Time and again, cloud computing proves that less is more in the world of modern IT. If you've migrated any of your applications or storage units to a cloud environment, you've already recognized the cost-effectiveness and resource efficiency advantages of these moves. However, recent developments in the federal arena have shown that cloud can be utilized on an even larger scale, incorporating heavyweight IT systems and consolidating units for better performance in off-premise settings. With a growing acceptance of the cloud as a valuable strategy in data center optimization projects, you can't delay in making the most of this approach in your own IT infrastructure.
Start now if possible
While cloud skeptics may have presented a reasonable argument against the technology several years ago, there's no reason why any organization should hold itself back from making the transition given the countless advantages of off-premise assets. An article from CRN explained that there is a wide spectrum of adoption rates and approaches when it comes to cloud computing, with certain forward-thinking organizations outpacing laggards in their migration efforts.
CRN pointed out that the type of component being moved to the cloud does play a role in the nature of the migration, and you should be careful when evaluating which assets you move into an off-premise setting. This is especially important for mission-critical applications that need to be working at all times, as some migration techniques can leave systems down for a period of time, making it difficult to ensure consistent delivery and performance. The source suggested looking to cloud innovators in the federal arena to get a better idea of how to make the leap to the cloud without jeopardizing overall network capacity or end user device functionality.
"Some agencies like Health and Human Services or NASA - who are, in my mind, kind of frontrunners when it comes to adoption of cloud technology - they're really leading the charge in terms of adoption," David Blankenhorn, DLT's vice president of engineering and chief cloud technologist, told the news source. "Others are more cautious, a little more sensitive to their workloads or the data they work with."
If there's one thing to be learned from these early cloud adopters, it's that testing the waters is key to off-premise success. Waiting around for best practices to be established is a sure way to fall behind the times with any IT initiative, and with the cloud in particular, it's crucial that you see for yourself how your assets should be configured to ensure maximum efficiency and cost-effectiveness in these environments.
Trimming the fat
With virtualization, you can squeeze every last drop of value from your existing assets, as well as make it easier to deploy new systems when operations call for additional support. CRN mentioned that as organizations collect and manage more data in the coming years, it will be paramount that you make the most of your computing and storage units, and that the cloud is the best way to reduce waste and error.
"The data management is a piece of it. The second is … data gravity," continued Blankenhorn, as quoted by the source. "It means the more data you acquire, the more you collect. You end up putting that in large storage systems. The problem you run into is, if you get into situations with customers with hundreds of terabytes of data, it becomes harder to move that."
IT leaders have made a strong case for the cloud, setting the bar high for other agencies to migrate in an equally fast-paced and confident manner. Are you ready to follow suit?
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