Cloud Source

It’s Time to Move to the Cloud

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shutterstock_90025294Legacy systems are like bad habits, they are hard to wean from because they have become comfort zones for users. In contrast, the cloud is a powerful option that enables new business capabilities. Like any other disruptive technology, the cloud faces resistance from business leaders.

Uncertainty, security issues, the burden of learning new skill sets, and fear of an unfamiliar environment are fueling this reluctance. However, when the signs of aging legacy systems begin to stress the executive leadership, it’s time to turn to the cloud.

Here are some signs that business leaders need to watch out for:

Maintenance Costs
Aging legacy IT infrastructure is more expensive to maintain. Replacement parts, software patches, and updates can take a big chunk of the IT budget. This can stress out CIOs and CFOs as they agonize over additional streams of fund to cover legacy costs.

 

Hiring Issues
It is getting harder to hire legacy system IT specialists. Constant maintenance can eventually corrupt existing system structures, making legacy systems increasingly difficult to understand. Additionally, new software applications may have been integrated in band-aid like fashion with the old legacy system. IT staff experienced at handling these types of issues will continue to be hard to come by.

Stifled Operations
Legacy systems can impede the ability of a business to respond dynamically to competitive realities. Constantly changing technology makes competing in a cloud-dominated business environment nearly impossible for companies using legacy systems. Additionally, the explosion of customer demands for innovative solutions, and the shift in regulatory requirements, can make matters worse. This scenario arguably makes legacy hangers-on almost helpless in meeting new business challenges and demands.

The Cloud Advantage

Cost
Infrastructure acquisition and maintenance costs can be difficult to absorb amidst severe budget cuts and other efforts to control costs. Many business executives know that they need to upgrade their systems, but do not have the budget for such a major project. Cloud computing is starting to be viewed by cost-conscious companies as an attractive alternative to expensive legacy technology.

Efficiency
Deploying cloud-based technology relieves companies of the tedious effort of looking for hard-to-find IT specialists. Instead, they can shift focus to optimizing IT staff time enabling core business services to meet customer needs and generate additional and new streams of revenue.

Flexibility
The cloud offers a compelling alternative to the traditional ways of delivering products and services. Cloud solutions are easier to use and update with limitless capacity and instant capability hosted in a shared, secure environment. Cloud solutions are flexible and can be deployed and configured to address specific business needs, such as regulatory compliance.

Make the Move
From the boardroom to the cubicles, company staff must be on board when moving to the cloud. Additionally, reassess business needs to ensure that the right cloud solution is chosen, set an achievable deployment timeline, and choose an experienced cloud provider. As cloud adoption gains ground, innovation and evolution will be the focus. Bold business leaders and IT executives who move to the cloud will be well-positioned to enhance organizational competitiveness.

5 Steps for Prosperous Data Center Migration

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shutterstock_92066165The changing nature of business requires constant adaptation. Company mergers, directives to consolidate, or aging on-site facilities can compel the need for data center migration.

And although there are many options available, transferring IT equipment and workloads can be an expensive and laborious undertaking if not done properly.
Whether the plan involves moving to a colocation provider or an established, consolidated new facility, applying logical best practices can help any company ensure that the migration is successful.

Step #1: Strategy

The first step involves choosing which equipment to transfer. Data center migration is an opportunity to analyze inventory. Perhaps some older equipment should be phased out? Maybe it’s time to trade-in rentals? Can certain hardware or software contracts be terminated? This is an excellent time to assess the value of various service contracts.

Moreover, companies should know if equipment adaptations are required for the new facility. Is it possible to design a higher density environment? Can aisle containment or pods be implemented? Looking at the new data center location in terms of functionality can allow the migration to double as a power structure planning process as well.

Step #2: Scheduling

Companies should schedule data center migration according to their needs. If downtime doesn’t present a significant impediment, the move can be conducted all at once with the right personnel. However, moving equipment in chunks or stages can offer the advantage of having key elements operating in the new location to aid system transfers.

The ideal moving date should be scheduled after business hours and during off-peak usage. For instance, it’s not a good idea to schedule a data center migration during a new product launch or intensive in-house project.

