Things CAN go wrong in cloud deployment. What you need to know about it.

A study by THINKStrategies and INetU survey found that at least 70% of the respondents agree to have changed/modified their cloud strategy substantially during the deployment process. This modification process will definitely prove to be costly, sometimes overshadowing the returns expected out of it. 

Key issues to be considered in cloud deployment

Complexity - What is tough, is not impossible

 Most organizations get their hands burnt in the process of cloud deployment believing it to be as simple as a do-it-yourself process. Morris Tabush, Founder & Principal of Tabush Group says, “The biggest mistake is thinking that cloud services are simple turnkey solutions.”

Cloud deployment is inherently a complex process. It demands the dedication of diverse resources; both machinery and manual interference. The entire process must be chopped down into tiny slices of manageable quantity for successful completion.

If the start gets on well, the entire process of integration will be easier. It is here that commitment to the cloud deployment process comes into the role.

Commitment - Preventing determination from going astray

Cloud deployment is an exercise that definitely requires substantial initial investment. Once started it cannot be discontinued midway. The entire existing infrastructure may not require a complete revamp, but upgrades will be needed in terms of data centers, servers, and certain user systems.

Without a proper appreciation of the security, compliance and performance requirements of cloud deployment, the benefits as expected by the management cannot be attained. As an organization, it is better not to commit to the cloud deployment process if one does not have the commitment to go through it all; financially and effort-wise till the end.

Result expectations - sky-high is not feasible

Yes, it called Cloud Deployment, but it is not realistic to have sky-high result expectations. It is irrational to believe that cloud deployment can erase all your IT solutions like a magical eraser.

In the words of Jason Dover, “Organizations often mistakenly surmise that a cloud deployment model will on its own solve a significant portion of their IT organizational challenges.”

Truth be told, it will not and it cannot; at least not completely. But, partially. Cloud deployment can bring down CAPEX, increase the time to market metrics and keep a low key for resource wastage.

Employee integration

 Cloud-based applications are deployed with the intentions of creating a digitally connected workplace that is more open for communication and collaboration. However, such intentions will not bear fruit unless employees are ready to integrate them into their system.

Organizations must make it a point to deploy cloud applications that employees will be comfortable working around and working with. Thankfully, most cloud systems come with a free demo or a limited period free trial that makes the decision-making process legit.

Efficient network connectivity

Cloud infrastructure is not the same as physical infrastructure. It has far more potential to network connectivity facilities and scalability than physical infrastructure. The scale at will is one facet of cloud infrastructure that most enterprises fail to take leverage off. Some even continue to make the grave mistake of expanding physical resources when cloud can do the same thing.

The end-result: Cloud deployments which are carried out without taking into consideration the maximum benefit from a given source of cloud infrastructure can end up costing more.

Moreover, enterprises moving to the cloud for the first time also the make the mistake of locking up on a single provider with fixed costs. They fail to explore further vendors or cloud facilities that can provide a cost-effective solution for flexible time periods.

Moreover, if the first provider is not fitting the bill during the initial period, possibilities of migrating to a different cloud service provider must also be explored, suggests Rafael Laguna (@rafbuff), CEO and co-founder, Open-Xchange.

Think before you leap

The above-described considerations can actually make one pause and ponder over the feasibility of cloud deployment for your business. Actually, there is lot more considerations that one must take into account.

However, no matter how long the list of considerations will trail, moving to the cloud undeniably renders handsome rewards. Scalability, flexibility, cost-savings to name the top three. Diligent planning and meticulous implementation is the key to unlocking these benefits.