bumps in the road. However, by having a team that is ready, be it in house or a Cloud Service provider, you can minimize the effects of these hurdles on your business.
When choosing your provider, keep security in mind.. By teaming with a company that is known for Cloud Security, such as Delval which has been named in the Top Ten twice by Enterprise Security Magazine, you can rest easy knowing that your network can be even more secure when you move to the cloud. Your cloud security provider can also easily perform regular audits, run tests, and build layers of encryption to ensure that the only people with access to your cloud system are the people you want to access it.
Once you have all of this in place, making sure that your cloud systems are routinely maintained an audited is paramount to ensuring that your operation continues to run smoothly after migration. Think of your network as the highway. In order to keep the traffic flowing safely, securely, and efficiently, it is constantly being monitored for everything from potholes, to blockages, to new interchanges that are needed. Your cloud system is no different. You want to make sure that your in-house team or cloud service
provider is on top of your system, monitoring, patching and fixing problems of all sizes.
Remember, you never want to go into a situation where your business infrastructure is at stake without a proper guide and roadmap. By keeping these things and mind and employing the right cloud service provider, such as DelVal Technology Solutions, you have a guide through the cloud and a roadmap to follow, guaranteeing that not even the sky is the limit for your business.