Undoubtedly, cloud computing is one of the hottest topics in business technology. But it’s not just hype – the technology has real economic potential to create $3 trillion in global value by 2030, according to McKinsey research. But achieving that value will require thoughtful planning and effective implementation by IT teams working together with business leaders to identify how cloud capabilities can help achieve their goals.
The first step is to assess and optimize existing in-house systems and applications for the cloud, which is often easier than rewriting code. Next, decide where to deploy workloads in a multicloud setting, using business use cases and skills as guides. For example, a healthcare company might want to host its sensitive data in a private cloud environment and test new mobile apps for customer service in a public one.
Finally, determine how to move the right data into a cloud environment with minimal disruption and cost. This could be a process called lift and shift, where the business migrates existing in-house systems and applications to a cloud-based platform, allowing them to run alongside newer technologies. Or, it may be a more radical approach that moves the entire infrastructure and applications into the cloud.
Regardless of the path chosen, it’s important to consider the best way to manage cloud resources to minimize security risks. This includes choosing a trusted cloud provider with the proper accreditations, and establishing clear ownership of security for the organization’s data in the cloud.