Transitioning to a cloud Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) is a subject we hear in conversations with IT leaders a lot these days. The talk usually contains equal parts readiness and reluctance: how to balance the excitement of moving to the cloud with the dread of scrapping the status quo infrastructure? It’s a tripping point for many. But it doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing proposition.
I shed some light into the dark corners of IaaS doubt in a recent post on technology and information site, VMBlog.com.
Top takeaway: Many organizations considering a cloud transition may be best suited by considering a hybrid cloud strategy. Here are other highlights to help you get ready, set, and go down your IaaS hybrid IT path.
Ready
Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” But how do you determine the right step? First, you need to look at your current in-house, internally deployed hardware. If it’s a recent investment, it’s an ROI risk to shun perfectly capable systems. Once that assessment is made, begin your hybrid IT journey through one of three portals:
1. Geography – Move outlying, non-mission-critical regional infrastructure to the cloud
2. Department – Move departments that will have the smallest slowdown impact on business first
3. Timing – Is it time for a hardware refresh anyway? Consider the potential operational efficiencies and cost savings
Set
Look out for potential pitfalls along your hybrid IT path. It is the exclusive purview of IT leaders to understand the complete costs of a cloud migration, including disaster recovery, cloud-specific training and labor, continued data center support for internally deployed resources, and data transfer fees. Hint: Security is absolutely vital.
Go
Getting executives to buy into a move to an IaaS cloud can be a challenge, but that’s not particularly surprising once you understand the time and resources it takes to successfully pull off such a move.
I have found it beneficial for CIOs and other IT leaders to partner with CFOs or financial leaders to strategize, sell, and ultimately implement a hybrid IT strategy. On one hand, CIOs can strategize a migration that makes sense for everyday users on the ground while also explaining the business value to the CFO. Armed with this information, the CFO is in a much better position to convey the business value to a wider audience, specifically those who will ultimately make the decision to move forward.
For the full perspective on hybrid cloud benefits, read more insights in Rimini Street CTO Eric Helmer’s VMBlog.com post here.
You may also like:
• Read: IDC European Infobrief: Cloud at Your Pace: Linking Business Strategy with Cloud Strategy
• Watch: How to Compare Cloud Providers for Your Migration: AWS, Azure, and Oracle
• Solution: Expert Cloud Strategy Services