The Business Case for Cloud Computing
Cloud computing has tons of benefits for businesses, from enhanced data security to ease of use and flexibility.
But if you’re planning to move your business to the cloud, it’s best to have a solid business case for cloud computing ready. This will take into account all the costs and benefits. It will also help simplify the cloud migration process and promote business agility.
In this article, we will break the business case into three key components: infrastructure, applications, and talent. Let’s look at each in the business case for cloud computing.
Key Components – Business Case for Cloud Computing
To make a strong business case for cloud computing, let’s focus on the different components, infrastructure, applications, and talent at play.
1. Infrastructure Business Case
Traditional IT infrastructure is made of physical resources, like servers, network storage, and hardware systems. These generally have limitations in terms of expansion. You will need physical space for the purpose.
Add to this the cost of real estate, power servers, and storage facilities. All of these need huge capital investment.
On the other hand, cloud computing platforms allow for easy expansion of infrastructure. They are heavily reliant on virtual machines that do not require a physical space.
Additionally, cloud platforms offer a range of services, like storage, security, backup, management, and developer tools. When migrating to the cloud, you can make the most of these services and cut costs.
2. Applications Business Case
Cloud computing allows you to scale up and down, as per your business needs. That’s why moving your applications to the cloud can prove to be beneficial in the long run.
There are various options while dealing with the applications. You can:
- Retire the apps permanently
- Leave them where they are
- Move them to the cloud unchanged
- Move them to the cloud with certain modifications
This will make your business model more flexible, while also helping you reduce maintenance and management costs.
What’s more, cloud platforms, like Amazon Web Services, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform, offer pay-per-use pricing models. That way, you only pay for what you use, and only as long as you use it.
3. Talent Business Case
For most businesses, hiring, training, and retaining talent is the biggest expenditure. Cloud computing changes your talent requirements. That does not mean you reduce the total number of staff. Instead, you allow them to focus on more strategic projects.
Cloud solutions also lead to a decrease in maintenance costs. The platforms come equipped with built-in security features, analytics, and upgrades. Plus, AI tools and automation services reduce the demand for in-house IT staff.
Cloud Computing Benefits for Businesses
Let’s now take a look at the benefits of cloud computing for your business, in addition to the business case above.
- Easy to maintain: Cloud-based systems are managed by the service providers, taking the burden of maintenance off your shoulders.
- Cost-effective: Cloud technology is considerably cheaper than traditional computing methods. It doesn’t require a physical infrastructure. Plus, all your data is stored in the cloud instead of servers and hardware.
- Safe and secure: Security and backup services offered by cloud providers can save your data from unauthorized access or breach.
- Greater automaton: Cloud computing platforms help automate manual processes. This means automatic updates and fixes, reduced employee workload, and greater reliability.
- Scalability: With cloud computing, you can easily upscale or downscale your IT requirement. This will help you meet the changing market demands quickly and more effectively.
- Flexibility: Cloud platforms allow you to be more flexible, both in and out of your workplace. You can easily access data from anywhere and at any time.
- Disaster recovery: Since your data and apps are not stored in a single, physical device, cloud computing easily handles disaster recovery.
- Cloud analytics: Cloud platforms give you access to well-organized and well-analyzed business information. This is important for strategic planning and improving your business model.
Business Case for Cloud Computing – The Bottom Line
Like most major projects, moving your current infrastructure to the cloud needs a solid business case. You have to compare the costs of migrating to the costs of keeping the systems in-house.
To simplify the process, you can divide your business case into three components: infrastructure, applications, and staffing. Consider what you need and see whether the cloud platform offers the right solution.
If yes, it’s time to migrate to the cloud!
Business Case for Cloud Computing – Additional Resources
- Amazon Web Services – Develop, deploy, run, and scale virtually any application on the world’s most reliable, secure, and capable cloud.
- Microsoft Azure – Build innovative new apps with the latest Azure technologies.
- Google Cloud – Build apps faster, make smarter business decisions, and connect people anywhere.
- IBM Cloud – Hybrid. Open. Resilient. Your platform and partner for digital transformation.
- Oracle Cloud – The next-generation cloud designed to run any application, faster and more securely, for less.
