Shaping a brighter future: Unleashing the power of Hybrid IT for sustainable and responsible business growth

Fujitsu / July 31, 2023

Hybrid IT Uvance Data and Security Digital Transformation

As organizations step forward on the journey of adopting hybrid IT(*1), they unlock a world of boundless computing resources and unparalleled flexibility, all while facing the challenges of navigating the intricate landscape of cloud environments. In an era where IT infrastructure is the lifeblood of businesses and AI applications continually revolutionize the way we work, organizations must rise to the occasion and harness their rapidly expanding data footprint with agility, ensuring that the right services are delivered in the right place and at the right time.

Embracing responsible decision-making is the key to unlocking the full potential of IT infrastructure. In this blog, we explore the critical role of automation, governance and security, and continuous optimization in not only maximizing the return on cloud investments but also driving sustainable economic growth and leaving a lasting, positive impact on our planet for generations to come.

(*1)hybrid IT

Three crucial factors for continued cloud success
#1 Embracing the power of automation
#2 Championing effective governance and security
#3 Supporting the journey of continuous optimization
The perils of unsustainable growth: learning from the past to inspire a brighter future
Empowering vibrant economies with unique solutions for a better tomorrow

Three crucial factors for continued cloud success

Hybrid IT stands at the forefront of driving responsible growth at an unprecedented scale. By harnessing the immense power of advanced computing capabilities such as AI, machine learning (ML), 5G, and edge computing, organizations can optimize resource usage and nimbly adapt applications and processes to elevate customer and user engagement to new heights.

However, steering through cloud environments beyond traditional frameworks can be an overwhelming endeavor. That's where Hybrid IT shines, offering a harmonious and reliable approach that seamlessly integrates cloud adoption with well-established governance frameworks. This solid foundation empowers organizations to embark on a transformative journey while optimizing and safeguarding their cloud environments.

To cultivate and scale Hybrid IT responsibly, there are three essential pillars to keep in mind.

#1 Embracing the power of automation

In the modern era of cloud technology, the seamless integration, automation, and orchestration of various public and private cloud platforms, complementary technologies, and extensive ecosystems are nothing short of imperative. Cloud environments have revolutionized the way application and service development and management are approached, empowering IT and businesses to respond effectively to real-time needs.

By streamlining processes and leveraging intelligent tools, organizations can significantly reduce manual intervention, minimize human error, and boost operational efficiency. An optimized infrastructure equips businesses to adapt to market fluctuations and customer demands, ensuring effective resource allocation and nurturing responsible growth. Nevertheless, the new challenges in data collection, storage, and usage must be addressed to avoid high power consumption and inefficient resource utilization.

Automation and DevSecOps amplify an organization's ability to deliver applications and services at breakneck speed, leaving traditional infrastructure management processes in the dust and enhancing scalability. Fujitsu Uvance services provide hybrid multi-cloud management, catering to the pressing need for a global standard of managed services. We firmly believe that integration and automation are vital for adapting to emerging technologies and maximizing value. Our managed services assist customers in aligning systems with established frameworks and best practices, ensuring consistency across cloud usage.

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#2 Championing effective cloud governance and security

A cornerstone of responsible business growth lies in confidently harnessing the power of digital transformation and emerging ecosystems while remaining steadfastly committed to industry regulations and data privacy laws. Building robust governance structures and risk management strategies enables businesses to safeguard sensitive information, earn and maintain customer trust, and uphold their market reputation.

Although hyperscale cloud providers offer secure environments, customers' management remains vulnerable to potential threats. To optimize the advantages of hybrid IT, organizations must adhere to cloud adoption frameworks set by their providers. Securing cloud environments and protecting data necessitates implementing access control, disaster recovery, and IT/OT integration.

Fujitsu Uvance delivers consistent and secure cloud management services across public and private cloud stacks, supporting secure data processes from collection and processing to providing valuable insights for informed decision-making. Fujitsu Cloud Managed Service identifies and addresses vulnerabilities in the cloud and on-premises through a diverse array of managed services, all backed by expert consultancy.

