The adoption of cloud computing is growing rapidly across all industries. It allows enterprises of all sizes to connect and function smoothly with its robust infrastructure and flexible nature. Its advantages, like cost-efficiency, access to better management tools, and remote collaboration are the reasons behind its vast adoption, especially in 2021 as the pandemic has shifted the entire business world to the remote working culture. 

Due to the pandemic, the cloud market has grown exponentially in the last year, with its value estimated at USD 371.4 Billion at the end of 2020. Now, Gartner predicts that even though the magnitude of cloud dependence varies from one organization to another, it will keep growing significantly and by 2025, 95% of software development companies using the cloud for their product offerings will also use it to sell, market, and provision them.

Cloud computing helps CEOs achieve efficiency in domains like business resiliency, marketing speed, innovation, etc. However, before taking any significant step towards cloud adoption, every CEO must know a few things about the cloud. Especially in 2021, it is important to not be blinded by the benefits and take a rational decision by learning all about it. 

Let’s take a look at a few things CEOs need to know about the cloud in 2021:

Security Concerns are Real

Security concerns are legitimate when it comes to cloud adoption. Even though cloud computing service providers carry out thorough security checks and programs, companies don’t find it safe to upload sensitive data on the public cloud. The healthcare industry struggles with this issue specifically, as proper HIPAA compliant security is essential to maintain for all patients’ data. 

In 2021, security raises more concern as everything has to be done online, through these cloud services. So, in addition to advanced data security controls such as data encryption and access controls which are given by most cloud providers, using a hybrid model of public and private clouds is highly beneficial in tackling the security concerns. CEOs must consider the feasibility of these options before migrating to the cloud. 

The Lift and Shift Approach is Preferable

When companies are shifting their legacy systems to the cloud, the lift and shift approach is highly preferable for some applications so that the basic workflow isn’t bothered. 

Starting entirely from scratch and disposing of all legacy systems is time-consuming and also requires a lot of monetary investments. Hence, it is important for CEOs to evaluate which aspects of their legacy systems truly require redesigning, so that neither money nor time is wasted, and all operations can be shifted to the cloud environment seamlessly, with minimal disruption of routine tasks.

There are Three Types of Cloud Computing

One of the most important things that CEOs must know and understand about the cloud is that there are three types of cloud computing:

  • SaaS: Software As A Service
  • PaaS: Platform As A Service
  • IaaS: Infrastructure As A Service 

Before investing heavily in cloud computing, CEOs must know and understand which form will be the best for their business. SaaS is the most commonly used cloud computing model, as it allows companies to use various software without any major investments. While IaaS is a convenient way to access cloud infrastructure’s computing and storage resources, PaaS provides a cost-effective way to create new applications.

Building Skills for Cloud Adoption is Important

Before adopting cloud transformation, CEOs need to assess the current skillset of their companies and ask a few simple questions like “Is my staff equipped to handle cloud transformation?”, “Do we have enough resources to sustain cloud infrastructure?”, “Why do we really need cloud transformation?” and “Do we have the required skills to achieve successful cloud adoption?”

 

Asking these questions will help to analyze the current situation and work on acquiring the required skill set accordingly. It is imperative to ensure that the company is well equipped and trained with the apt skillset to ensure seamless integration of cloud and smooth workflows after that. 

The adoption of the cloud is all about creating a way to build business resilience and improve business efficiency while being free of maintenance issues. However, it is a crucial step for every company, which is why it is vital for CEOs to be completely involved in the process and know everything about the cloud before taking this significant step.

Are you stuck somewhere in process of cloud adoption? The proficient professionals hold expertise in cloud technologies and their implementation. Please feel free to write to us at info@arrowcore.com