Getting your Cloud Strategy Right. A Tata Communications-DSCI point of view

Introduction

A well-defined enterprise cloud strategy provides an organisation with the scalability and flexibility of on-premises infrastructure as well as the cost-efficiency and dependability of cloud computing. A well-planned cloud strategy facilitates a secure migration for any business, as well as aids in determining whether your organisation requires a hybrid cloud strategy or an enterprise cloud strategy.

Cloud-based service Businesses can be found in a variety of industries. Demand for multi-cloud strategies is driven by platform-neutral digital products, portability, and API-based connectivity.

Variables that significantly influence the demand for cloud services are

• Reduced costs for IT infrastructure and data storage, which help increase ROI.
•  Flexible, scalable, and reliable IT infrastructure for high automation and agility.
• Increased demand for remote workspaces and meeting customer expectations for one stop IT infrastructure solutions.

Analysing and comprehending the obstacles associated with cloud adoption, as well as partnering with providers who offer the ideal solutions tailored to organisational needs, is the first and most important requirement for establishing a cloud strategy. Let's examine briefly both cloud computing challenges and recommendations.

The various challenges in current cloud scenarios are:

• Lack of knowledge about how to access and control data using a hybrid cloud strategy or a public cloud strategy.
• The best suited cloud deployment model that caters to current business requirements.
• Well-planned and crafted migration to avoid disruption of any kind.
• Data management for multiple stakeholders in the cloud ecosystem.
• Sound knowledge of changing regulations and compliances across the globe.
• The requirement of highly skilled professionals to ensure a smooth cloud migration.

When a sound and comprehensive cloud strategy is adopted, it is simple to eliminate each of the aforementioned obstacles.

Listed below are our recommended cloud adoption strategies to consider.

1. Procurement strategy: Cloud providers, brokers, and managed providers offer cloud solutions. Company size, industry, applications, and data type determine cloud solutions. To integrate the cloud and manage data and solutions, a skilled IT team (in-house or outsourced) is needed.
2. Migration strategy: A migration strategy is most critical in the cloud adoption process. The 5-step migration strategy starts with understanding the adoption process's motivation. Second, finding the company's best workload or application. Third, examine data classification; fourth, make sure the workload is cloud-ready; and fifth, create a compliance-friendly data security solution strategy.
3. Data Strategy: The 3-tier data impact classification recommended by MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs) is ideal for a successful implementation and deployment of the cloud.
   Tier 1: Unclassified, low-impact category data that is best served by a public cloud.
   Tier 2: The hybrid cloud is best suited for limited moderate impact data.
   Tier 3: Highly sensitive data, for which a private cloud is most suited.
4.  Choice of the cloud model: The migration to the cloud will be influenced by the workloads selected. The optimal approach for an organisation is to divide the workload based on business value.
5. Security strategy: Consistent control, managing issues of misconfiguration, and shared responsibility are the three attributes on which organisations must base their cloud security strategy.
6. Compliance and regulatory planning: Cloud adoption success depends on risk-based strategy and understanding the serious consequences of regulatory noncompliance.
7. Management for an optimised and unified cloud environment: To maximise efficiency, quantity of service must be precisely determined. Cloud automation standardises resource configuration, improving infrastructure control and risk.

There has been a tremendous expansion of cloud computing in India, which has been driven by the following factors:

• Initiatives from the government (In the past few years, the Indian government has started a number of digital projects, such as Digital Locker, UPI, and eKYC.)
• The demand for scalable, secure, agile, dependable, and cost-effective cloud solutions has resulted from the migration to remote working models.
• Significant rise in demand for cloud computing services post-pandemic

Tata Communications offers a one-stop shop for all unmet communication requirements, including cloud, network, security, mobility, and collaboration services. Tata Communications assists organisations on their digital transformation journey by transforming businesses to generate growth, cost efficiency, and business agility.

FAQs

What is cloud migration strategy?

A cloud migration strategy is a procedure that assists an organisation in transitioning its existing applications from on-premises to the cloud. This process may include selecting cloud providers by evaluating factors such as cost, security, and scale. The process of migrating applications and data involves effective decision-making in the type and manner of data transfer and smooth manoeuvring of the same.

What is cloud migration?

Moving your IT and digital assets to a remote data centre is called "cloud migration. If you move from one cloud provider to another, it is called a "cross-cloud migration. Moving from on-premises or legacy infrastructure to the cloud is called "reverse cloud migration."

How to create a cloud strategy?

Successful cloud strategy requires planning, thorough analysis, and effective execution. A thorough understanding of your business goals will ensure maximum business value. The right cloud model for your organisation depends on the organisation's objectives, resources, and flexibility. Selecting a cloud service provider involves assessing your organisation's overall direction. Map your entire organisation and create a clear picture of your objectives and resources.

Ensure that there is enough flexibility so that you can switch from one cloud model to another if a new cloud model becomes available. Be aware that certain technologies and services may not be available through all cloud service providers. A flawless crowd strategy requires meticulous attention to detail and a thorough understanding of risk management. Last but not least, it is important to make sure you choose a provider that can accommodate your current and future infrastructure needs.

Why use a multi cloud strategy?

In cases where a single public cloud provider cannot meet an enterprise's expansion needs, enterprises will find a multi-cloud strategy useful. Multicloud is the best option to deploy, manage, and operate applications throughout delivery across globally distributed hybrid environments. The environment presents complex functional, performance, and security requirements that must be met in highly complex production operations.

How to create a cloud strategy?

As today's businesses embrace the benefits of using cloud computing, companies are facing a challenge: How do I create a Cloud Strategy? Envisioning a successful and strategic Cloud strategy is challenging due to the sheer volume of variables that need to be considered. A successful Cloud Strategy will facilitate the creation/transformation of business goals, as well as support organisational priorities by leveraging key stakeholders across departments within a company.

These factors demonstrate why it is essential that organisations understand their existing product portfolio, organisation limitations and capabilities, current and potential risks (business continuity), and the overall business objectives before they can effectively formulate an effective strategy around agility, flexibility, security and performance.