Cloud can drive innovation but only if you have the right Data Fabric

It is well known that cloud is increasingly becoming the default IT option for businesses with many looking to cloud for some, if not all of their infrastructure needs. This interest primarily stems from two areas – firstly the cost benefits, flexibility and speed at which large scale cloud infrastructure can be deployed; and secondly from a business desire to innovate more but with decreased risk.

While the cloud has been sold as the key to innovation for many companies, that process of innovation cannot take place without the business having a strong data management strategy in place across their entire IT footprint, whether that is in the cloud or on-premises. The implementation of a Data Fabric can give companies that data management strategy.

Finding your cloud comfort level: what businesses need to consider

For technology decision-makers, notably CFOs and CIOs, the new reality is that their organisation’s computing technology and data will likely be cloud-based. What businesses are now faced with is deciding what to move to the cloud and when to move it. Linked to this is the general consideration of how to transition from an on-premise to a cloud computing technology environment well.

When starting out the transition the most important thing for companies to keep in mind is that they need to understand the true value cloud computing can bring to their business. CIOs and CFOs must remain closely aligned on IT decision-making to ensure that cloud is used in the most appropriate ways for the organisation. This involves assessing technology in the context of business purpose, risks and cost.

There is no point in trying to transition too much too soon. Architecting applications for the cloud can have pitfalls and attempting to run before you can walk is a sure fire way to cause an IT issue during a cloud migration. It is best to take one area, get that right and then consider other areas of the business’s IT landscape.

For example, many businesses look to use the cloud for disaster recovery first.