What is cloud enablement? It’s a term that gets thrown around a lot in tech circles. But if you’re not already taking advantage of it, it seems sort of vague and mysterious.
You already know what cloud computing is. You most likely use it personally, if not professionally. And enablement seems clear enough on its own, but what is really involved when someone offers you cloud enablement services?
To better explain cloud enablement, first we are going to explain cloud (and its potential benefits and roadblocks). This will make the enablement part much more clear.
The Benefits of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing refers to the practice of moving data and applications online. Instead of storing your information on servers in your office, you store and access them using the internet, which comes with an array of benefits. Here are some of the most important benefits of cloud:
Cost Savings
- No need to purchase or upgrade hardware
- Software upgrades are part of a predictable OpEx pricing model
- Lowers your IT budget
Availability
- Data can be accessed from anywhere
- Uptime is guaranteed by your provider
- Staff in different locations can collaborate in real-time
Disaster Recovery
- Eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site backups
- Data and applications are still available from alternate locations if your office is compromised
Scalability
- Storage capacity is virtually unlimited
- Rapidly scale up capacity to meet rising demand
- Scale down as needed so you only pay for what you use
Security
- Data is protected 24/7 by experts on the latest threats
- Your data is secure even if your premises are not
- Cloud providers monitor for new threats or vulnerabilities
Companies that have already transitioned to the cloud are seeing a particular benefit right now as the world faces a pandemic and businesses struggle to adapt to lockdowns and social distancing rules. New work-from-home (WFH) policies are much more easily implemented when your data is already available remotely and no one is required to head into the office to maintain on-premise servers.
While the idea of moving business-critical data and applications seemed risky and frightening when cloud computing first appeared, it quickly became clear that the benefits of cloud enablement far outweighed the risks.
Challenges That Come With Cloud
OK, if cloud is so great, why isn’t everyone using it?
No matter how great a technological solution is, it can still be challenging to adopt at first. Change always comes with a few roadblocks — even if that change is for the better. Let’s look at a few of the most common perceived roadblocks to cloud adoption.
Selection
There are multiple types of cloud. Which do you need: Public? Private? Hybrid? How do you know what’s best for you?
Upfront Effort
A transition doesn’t come without cost. You’ll need to get everything set up to suit your needs and possibly train your staff to use it or expand your monthly bandwidth.
Downtime
It’s every prospective cloud user’s worst nightmare. Having everything online seems great until your connection fails. What happens then?
Security
Putting your business-critical data and applications in someone else’s hands is a daunting prospect. How can you know it will be kept safe and secure?
Those look like some pretty serious roadblocks. Depending on the size, scope, and nature of your business, even one of those might be enough to put you off. After all, you’re not a cloud expert. How can you be sure this is the right choice for your business? That’s where cloud enablement comes in.
So What is Cloud Enablement?
The benefits of a move to the cloud are appealing, but the challenges are daunting. A cloud transition can be complex and costly if it’s not done right. You need the right expertise and tools to successfully adopt a cloud computing strategy. You need cloud enablement.
Cloud enablement is the process of:
- Assessing your organization’s cloud needs
- Planning a cloud solution that will meet those needs
- Building your cloud solution
- Deploying your cloud solution
But you’re not a cloud expert.
And if you’re still only considering a move to the cloud, you probably don’t have a cloud expert in-house. So where do you start with cloud enablement? The answer is simple: you find a partner you can trust. Someone who will get to know your organization and its requirements and help you develop, build, and implement a cloud solution.
At AISN, we’ve made it our business to simplify cloud enablement for companies whose needs are too complex to make the move themselves. We’ll work with you to make sure your cloud solution is everything you need it to be: reliable, secure, compliant, and most of all, an investment from which you benefit. Contact us today to discuss what we can do for you.
