The cloud is spreading. Over the past decade, cloud tech has transformed from a “nice-to-have” to a “must-have.” As cloud consultants based in Victoria, BC, we are front-line viewers of this cloud technology transformation.

Steve Ranger from ZDNet says, “Tech analysts are predicting that the vast majority of new computing workloads will go straight into the cloud, and most companies will switch to a cloud-first policy in the next couple of years: total cloud spending will soon hit $500 billion.” As cloud spending increases, spending on servers and overall IT expenses for small and medium-sized businesses like yours may decline.  

Cloud computing has become a necessity for many because it provides clear, distinct advantages over alternatives. There’s no cost-effective, more efficient alternative to the cloud. Because of this, businesses are restructuring around the cloud. In other words, many businesses are now “cloud-first.”

What Does Cloud-First Mean?

Cloud-first is at the heart of your company. Everything you do with data, launching projects, and connecting with your employees and clients relies on the cloud.

Want to give specific employees access to sensitive information? You can manage and provide this access with the cloud.

Working on launching a new service that offers interactive components to your customers? You’re going to use the cloud.

Going cloud-first means the cloud becomes your assumed solution to any problem and your answer to any question involving technology. If the cloud is not part of a project, there should be a clear advantage to not using it.

Going cloud-first means the following for your business:

·        New products and services are easier and cheaper to launch

·        No (or few) servers are on-site

·        You “rent” the use of hardware and software from vendors

·        Tech costs decrease

·        Fewer tech admin roles are needed

Putting the cloud first means you trust cloud providers to oversee their servers, which host your information. Cloud providers will also handle mundane tasks and keep your data safe, secure, and accessible. Cloud providers monitoring their own servers means that your team doesn’t have to. Once you switch to a cloud-first model, your IT Manager can immediately shift their focus to other areas of your company while reducing costs.

Is Your Business Cloud-Second?

Every business moves at a different pace. If the cloud is a luxury and not a necessity yet, that’s okay. Once you make the full move to the cloud, the makeup of your team and their roles, especially within your IT team, will shift. IT administration jobs will disappear, and your tech team will shift to project managers, developers, and designers instead.

The cloud makes sense for almost every business because of the benefits it brings, but it’s a complete shift to the way your business runs, and shifts take time.

Wrapping it Up 

Going cloud-first brings distinct advantages to your organization. Your company will be leaner and more agile, roles within your IT team will transition from overseeing servers to creating new applications and solutions, and your staff will be able to connect with each other and the information and tools they need seamlessly. 

Source: https://www.zdnet.com/article/cloud-computing-has-won-but-we-still-dont-know-what-that-means/