INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Cloud
Strategic partnerships can
simplify a multi-cloud strategy
C
loud migration is happening,
and millions of organisations
across the globe are seeing the
value of moving part – or all – of their
systems, services and infrastructure to the
cloud. However, in a world where fierce
competition is driving more and more
vendors to move into the cloud space,
selecting the right cloud services provider
(CSP) can be a complex endeavour.
Once you have identified your business
requirement, sifted through the pros
and cons of various cloud solutions,
and determined which services will best
benefit your business in the cloud –
something an experienced CSP should
be able to assist with – you may still find
yourself facing the challenge of finding
CSPs who can meet all of your needs.
Organisations who rely on different
services and systems often need to opt
for a multi-cloud strategy whereby they
require various X as a Service solutions
from different CSPs, or vendors. Still,
more organisations are embracing a
hybrid cloud strategy, opting to keep
critical systems and infrastructure
on-premise for a number of reasons.
The complexity of managing multiple
CSPs and vendors, from migration to
integration, can be daunting for even
the most seasoned CIO. Choosing a CSP
that leverages strategic partnerships with
a number of cloud vendors to offer – and
manage – an integrated multi-cloud
solution can help simplify this process.
“It is imperative
that you maintain
protection of your
entire ecosystem,
from cloud security
and IoT security, to
access control and
governance.”
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INTELLIGENTCIO
the various vendors, as well as ensuring
that interoperative systems are still
able to function seamlessly.
Rajan Padayachee, Head of Solutions,
Design, Projects and Portfolio,
T-Systems South Africa
The value of partnerships
Apart from the notable cloud players
such as Microsoft and Amazon, software
vendors such as SAP and Oracle are also
jumping aboard the cloud train. Each
offer unique and varied benefits; the
latter particularly useful if your business
already has entrenched ERP systems.
So how do you choose? And why should
you have to?
A CSP who partners with multiple cloud
vendors can offer your business the
ability to migrate all of your critical
business functionality to the cloud,
regardless of which services you are
looking to move there. Additionally,
partnering with these cloud vendors
requires that the CSP have sufficient
experience with their platforms and
services, assuring potential outsourcers
that they will benefit from the
knowledge and expertise that these
partnerships offer.
Seamless functionality
Spreading your services across multiple
cloud vendors can help to spread your
risk, as it reduces reliance on a single
vendor for all of your services. It can
also mean, though, that you have to
deal with the headache of managing
The ability for a CSP to manage the
integration of your various cloud
services becomes invaluable, and
ensures your business can direct
resources to more business-appropriate
tasks. It also allows you to leverage the
benefits of each of your cloud service
vendors while only having to deal with
a single point of contact – one who
understands exactly what you need to
achieve from each service.
Safe and secure
Different cloud platforms offer different
security structures, and not all of them
may be relevant for your business, or
specific to South Africa for that matter.
An overarching cloud security strategy
that takes into account your business’s
security policies, coupled with the
applicable governances, is critical.
Every touch point between cloud
platforms, on-premise systems and the
users, can put your network – and your
business – at risk. In an environment
where Internet of Things (IoT) enabled
devices are reliant on cloud infrastructure,
the risk is dramatically increased. It is
imperative that you maintain protection
of your entire ecosystem, from cloud
security and IoT security, to access
control and governance. A CSP that
can effectively manage and monitor
your cloud services, regardless of
the platforms and vendors you use,
can ensure that your services remain
protected within the confines of your
policy and standard best practice.
Cloud migration, for all of its benefits
and flexible X as a Service options, is
no walk in the park. However, it can be
relatively simple journey with a CSP who
understands your business needs and
can provide you with secure, scalable
solutions to meet all of them. n
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