4 TIPS for a Seamless Cloud Transition
Whether you’re planning to adopt a cloud – based infrastructure for your business or to simply employ a virtualized IT environment, you need to deploy virtual servers. In this technologically progressive era, virtualization is inevitable. In fact, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) just signed a 10-year contract to build a private cloud infrastructure to help the agency improve its operations. According to a Gartner study, 27% of organizations are either using or planning to use cloud or software-as-a-service (SaaS) offerings to expand their core business intelligence (BI) functions, while 17% indicate that they are currently replacing some of their on-premise BI systems with dynamic cloud services.
But, while cost-effective, this growing trend presents a set of complex security and management risks that can hinder your business from having a smooth transition from a physical environment to a virtualized network.
To help you make the shift, are some tips to successfully transition to the cloud:
Keep a close eye on all hardware and software adjustments.
Identify every element that needs to be changed to fit the virtualization model, however small they are. You are about to disrupt a deeply ingrained system status-quo, so you have to know every detail and the possible impacts of altering each tiny configuration. Take your time in determining these structural changes, because one wrong move can destroy the foundations of your current ecosystem. Don’t rush your virtualization process, as the key to a smooth desktop virtualization is a carefully planned transition.
Ensure infrastructure compliance.
There are standardizations that were crafted based on industry standards. Generally, compliance to these comes with a cost; but it is worth the spend, for it guarantees the legitimacy of your company’s operations and may even boost your brand’s reputation. Get a hold of this set of policies and faithfully comply with them.
Deploy a holistic security solution that caters to hybrid IT environments. One of the challenges of virtualization is fighting the new threats and vulnerabilities springing from this new platform. Because of budget issues and lack of awareness, most companies protect themselves using old enterprise security systems that prove to be ineffective in resisting the advanced threats and sophisticated malware cyber criminals use today. New hazards need new solutions. Look for an advanced defense against these emerging risks, defense built for IT environments that are in the process of going virtual.
Educate and train your employees about the new system. It’s not easy to understand the concept of virtualization, but you have to make your employees aware of its basic principles. At the very least, tell them how the new transformation will affect operations. Will the change add or remove steps in current processes? How big is the modification’s impact on the office workflow? How should your employees prepare for the threats this change brings? Ultimately, it’s best to share with them some best practices to help them walk their way through the new structure.
Educate and train your employees about the cloud.
It’s not easy to understand the concept of virtualization, but you have to make your employees aware of its basic principles. At the very least, tell them how the new transformation will affect operations. Will the change add or remove steps in current processes? How big is the modification’s impact on the office workflow? How should your employees prepare for the threats this change brings? Ultimately, it’s best to share with them some best practices to help them walk their way through the new structure.
