The cloud is where you need to be. At least that’s what companies are being told these days. The hype surrounding cloud computing is difficult to ignore, and organizations are responding by moving to the cloud in droves. This surge in cloud adoption makes the whole movement seem more like a fad at times, but it’s important to note that cloud computing does bring some significant benefits to the table. In other words, there’s a reason businesses are jumping on the bandwagon. At the same time, all this transitioning to the cloud can lead to mistakes, especially when companies aren’t prepared for the challenges and pitfalls they may encounter. A number of mistakes have become all too common and often lead to more costly implementations and frustrated IT workers. Businesses should take care to avoid some of the more prevalent cloud transition mistakes that crop up.
Many of the most common mistakes can best be explained by the results of a 2014 survey of nearly 300 IT professionals. The survey asked IT workers the reasons why cloud implementations don’t succeed, and their answers paint a pretty clear picture. 56 percent said cloud transitions fail because of a lack of understanding of cloud security and necessary compliance; 55 percent said it was due to no clearly defined business objectives; and 42 percent blamed a lack of planning. From this, it’s easy to see why companies make mistakes as they work to adopt the cloud; it comes from a general lack of understanding of what cloud computing is and what it requires.
Many companies treat the cloud as some amorphous technological marvel that’s tough to pin down. In reality, cloud computing still uses hardware, software, and infrastructure just like any other technology. Unfortunately, the cloud is also surrounded by buzzwords and lingo that make it sound more difficult to grasp, but if IT professionals can get past the fluff, they’ll find themselves right at home with the specifications of the cloud. That doesn’t necessarily mean IT workers shouldn’t take special requirements into consideration, though. They still need to define new roles and responsibilities for dealing with cloud security and other specific tasks they want the cloud to perform.
To do all this, organizations need IT departments with the right skills to achieve their cloud goals, but another mistake they often make is to overestimate the skills IT workers currently possess when dealing with the cloud. In-house skillsets may not be up the the new requirements of using the cloud, such as knowledge of correct system integration. IT workers need to know how best to transition the company’s most critical applications to a cloud platform. In many cases, this also includes knowing which applications go best with the cloud and which would be better suited to stay on-premise.
With this in mind, choosing the right cloud platform becomes crucial, but it’s another common mistake businesses make. The confusion is understandable considering the multiple platform and service choices available. Does a company go with a tried and true large provider like Amazon or Microsoft, or is it more advantageous to side with a smaller startup? Organizations also need to know specifically which service to choose, whether it’s PaaS, SaaS, IaaS, or one of many other options. Choosing multiple providers depending on their offerings is another possibility that shouldn’t be dismissed. If a company goes with a vendor or service that’s a poor fit, time and resources could be wasted.
Perhaps the most egregious mistake is making the move to the cloud without a clear idea in mind on how the transition will meet business objectives. These cases usually involve companies getting swallowed up in the hype and adopting the cloud because it’s the “thing to do.” Businesses need to look at the cloud computing advantages and disadvantages and note how it will help them reach their business goals. In this way, companies can measure their progress and see specifically how the cloud is helping them. By knowing precisely what they want to achieve with the cloud, organizations can also avoid some of the other common mistakes, like choosing the wrong cloud platform.
Transitioning to the cloud is a major shift for most businesses. Such major changes aren’t without the occasional speed bumps, so companies need to do what they can to make that journey as smooth as possible. By avoiding these common mistakes, businesses can not only make that transition more easily, they’ll be able to receive the benefits of the cloud more quickly.