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1.
The cloud is unchartered territory for many organisations. Yes, there are a
number of really important benefits to cloud computing - no matter how
big or small your business is. But cloud migration can still feel daunting.
How about some help?
A smooth move to the cloud is all about planning. And there’s no substitute
for seeking independent advice from an IT expert. But in the meantime,
here’s a brief introduction to cloud migration and some tips on finding a
cloud service provider that fits your business, budget and ambitions.
A short guide to cloud migrAtion
52% of organisations see
the cloud as beneficial for growing
their business or implementing a
new company strategy.
It’s a good question. One you must be able to answer to define the business case for migrating. The
aim should be to create efficiencies, improve flexibility and boost productivity. But how do you
propose achieving this?
Cloud computing can encompass many different areas of IT, including data storage, email
management, business continuity and disaster recovery. And the potential benefits over traditional
hardware and software are clear: greater flexibility, more power, reduced costs.
So which specific cloud infrastructure should you use? That requires an objective look at your
business and a detailed understanding of the available technologies. It’s why an independent
viewpoint from an IT expert can be so helpful.
Why migrAte to the cloud?
PArting the clouds: Which is the right cloud for you?
Cloud services provided for a general audience and accessed over a public network. The cloud offerings from technology
behemoths such as Amazon, Microsoft and Google fit within this category. Setup is
relatively cheap and running costs predictable, but there is limited scope for adaptation or customisation. Sharing cloud
architecture may also create security or privacy concerns for some users.
PUBLIC CLOUD
As the name suggests, this is a combination of public and private cloud
infrastructure. With hybrid clouds you have the potential to benefit from the relative strengths of each cloud type.
HYBRID CLOUD
Your own private cloud hosted on or off-site. This single tenancy model is good for organisations where security and privacy are paramount: financial
services or legal firms, for example. Private clouds give you more flexibility for customisation and are ideal for complex applications, or those that require
integration with other programs. The trade-off is that private clouds generally require greater investment to setup and have higher ongoing
costs than shared resources.
OVERVIEW
PRIVATE CLOUD
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finding the right cloud service Provider
With dozens of competing suppliers and hundreds of different offerings, finding the right cloud
service supplier (CSP) is a weighty task. Definitely not one to try and squeeze into your lunch break.
Consider your options carefully. Choosing the wrong cloud provider can have serious consequences.
And changing providers can be time-consuming not to mention costly.
When choosing a CSP there is no substitute for independent advice from an expert who understands
the market options. But here are a few pointers to get you started.
1
Cut through the marketing hype.
Your selection process should
involve a careful comparison of
technical specifications, pricing and
service level agreements.
2
Ask for a client list and references.
A CSP should have a proven track
record of delivering the cloud services
you need, to businesses like yours. You
could even approach a CSP’s existing
clients for feedback.
3.
1 in 3 US
companies now
using the cloud
for automation of
business services.
Redwood Software survey, 2012
Global cloud services
market is predicted to grow
from $76.9 Billion in 2010 to
$210 Billion in 2016.
Gartner
3
Make sure your CSP has a flexible,
scalable offering that can accommodate
future demands as your company grows or
your imperatives change.
finding the right cloud service Provider
4
Keep your options open in the
future. Avoid getting locked-in to
cloud infrastructure that has restrictive
contracts or proprietorial technologies
(technologies that are unique to the
specific supplier). Open source systems
that integrate with other common
systems and features are usually far
more desirable.
5
Understand how you are billed.
Each CSP will have a different price
system, so understanding how you
pay for each service is essential for a
meaningful comparison.
Talis Capital is a dynamic London-based private equity firm. The company urgently needed to update their outdated, inefficient IT infrastructure and connectivity solution. IT Lab recommended migrating to a cloud based solution for email, hosted desktop, data storage and hosted VoIP. The aim was to provide greater flexibility, scalability and disaster recovery capabilities.
The cloud migration was organised by IT Lab together with a move to new offices in early 2013. A new server and network hardware, structured cabling and a resilient fiber internet connection were installed and tested before the move. One month prior to the physical relocation, users were transferred to the new cloud based system. This helped minimise disruption to business operations during the move itself.
Talis Capital’s new hybrid cloud system provides the benefits of the cloud along with fast local and group offline access capabilities. All files are automatically saved both to the cloud and an onsite server. The cloud storage copy has versioning to provide for easy online backup and restore by IT staff or employees. A VPN is no longer required for remote workers with full access via a web interface or an app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. Offline access to files is provided by a Personal Local Cloud, which automatically synchronises with the local and cloud servers.
Office 365 provides email in the cloud on a simple per user pricing model with unlimited storage. Mimecast gives anti-spam and anti-virus protection, along with mailbox archiving for 10 years in accordance with FSA
cAse study: Talis Capital
19.6% growth
in cloud services
worldwide in 2012.
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5.
finding the right cloud service Provider
6
Even the largest CSPs can experience
technical problems. And when
disaster strikes you could be left in the
dark. Check Service Level Agreements
(SLAs) carefully. They should be clear and
simple, explaining the minimum service
guarantees, who is responsible should
there be a technical issue and how you will
be compensated.
7
Security is paramount. Naturally
your potential CSP should follow
recognised security policies in line with
industry best practice. But make sure you
understand the data privacy and retention
policies too, as well as the data storage
location. It’s also worth finding out if you
can implement user authentication and
access controls. Information like this may
be squirreled away in complex small print
so ask the CSP for a verbal explanation if
anything is unclear.
8
Redundancy (the provision of duplicate
or backup equipment that takes
over the function of equipment that
fails) should be discussed at an early
stage. Adequate backup procedures and
robust disaster recovery plans must be
incorporated into your cloud offering.
1 in 3 US
companies now
using the cloud
for automation of
business services.
finding the right cloud service Provider
9
Make sure your potential CSP has a
user-friendly client admin interface. It
should allow you to conduct admin tasks
or add server capacity easily. Ask for a
demonstration before you choose one CSP
over another.
10
Getting stuck with an unsuitable
CSP is an important concern. To
avoid the risk of “lock-in”, choose one
that implements open cloud standards.
Avoid proprietorial technology and
check contracts carefully for restrictive
termination clauses.
Online insurance broker Vision Underwriting was an early adopter of cloud technology in 2009. Cloud computing addressed key business drivers for the company, which was in the process of downsizing its in-house IT team. Achieving cost reductions without sacrificing performance was a primary concern as the firm reduced from two IT employees to one permanent member of staff. They needed a scale-able IT infrastructure that could expand quickly and easily according to increasing demand. Trading online from several e-business websites, high availability and business continuity were also paramount.
IT Lab established a fully managed cloud infrastructure for Vision Underwriting that now encompasses 5 virtual cloud servers on a shared Hyper-V platform. The cloud servers are configured with snapshot technology so if one fails data can be restored quickly from a previous version. Data is also backed-up to a secure, mirrored off-site data vault, located within two secure data centres.
A central cloud email server provides mailbox access for office terminals, remote laptops and mobile users. Handling confidential client information means robust security is a must so a signed SSL certificate securely encrypts all email. Mimecast provides cloud based anti-spam and anti-virus protection, along with archiving and disaster recovery functions.
As cloud technology has developed, so the firm’s system has been transferred to take advantage of the very latest technology. In a virtual cloud environment the migration process is straightforward with no disruption to workflow.