With all of the talk about the cloud and its role in digital transformation, every organization is at a different stage of cloud maturity. Some operate entirely on the cloud, while others have migrated important systems and processes, and many are still debating the pros and cons of cloud adoption.
No matter how developed your business is, it is crucial to understand that any goals for digital transformation are unattainable without the cloud – which is what brings us to the topic of this article – a “cloud-first” transformation approach.
Cloud-First Transformation Approach
A cloud-first transformation is now a much-hyped approach for companies trying to upgrade their IT infrastructure and software systems. Cloud-first represents the new way of thinking about business computing, where the cloud is an integral part of the architecture.
Essentially, this means moving your infrastructure to a cloud-computing platform. There are many options available to businesses for this transfer, including AWS and Microsoft Azure.
The nature of a cloud-first strategy allows for continuous modernization and innovation, improving the end-user experience and reducing cost.
To prove how beneficial cloud-first transformation can be, read how Wipro helped T-Mobile, an MNVO services provider, optimize performance while reducing IT spending by 50% by leveraging the public cloud, vertical sourcing, DevOps, and fully automated monitoring system.
And if that doesn’t convince you, read on about the potential benefits of a cloud-first transformation approach and how it can help you become a successful digital business.
Potential Benefits of a Cloud-First Approach
Adopting a cloud-first mentality can bring numerous benefits to industrial enterprises undergoing digital transformation, such as enhanced agility and mobility, flexible collaboration, and increased innovation velocity.
Here are some of the major benefits of a cloud-first approach for business transformation:
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Relieves IT of Unnecessary Burdens
Creating a secure software infrastructure has always been a costly investment for IT, both in terms of money and manpower. And people can get burnt out easily, especially in high-pressure situations (like the last two years have been).
By moving to the cloud and using SaaS platforms, companies can reduce the workload on their IT departments without having to make a significant financial investment.
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Facilitates Engagement – Anytime, Anywhere
Network access with SaaS infrastructure isn’t restricted by location. Employees can access the files they need, when they need them, from any location with the proper authorization.
Businesses can now operate in a new environment, one where the work-life divide has become increasingly blurred for some.
Businesses now operate in an environment where the work-life divide has become increasingly blurred for some. This can be beneficial for businesses as it allows for more creativity and collaboration between employees. However, it is important to remember that this new environment can also be taxing on employees, so it is important to create a healthy work-life balance for all employees.
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Cloud Empowers Collaboration
When all your data is stored securely on the cloud, worldwide operations become much simpler to manage and coordinate effectively.
With cloud-first approach, cloud-stored information can be downloaded onto any relevant computer, which means that teams of people can access the most recent version of any particular information from anywhere in the world at any time.
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Ensures Reliability and Trust Building
Cloud-based storage is more reliable than physical hardware because it has built-in ways to prevent data loss even if an entire data center goes down. This means that your company’s presence and information will remain intact even if there is an interruption in service.
Being cloud-first does not mean being cloud-only. Savvy executives can look at their organization and evaluate pain points, such as siloed data, costly outages, and maintenance, and unstandardized (thus frequently isolated) information – all of which can benefit from SaaS-based solutions.
A cloud-first mentality only means that when you approach a challenge occurring within your organization, you first consider using on-premise solutions.
After reading about the features and benefits of adopting a cloud-first strategy, you might wonder if it’s the right move for your business. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but the above-mentioned benefits can help you make the decision.
