Ten questions every IT manager should ask when developing a cloud strategy

1. What do I want to achieve with the cloud? 

The "why question" is the first one IT managers should ask when moving to the cloud. What business purpose does cloud adoption serve? Perhaps you are striving more for flexibility and scalability. But the main reasons for choosing cloud computing might be to increase your innovative power or make IT savings. Linking your wants and needs in the cloud to a specific business model will give you more insight into the benefits the cloud has for your business operations. 

2. What is my organisation's current IT infrastructure and how can I integrate the cloud?

Even if you are still in the early stages of your cloud journey, you have an existing IT infrastructure already. You must (get to) know it well to determine how best to integrate the cloud in your IT landscape. How much and what hardware and software does your organisation currently have in use? Which systems will run in the cloud and which won’t? And is your current IT infrastructure suitable for moving to the cloud at all? 

3. Which business processes can you migrate to the cloud and which not?

Not all business processes, systems and applications are best suited to the cloud. Consider, for example, static and non-scalable applications, large production databases and certain specific, internal business processes. So you have to weigh whether migration to the cloud adds value to your business and internal workflows, process by process and system by system. In addition, it is important to map out accurately how to keep business processes running smoothly after the move to the cloud prior to migration. 

4. How do I secure my data in the cloud and what are the risks of data loss? 

A solid, modern and future-proof security policy is of great importance at a time when cybercrime keeps growing. What security measures are needed to protect data in the cloud? And what are the risks of data loss for your organisation? Consider, for example, high fines and reputational damage. And how do you set up the cloud to comply with all the data and privacy protection laws and regulations?

Things like role-based access control (RBAC), good antivirus software, a powerful platform for cyber threat management, private connections to the cloud and a private cloud for storing privacy-sensitive and business-critical data: these are examples of measures and tools that (certainly when combined) take the security of your cloud environment to a higher level. 

5. How do I choose the right cloud provider for my organisation? 

To get the most out of the cloud, it's important to choose a cloud provider that matches your organisation. Therefore, ask yourself what are the most important factors involved in choosing. Consider, for example, the breadth of service offerings, a provider's track record or the support you can expect. In addition, it can be a plus when a cloud provider is well experienced in your industry.

Comparing the performance of different cloud providers often gives you a good idea of what they have to offer. Do this, for example, by comparing propositions side by side, reading up on them and consulting reviews of other companies' experiences with a cloud provider.

6. How do I ensure cost optimisation when using cloud services?

With scalability and paying only for what you use, the cloud allows you to set up your IT landscape more cost-effectively. However, this also brings a challenge, especially as there are so many knobs to turn in the cloud. Where IT was a fixed cost in the past, the cloud costs are variable. For example, employees can create additional accounts or activate resources themselves. Controlling these costs requires a different way of managing and impacts on the entire organisation.  

Think of the cloud as a candy or toy store: the pleasure and goodies are virtually limitless. Browsing the shelves without limits or prioritisation saddles you with a sky-high bill at the checkout. An IT manager will therefore need to consider how to keep the cost of cloud services manageable and possibly minimal. Fortunately, there are tools for this. In Azure, for example, Microsoft Cost Management allows you to analyse your cloud expenditure in detail, make an accurate calculation of the cost per service, get recommendations for your cloud usage and create and set budgets. 

7. How do I ensure that my organisation takes full advantage of the benefits of the cloud?

The key to maximising the virtually limitless possibilities of the cloud? Make the best use of the infrastructure. How do you run processes in the cloud as efficiently as possible and ensure that employees get the most out of them?

Good connectivity is the gateway to cloud optimisation. For example, business fibre provides robust and fast data transport, while with the right private connections, you build a secure highway to the cloud that enables you to avoid the public Internet.     

8. How can I monitor and optimise the performance of my cloud infrastructure?

The cloud consists of many moving and customisable parts. Therefore, there are a lot of interdependencies that affect the performance of your cloud infrastructure. As an IT manager, you need to think carefully about monitoring and optimisation. What tools and techniques can I use to monitor cloud infrastructure performance? What are the most common causes of performance issues in the cloud, and how do I fix them? What are the most efficient methods for optimising the performance of my cloud infrastructure? And how do I implement these practices?

There are many automated tools today, both on cloud platforms and offered through third-party vendors, and they help you monitor cloud performance on an ongoing basis. This gives you insight into performance issues and makes it easier and faster to identify areas for improvement in your cloud infrastructure.

9. How do I scale my organisation's cloud strategy?

When formulating a cloud strategy, another important question arises: where do I expect to be in a few years? A cloud solution must be sufficiently scalable to move with the rapid growth of the organisation, the customer base and the resources used.  

This presents the IT manager with a number of new challenges and questions. What are the factors determining the scalability of a cloud strategy? What tools and technologies can I use to create and enhance that scalability? How do I integrate my organisation's growth in my cloud strategy? What are the main pitfalls and challenges when scaling a cloud strategy? And how do I overcome them?

The answers require a good cloud strategy that embraces long-term ambitions, desires and the broader business strategy. It is especially important to paint the total picture and always (even at top management level) make the connection between business and technology.

10. Why is the cloud workshop a good step for any IT manager?

Attending a cloud workshop is a useful step for any IT manager, and it helps you create and hone your cloud strategies. You will be introduced to different cloud types and their advantages and disadvantages, gain insights into managing and licensing costs and learn the foundations for a good cloud strategy. 

Create a solid foundation with a good cloud strategy 

Developing a successful cloud strategy can be a tough challenge. By asking these questions and carefully considering the answers, any IT manager can ensure optimal performance of the organisation and maximum returns from the cloud. 

About Eurofiber

Eurofiber is an accredited specialist in infra, cloud and connectivity. We have all the building blocks in place to guide data transport quickly and safely from A to B, and with an exit to the cloud. We ensure that everything in the cloud, data-centre and on-premises triangle is quick, secure and available at all times. Availability, scalability, security and stability by design are the foundation stones of our services.

At Eurofiber, we also offer in-house workshops and Azure Discovery Workshops (in partnership with Microsoft). You will learn what the cloud is, what the options are, what the cost and licensing issues are and what key concerns and considerations an IT manager should address when formulating and implementing a cloud strategy.