Cloud and the top 3 technology considerations for business transformation strategy

In the final instalment of this story of innovation and Cloud computing, it’s time to explore how a successful transformation strategy yields the best of both worlds -- that is to say, harnessing both Public Cloud and Private Cloud to create a fruitful Hybrid.

To arrive at this ideal state, it’s crucial to first identify the top technology considerations for a business transformation strategy that empowers IT leadership. An empowered IT team will push the boundaries of current operations, propelling forward CIOs in the process, for whom enabling innovation sits at the top of their agenda.

1. Be Cloud-Ready – to reduce IT costs and improve on business outcomes

Hybrid Cloud computing is core to IT transformation. Recent IDG research in conjunction with Dell EMC confirms this: organisations using Hybrid Cloud are three times more likely to reach digital business goals.

Essentially, a successful Hybrid strategy harnesses the power of both Public and Private Clouds to handle different workloads. Private Cloud is commercially advantageous for non-variable workloads or where maximum performance and compliance is required; Public Cloud, on the other hand, can be utilised to benefit the front-end side of operations such as transactional workloads and fast production environments which take advantage of a growing set of features. Public is therefore best used to place front-end consumer services as close as possible to the user, using a global content delivery network (CDN).

Innovative new business models are made possible by increasing Private Cloud’s flexibility, and a powerful tool for achieving this is Hyperconverged infrastructure, which many leading CIOs are already using to create more agile Private Cloud platforms - boosting their technical, operational, and commercial prowess in the process.

One reason why Hyperconverged architecture is so powerful is that it is, by nature, Cloud-ready. It’s therefore a key component for any CIO looking to create a truly Cloud-native service delivery which will speed development of the applications underpinning transformation initiatives.

2. Strive for integration – for performance as well as control and visibility

As companies build out their Hybrid Cloud strategy, it becomes of paramount importance to manage and optimise workload delivery with a common Cloud services operating model.

Hyperconverged infrastructure has software-defined components and integrated networking, both of which make it Cloud-Ready, and able to support a common, expandable Platform-as-a-Service blueprint. Customers of all sizes can expect more powerful and predictable performance for hosting a wide-range of traditional and Cloud-native applications.

The best way to really ensure integration and optimisation is the use of a Cloud Management Platform (CMP). API integrations provide the service orchestration needed to control and analyse consumption of a wide ecosystem of services. Multiple Cloud services are pre-configured ready to support new applications and business projects. For business leaders, ranging from IT to the C-suite, a CMP provides a central single-service interface, all governed and optimised through a tailorable set of controls -- in addition to providing central reporting, role-based access management and billing.

Implemented effectively, a CMP will integrate not only with existing on-premise estate, including any Public Cloud services used (such as AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform and Alibaba), but also with any future Private Cloud deployments that form part of a company’s ongoing transformation. Crucially, a trusted technology partner can also automate optimisation across multiple Clouds, and advise on future strategic decisions.

3.Enable innovation – define how, and where, to support new strategic initiatives

Human processes and data analytics are being automated more and more, and careful orchestration will be needed on the part of IT to control storage and applications service-delivery. So-called ‘augmented intelligence’ means that machine-learning at its best serves to amplify human intuition with deep analytical power for faster, smarter, and bolder discoveries - not replacing humans, but complementing them.

Meanwhile, the day-to-day operational challenges of managing legacy applications and maintaining service availability will remain obstacles to innovation. Being integrated and Cloud-ready frees up resources and enables your IT as the Cloud-native internal service provider it needs to be.

Go beyond the boundaries of traditional IT and your business will enable the best of both worlds, delivering a true Hybrid Cloud strategy for business enablement -- download our ‘Beyond Boundaries: Limitless Innovation’ report to find out more.