Step #3: Inventories and Facility Reviews

Listing all of the equipment intended for the transfer and reviewing service contracts is a crucial part of data center migration.

Companies should pull system logs and inventory documentation to visually verify existing items and record any new equipment before packing. Disaster recovery (DR) contracts will require notification to the new location, and businesses should plan for possible loaner equipment or a short-term service contract to guard against any accidents that might occur during the migration.

Physically label each item being moved, and gather and record all of its warranty information, including serial numbers. Double-check to ensure that nothing during the migration process will void warranties.

Prepare, adjust, and run backup and DR plans. In addition, having a physical back up in addition to one in the cloud can be helpful.

Step #4: Making the Move

Organize the moving personnel into groups according to function, and confirm access to the new location. Companies that create a comprehensive data migration strategy can ensure success by including a step-by-step process for equipment transfers, reinstallation, and back-up plans.

Label the equipment, cables, and other items according to where it will be located to speed up the reinstallation process. Also, dispose of old equipment according to purge/safety protocols.

Security should be a high priority. Data center migration creates vulnerabilities, so track everything and closely monitor security logs.

Step #5: Equipment Testing

After installation, perform applicable tests to verify functionality and perform a visual check that all of the equipment is in place.

Document the process from beginning to end. This offers companies actionable intelligence that can help identify any inefficiencies or problems to avoid during future migration processes.

Connectivity as a Service: Evolutionary Steps for Communication Service Providers

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shutterstock_177032936Although it already exists as an effective business tool, Connectivity as a Service (CaaS) is gaining recognition from communication service providers (CSPs). The advantages that it offers for business integration and data retrieval are extremely marketable.

The concept that companies and businesses can meet their growing need for straight through processing (STP) capabilities, which will enable interconnected treasury and risk management (TRM) workflows, offers the next step in the evolution of CSPs.

Historical Support

Originally, fixed line network operators constructed their networks to facilitate voice communication. Communications providers, or voice service providers, focused their efforts on improving the speed and quality of sound transmissions. The philosophy of doing one thing with superior excellence served these providers very well for more than a century.

Likewise, the dawn of mobile network capabilities still primarily focused on voice communication. Yet, typical of life-changing breakthroughs, it was an inadvertent discovery that recognized the concept of data transmissions though a relatively unused service channel.

Since that time, innovation has established a global dependence on data transference. Voice is fading as the preferred form of choice for communication. The current marketplace, the home user base, and just about every “place” is hooked on connectivity.

Current Connectivity Trends

There is an increasing demand to import and export data in a variety of formats between different networks. In response, many CSPs are trying to expand their services to rejuvenate revenues that have been depleted by losses in voice service. Yet, cloud service, Software as a Service (SaaS), apps, and mobile to machine (M2M) expansions are stretching budgets and straining customer relationship management (CRM) practices.

With its increasing competition and a supply/demand ratio that requires reducing margins, this kind of “trying to be all things to all people” philosophy isn’t working for most CSPs in today’s global marketplace.

Advantages of Specialization

Specializing in CaaS may be the answer for many communication providers. Although the push for differentiation has been rampant in recent years, much can be said for companies that focus on providing one unique product or service and doing it well. Although many companies have differentiated successfully, the return to core values by focusing on a single, main business aspect can offer solutions for many CSPs.

The demand for mobile connectivity will only increase. As more end users require STP that connects to multiple networks and the business marketplace expands with new business-to-business (B2B) service models, users will require faster, better connectivity.

Top Reasons for Small Businesses to Have Managed IT Services

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MSPMany businesses employ the services of a managed service provider (MSP) to handle IT department tasks. The MSP provides both management and system monitoring while allowing customers to retain complete control over their systems.

There are two types of MSPs that businesses can use for their IT management. The first type is the traditional MSP, which merely provides monitoring and reporting services to help maintain updated systems. The second type is the hosted managed service provider, which not only owns the infrastructure, but also monitors, manages, and installs system updates.

Managed IT Services Save Money

When businesses simply subscribe to and don’t actually own the IT infrastructure, they will have more operating expenses due to reduced capital expenditures. One recent Stanford survey revealed that 74 percent of companies were attracted more to the idea of paying a monthly fee for managed services as opposed to capital expenditures.

