Five Steps to Getting Started with Cloud Computing

Today, if you’re not managing most of your business on the cloud, you could be missing out on a valuable opportunity to save money, improve efficiencies and boost the level of customer support you’re able to provide. Why? Manual legacy systems are not only bulky. They’re also difficult to accurately maintain, spread data over myriad locations and departments and leave plenty of room for human error. As such, it comes as no surprise that 96% of organizations now utilize a cloud-based model in one way or another.

If you’re still operating with dated software, cumbersome file folders and manual trouble tickets, you might be wondering what all of the fuss about the cloud is about. You might also be curious as to how you can begin to implement such solutions within your own business infrastructure. Let’s take a look at five steps that you can take today to get started.

1. Know which cloud computing model you need.

Run an online search for cloud computing solutions, and you’ll be presented with a host of solutions from various software providers. Yet, not all are created equal and not all operate on the same platform. To better understand this, let’s discuss the 4 types of clouds in a high-level overview.

First, there’s the private cloud. This creates an on-demand virtualized infrastructure that mimics the setup you have within your own premises. It may exist on-site or off-site and is ideal for single organizations with multiple business units. The public cloud moves all of your infrastructure to an off-site facility managed by the cloud vendor. What sets it apart is that it’s available for open use by the public, as its name implies.

A community cloud setup is an infrastructure that is shared by consumers of multiple organizations or entities that have a shared interest or concern. A hybrid cloud is combination of two or more of the aforementioned infrastructure types. Each is a unique entity but all are connected by technology that enables seamless data transfer. Do your research beforehand to understand which model is a good fit for your organization.

2. Determine which applications you need to automate.

The key to making cloud computing work for you is to first determine which processes you need to automate and why. Not every manual task, for instance, will benefit from moving to the cloud and blindly adopting a whole-cloud policy could end up compromising your efforts in some instances.

Take an inventory of all of your current applications. Then, assess and analyze each one to determine if the cloud is an appropriate fit for it. If there are stringent security restrictions, for instance, it might not work in the cloud, where it could be more susceptible to data theft. On the other hand, if you’re working with hardware or software that’s about to expire, or if you anticipate growth in one sector, those operations may be perfect fits for the cloud.

3. Perform a test.

Using one of the applications you deemed a solid fit for the cloud, run a test to see how the new operating model will work, how employees react and if efficiencies are truly gained. For optimal results, select an application that is integral to business success so you can determine its effectiveness, yet refrain from picking one that is so mission-critical your organization could be compromised if it doesn’t work.

4. Make a migration plan.

As with any business change, it’s important to document every step of your journey toward migration to the cloud. Before you begin to move over any application, sit down with your core teams, including your C-suite, tech support, software developers and more, to determine the best course of action. Your migration plan should include your business case for making the shift in the first place, the benefits you expect to experience, how users will be impacted, and a disaster recovery plan in the event that data loss occurs.

You’ll also want to include details on how you will track and analyze the performance of the cloud model moving forward, as well as plans to perform any routine updates or maintenance.

5. Complete the migration process.

Once you have all of your documentation in place, it’s time to perform the migration. Make sure you allow enough time for the process to ensure adequate time for testing and review and try to schedule it during a time that your teams don’t need 24/7 access to data. This will help reduce downtime and ensure against productivity loss. Make sure your technical support team is on board and available to help if you run into any issues before, during or after the transition.

Once the migration is complete, you’re ready to start reaping the benefits of the cloud! Taking the time to do your homework beforehand and ensure all of your steps and stakeholders are in place is critical to a seamless and successful transition. Once those essential items are in place, you’re on your way toward an improved, more effective business model.