of certain line-of-business applications, like QuickBooks, or make other technical accommodations.
• Compliance issues — Many cloud providers won ’ t specify where your protected data is stored. This could pose compliance issues for businesses that have to follow specific regulations for data security and control, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or Sarbanes-Oxley.
• Lack of control — Cloud providers configure solutions to follow standardized best practices for the majority of users — you may not be able to tweak applications to meet your specific needs.
Migrating Your Business to the Cloud
The pros and cons listed above are fairly universal to every cloud-based set up, and you should evaluate them carefully in terms of your specific business needs before deciding whether cloud computing is right for you. If the answer is “ yes,” then you will need to decide what type of cloud environment you want to use, develop a plan for making the switch, and evaluate your cloud service options.
Types of Cloud Environments
First, understand that there is no “ one way ” to use cloud computing. Some businesses use a pure cloud setup. All their business applications and data are placed in the cloud and accessible by laptops, desktops, tablets, and phones via the internet. This is a good solution for small or mobile businesses, since they often have a dispersed workforce or lack a primary office location.
Other businesses use a hybrid cloud arrangement where certain parts of their existing IT infrastructure ( for example, storage and email ) are in the cloud, while the rest stays on premises. A hybrid cloud limits the risks of cloud use to a smaller part of your environment. An improperly designed hybrid setup, however, can have issues with speed, performance, and security.
Another consideration is whether to go with a public or private cloud service. A public cloud is hosted on shared resources that, while secure, can be used by anyone with internet access. These types of cloud resources tend to be more common or universal products and are often cheaper to use. A private cloud is set up specifically for your company or organization; therefore, it offers you a more tailored solution.
The type of cloud environment you choose will be based on what works best for your business and your data security preferences.
Transition Planning The migration to a cloud solution should be just like any other migration; you must plan carefully to ensure that it goes well and the inevitable “ kinks ” can be ironed out quickly. Your plan should address a number of important questions, including:
• How will I avoid or prevent extended downtime of the network?
• Will I run my network in a test environment to check performance before making the full migration?
• How can I test to make sure that all my applications ( cloud and resident ) will interoperate correctly?
• How will my graphics programs ( such as CAD, GIS and InDesign ) work when using the cloud? Do I have a strategy to address these needs?
As a firm with over 25 years of experience advising companies on technology solutions, we ’ ve heard these and many more questions about cloud computing ’ s reliability, security, and equipment requirements. For example, many clients wonder how they ’ ll be able to work if their internet connection goes down. We recommend a backup internet connection to your main office, enabling your mobile workforce to securely access the system from anywhere. Another frequent question is whether a client needs to purchase new hardware to move to the cloud. The answer is no. That ’ s one of the benefits of cloud computing. The computing power is in the cloud, so you don ’ t need expensive equipment. You can use older workstations, laptops, and servers or buy less expensive workstations and laptops, giving you more return on your investment. Addressing questions like these at the planning stage will help you anticipate your needs and budget accordingly.
Choosing a Cloud Service Provider
While choosing the right cloud provider will depend in large part on your business needs and preferences, some basic areas for comparing your options are security, documentation, and staffing.
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The computing power is in the cloud, so you don ’ t need expensive equipment. You can use older workstations, laptops, and servers or buy less expensive workstations and laptops, giving you more return on your investment.
NOVEMBER 2016 | 23 |