Cloud technologies and services are growing in popularity as businesses require an IT framework that will grow and flex as they do. The ability to add Cloud capacity as and when required, whilst only paying for what is actually used, has changed working practices, making them more flexible and benefitting businesses.
Some businesses find the facts surrounding Cloud usage can be uncertain. So what are the factors your company should consider before moving to Cloud services?
Data security
Under the terms of the Data Protection Act (1998), your business has a duty to use all reasonable measures to prevent the personal data belonging to your customers and employees from being leaked, lost or stolen. Typically Cloud service providers employ enterprise-class security measures to keep your data safe, so your data may actually be safer in the Cloud than on your office storage, but in the event of a breach, you could still be liable for loss of data.
It is essential that you understand how responsibility for data protection is assigned, and how liability is shared between your business and any potential Cloud service provider. You should also consider data sovereignty – where in the world is the data being stored? Recent rulings have made it illegal to transfer personal data outside the EU, so if Cloud servers are hosted in the USA, your business could face a fine.
Software compatibility
Where your business plans to migrate specific applications to the Cloud, you may occasionally run into issues with compatibility. Often legacy, or bespoke, applications can be problematic when migrated to the Cloud; in very specific cases migration may not be possible because of specific hardware requirements.
It is vital to test all of your key business applications for Cloud readiness before committing to a full migration. We strongly advise talking to an expert Cloud services and IT consultancy to get advice if you’re unsure.
Changing costs outlay
Cloud software platforms are, initially, cheaper than their onsite counterparts. Businesses can move IT from capital expenditure (where software and hardware is bought outright, becoming a company asset) to operational expenditure (a basic business running cost) – the model offered by Cloud Software as a Service (SaaS) providers.
This means that costs need to be factored in as a regular subscription (possibly increasing as your company grows), but this cost of Cloud services can be well offset by the accompanying reduced running costs, bundled upgrades and built-in expert support from platform providers.
Make a successful migration with expert support
Moving IT services to the Cloud is a specialist skill, currently in high demand. You will likely find that any in-house IT team may require supporting, additional skills and experience to undertake a successful migration.
So choose a Cloud provider who offers hands-on assistance with the Cloud migration process, to ensure the move is successful. This will be money well spent, helping your business reach its IT goals efficiently.
Here at Broadband Cloud Solutions, we are experts in Cloud technologies and migration projects – give us a call and we will be happy to assess your current state of readiness, and which solutions best meet the specific needs of your business.
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