Cloud makes everything easy – or, at least, at first sight, it does. A single cloud application or platform is simple to deploy, use and manage. Put dozens – or rather hundreds, as is the case today – of cloud and on-premise apps and platforms together and you get complexity, to say the least. After all, not only do your systems have to get along, but your IT team has to deal with new ‘stakeholders’ too: their cloud service providers. How can you make sure that all systems and people communicate and collaborate smoothly?
The ease of embracing new cloud solutions leads to a series of specific risks, like vendor lock-in and shadow IT, as we discussed in an earlier blog post in this series. Another obstacle to the success of the cloud is complexity, which is rising steeply as more and more cloud apps and platforms are deployed, coming from more and more different cloud service providers (multi-cloud).
81%
of respondents in a Gartner survey of public cloud users said they are working with two or more cloud providers.
A multi-cloud strategy: balancing the benefits…
What is it that drives organizations to choose a multicloud environment? Cloud service providers are doing exceptionally well in innovation: they release new features and improve existing features at an accelerating pace to meet increasingly stricter and higher customer demands. For organizations, it makes perfect business sense to choose different cloud service providers on account of their offerings in the field of security, availability, functionality, performance, compliance and pricing models – and minimize vendor lock-in at the same time.
… and the disadvantages of choosing different vendors
As cloud application, services and database vendors have very few motives to align their offerings with those of other vendors, their customers are left with multiple challenges in the field of governance. How can you standardize policies, procedures and processes? How can you ensure a uniform security model, harmonize identity and access management, abide by laws and regulations with respect to data sovereignty and present a unified framework to your departments across multiple cloud providers?
What if the creeping costs of complexity start to outweigh the benefits of the cloud?
Are you ready to manage the complexity of the cloud?
Not adopting these powerful new cloud technologies is, of course, not the answer. Yet stay aware of the complexity that comes with managing a cloud infrastructure and take this into it account when preparing for your cloud journey to avoid cloud chaos at a later stage.
At Cegeka, we can help: during a cloud readiness assessment exercise, we will help you map your existing IT landscape, define and clarify your requirements, evaluate if you are ready to manage the complexity of the cloud and identify the best cloud architecture with a focus on consistency and agility.
Cloud optimization and orchestration
No matter how diligently we’ve prepared for your journey to the cloud, your cloud environment is sure to change. That’s why Cegeka can provide you with the tools, the processes and the expertise you need to monitor and constantly optimize your cloud landscape. Our offering includes:
- reporting, e.g. dashboards to benchmark the resources you use, ensuring security and compliance
- cloud orchestration and workflow automation tools
- unified monitoring and management solutions
- support for development best practices such as DevOps
- life cycle management
- cost management
- etc.
Stay aware of the complexity that comes with the cloud and take it into it account when preparing for your cloud journey to avoid cloud chaos at a later stage.
Check if you are ready to manage cloud complexity: calculate your cloud readiness score.
Make sure to take cloud complexity into account when preparing for your cloud journey. Let us help you. Learn more about Cegeka’s cloud readiness assessment and don’t hesitate to reach out to our team for more information.
