Enterprise Infrastructure in the Cloud: Benefits and Migration Principles

Cloud deployment alternatives

Cloud infrastructure can be deployed in different modes with each offer flexibility similar to the choices in cloud service models. First, public cloud infrastructure is entirely controlled by a third party. Hardware and software are pooled and clients rent a share of this pool. Costs are low, but a loss of control is implied that many enterprises find hard to tolerate.

In contrast, private cloud deployments are exclusively for the use of one organisation. Note that public clouds can be owned by an enterprise itself or owned and provided by a third party. Broadly speaking private clouds offer more control and more opportunity for customisation.

Just as with cloud service models, enterprises can opt for a mix of public and private clouds, choosing to host some applications in the public cloud and others in the private cloud. This would be a hybrid cloud deployment.

Advantages of cloud enterprise infrastructure

With a range of cloud models and deployment options available organisations can easily take advantage of the benefits that cloud computing brings. To name just a few:

• Cloud environments can offer improved security. Secure data centres deploy security measures that ordinary enterprises that do not have technology as a core business can struggle to match. Simultaneously, cloud infrastructure is commonly replicated across multiple sites, creating a fluid layer of redundancy that ensures uptime.
• By definition, cloud infrastructure is not tied to a single location in the way an on-premise solution often is. Teams can work remotely, and the geographic reach of an organisation can expand in a cost-efficient manner. Enterprise infrastructure in the cloud can break down physical borders.
• The pooled, rented business model of cloud computing implies that cloud technology infrastructure is more agile. It is easier to scale up in the cloud by matching technology requirements when these rise and by scaling down when requirements drop. Cloud computing is flexible too, allowing fast and easy changes when application requirements shift.
• Cloud services are designed to connect and integrate better. Vendors commonly provide tools and platforms that allow native integration, with API-level exchange of data. In contrast to legacy on-premise applications, cloud infrastructure imposes fewer limitations on interconnectivity.
• Finally, many of the most innovative computing applications are cloud-native. Enterprises keen to exploit artificial intelligence, big data, and machine learning will find setting up the required infrastructure and platforms prohibitive. In contrast, these advanced computing tools are easily and cheaply accessible in the shape of PaaS and SaaS solutions.

Aside from offering cheaper, more flexible computing, cloud infrastructure also opens up possibilities that are difficult for traditional on-premise infrastructure to match.
Besides, cutting-edge tech such as IoT is simply a natural fit for cloud computing because of the geographic reach and interconnectivity that enterprise infrastructure in the cloud achieves. But how do enterprises make the shift to cloud infrastructure?

Migrating to the cloud: four steps

However much of its technology requirements an enterprise decides to move to the cloud, there are essentially four steps to a successful migration.

1. Assess current applications and establish migration priorities. Ensure that all stakeholders are involved in this initial process as cloud migration is always executed to improve business outcomes.
2. Start the migration process with thorough planning. Before the implementation starts, you need to design new enterprise infrastructure and create an extensive migration plan, outlining your objectives and considering integration possibilities, as well as improvements to security, latency and scalability.
3. Evaluate your cloud solution after migration, including the eventual costs. Optimise where needed and keep an eye on costs. At this stage, you can consider geo location-specific pricing, develop scaling scenarios and containerise your critical applications.
4. Be rigorous about security and management. Ongoing monitoring and support are essential, and enterprise infrastructure in the cloud must be closely monitored for security and data breaches.

Throughout the migration process, an enterprise should remain cognizant of legacy applications. Older, on-premise applications can have unique requirements and can lack the ability to connect with other cloud apps. As a result, special care needs to be taken with legacy apps to avoid migration hurdles.