Focus Is Redirected to IT Strategy

With business IT monitoring and management taken care of, businesses can spend more time focusing on implementing money-making IT strategies. These are the strategies that will truly improve competitiveness and increase efficiency.

Get the Right Expertise

According to Oxford Economics’ survey in “SMEs: Equipped to Compete,” nearly 40 percent of small businesses have stated that it’s difficult finding technologically adept employees. In many instances, cost is still an issue even when the right people are discovered. MSPs offer businesses the right technical expertise at the right price.

Gain Access to the Latest Technology

In addition to the opportunity to work with a team of experts, MSPs provide businesses with access to otherwise unaffordable technology. According to a recent Research and Markets study, managed services cut costs by 30-40 percent and increase efficiency by 50-60 percent.

Stay Updated With the Latest Technology

With managed IT services, companies will be able to keep up with the latest technological updates, which subsequently helps maximize efficiency. In addition, MSPs will always notify businesses about updates. This is to ensure they are right for the company before implementing them. MSPs help manage updates for all company devices as well.

Avoid IT Disruptions

Because of MSP system monitoring, any potential problems with a company’s IT department are proactively avoided or fixed. MSPs help identify system vulnerabilities, which means most businesses will experience less downtime.

Maintain Ideal Security Levels

Few things are potentially more devastating for a business than a network security breach. MSPs help prevent vital data from being stolen or viruses from being installed on systems. Properly backing up and encrypting data, installing the latest anti-virus/anti-malware software, creating effective disaster recovery plans, and maintaining secure firewalls are a few examples of security strategies.

These are some of the many reasons why small businesses should consider managed IT services. It’s always important to compare MSPs and their options. Taking these steps will help ensure that the company receives the most compatible and affordable services.

Reasons Why the Cloud Still Provides Secure Storage

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Data securityMany businesses have cloud security concerns because of past hacking incidents. However, many of these events could have been prevented with proper cloud data backup.

Cloud technology is still a secure storage solution for a number of other reasons as well. Companies should look at the security options that providers offer to avoid compromising sensitive data.

There are several reasons to choose cloud services:

Enjoy More Protection

Data kept in data centers is often vulnerable to a number of risks, such as natural disasters and system failures, leaving businesses vulnerable to additional downtime or loss of data. The benefit of cloud technology is that data is stored on multiple data center locations, meaning that if one fails, backup still remains on other servers to avoid disaster.

Retain Full Control Over Storage Locations

Localized data centers can present a few issues for businesses. One would be the concern over unintentionally breaking local compliance laws, and another would be the hassle of purchasing new equipment to relocate a data center when a company moves. With cloud storage, companies can select data centers in several different locations, avoiding the restrictions of local data residency laws. Cloud providers can allow businesses to store data and access it from these various locations when needed.

Get Total Security Coverage

Not only does using a cloud provider strengthen security at data center housing locations, but it also helps ensure that secure network connections are properly established and maintained. Data is also heavily encrypted by using admin credentials on service providers’ encryption keys. There is no event that will allow outsiders access to data because of this encryption.

Cloud Service Providers are Regularly Assessed

To maintain maximum data security, many cloud service providers undergo audits. Every aspect of the infrastructure is examined to prevent compromises, including physical security measures, network setup, storage, and accounts. Customers can see these reports and determine if the vendor is right for them based on the results.

Look for the Right Cloud Vendor

Different cloud service providers work in different ways. Security measures might differ and could conflict with a company’s particular cloud storage requirements. Businesses should have a comprehensive discussion with a cloud service provider before utilizing their services. A good vendor will clearly communicate security measures as well as specific storage locations.

If a company wants to keep data secure at all times on the cloud, it should scrutinize every aspect of the cloud provider’s security measures and storage capabilities. Businesses need to know about controls, storage locations, and encryption steps in order to avoid threats to security. Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are vital for companies to help compare data storage and uptime, with detailed steps about adding and removing data from the cloud.

With the right cloud service provider, there should be no exploitable weak points in data storage. Intrusions should be blocked, and any server failures should be inconsequential with data redundancy in multiple data center locations. Proper cloud security measures ensure that businesses avoid catastrophe.

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