Enterprises have come a long way in terms of their thinking about the cloud – even in just the past few years. The cloud started off as a vision but is now an accepted part of everyday business life, being turned to for an enterprise’s most critical, high-value operations.
A recent IDC survey of 6,100 organizations in 31 countries found that 68 percent of respondents are currently using public, private, or hybrid cloud in their IT mix, which is a 60 percent jump from a reported 42 percent of respondents using the cloud in 2015.
However, even though businesses and organizations everywhere have started to implement the cloud, it doesn’t mean your enterprise can just jump at any cloud solution and expect it to be able to handle your critical data, information, apps and processes. Every company is different and has to come to the cloud on its own terms.
In the cloud, one size does not fit all. What worked for your organization’s closest competitor or the company across the hall may not be right for you. Many factors should come into play when selecting a solution for your individual organization, including the type of data you’re storing or the applications you’re cloud-enabling; how quickly and often your employees need to access to the data or applications; and the level of security necessary to meet particular regulations, such as HIPAA.
Here at Markley, we’ve seen the hybrid cloud model become the method of choice for IT departments looking to cloud-enable their businesses. It doesn’t require businesses to overspend on infrastructure equipment or create a data center from scratch, but rather simplifies the process, utilizing only the resources and costs needed to fit bandwidth, capacity and budget requirements.
Beyond cost savings, there are even more benefits to keep in mind when considering the hybrid cloud:
Easy expansion – the hybrid cloud allows your company to add what it needs, when it needs it; or to pull back in leaner times when as much capacity isn’t necessary.
Accessibility – with the cloud, your company’s critical data, apps and information can be accessed from anywhere, at any time.
Protection – with cloud storage, your critical information is protected and backed up. If something happens to your on-site operations, such as a natural disaster that impacts your own equipment and hardware, you still have your information saved in the cloud and can quickly get your data back.
To learn more about how Markley’s hybrid cloud services can help you improve your organization, please contact us at info@markleygroup.com.