We also excel in operational technology (OT), which is especially pertinent to our Manufacturing & Utility sector clients. As the traditional barrier between IT and OT systems dissolves, manufacturers can extract more data from machinery. However, this integration exposes them to cyber threats, resulting in a spike in attacks within the sector. The focus is on ensuring secure IT-OT integration by proactively mitigating risks. For instance, we collaborated with a global packaging company to establish OT governance across numerous production plants, warehouses, and offices, shielding OT assets from attacks by identifying security gaps between IT and OT services.

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#3 Supporting the journey of continuous optimization

At Fujitsu Uvance, we wholeheartedly understand the immense importance of perpetually optimizing cloud processes for peak performance, cost-efficiency, and security. Our Hybrid IT solutions deliver optimized operations support designed to accelerate time-to-value while expertly managing compliance and security risks. By employing automation and cutting-edge machine learning algorithms, including FinOps and GreenOps frameworks, we identify optimization opportunities and offer best practices for cloud resource allocation, workload balancing, and capacity planning, ensuring effective and economical resource usage.

Our sustainability transformation and monitoring services strive to minimize waste and reduce costs, simultaneously enhancing employee well-being through secure, AI-driven policy-based engines, and state-of-the-art automation and orchestration capabilities. We proudly collaborated with Whitbread, the UK's largest hotel brand, to make the transition to a flexible cloud platform, resulting in reduced costs, amplified agility, and fostering a culture of continuous innovation and growth.

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The perils of unsustainable growth: learning from the past to inspire a brighter future

The journey of business growth is often riddled with challenges, and when growth is founded on unsustainable practices, it can lead to significant consequences. By examining two notable industry examples we can learn valuable lessons and chart a path towards responsible growth that inspires positive change.

1. WeWork: A lesson in financial sustainability

WeWork, the co-working space company, experienced meteoric growth in the early 2010s. However, their business model was built on unsustainable financial practices, including heavy borrowing and high lease obligations. In 2019, WeWork's valuation took a nosedive, forcing the company to withdraw its initial public offering (IPO) and undergo substantial restructuring. The WeWork saga teaches us the importance of establishing a sustainable financial foundation to support growth, ensuring longevity and stability.

2. Enron: A cautionary tale of ethical responsibility

Enron, the infamous energy company, witnessed massive growth in the late 1990s. Yet, it was later revealed that the company had engaged in unethical accounting practices and fraud. Enron declared bankruptcy in 2001, leading to the loss of thousands of jobs and a significant blow to the energy industry. This cautionary tale highlights the importance of conducting business with transparency and ethical responsibility, as the consequences of failing to do so can be far-reaching and devastating.

By reflecting on these examples, we can draw inspiration to pursue responsible and sustainable growth. Embracing ethical practices, financial sustainability, and innovation enables businesses to create lasting, positive impacts on society and the environment, shaping a brighter future for all.

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Empowering vibrant economies with unique solutions for a better tomorrow

As society marches forward, it is imperative for companies to recognize the importance of responsible business growth and pledge to build a brighter, more inclusive future for all. Fujitsu Uvance Hybrid IT solutions are designed to deliver positive outcomes for society, the environment, and economies by serving as the backbone of our customers' digital transformation journeys. We firmly believe that sustainability transformation embodies the next phase of digital transformation, where businesses can innovate to generate positive change that ripples across the globe.

Hybrid IT stands as a vital enabler of sustainable transformation. With our extensive range of capabilities and a unique blend of technologies, we are ideally positioned to guide customers through their transformational journey. We offer a comprehensive suite of digital platform services, including automation and optimized cloud services from industry leaders such as Microsoft, AWS, and VMware. Furthermore, we provide transformation services, service delivery and cost optimization, and exclusive Fujitsu solutions via our Compute as a Service platform.

By joining forces with Fujitsu Uvance, you can propel your digital transformation journey while emphasizing positive change and ensuring sustainable growth. Our tailored solutions will help you optimize operations, reduce costs, and amplify your sustainability footprint, all while fostering innovation and embracing new ways of working that will reshape the world around us.

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Learn why digital infrastructure is key to a connected society

Hybrid IT

Fujitsu introduced a key focus area called ‘Hybrid IT’ as a part of its business brand, Fujitsu Uvance.
We will realize a connected society that connects people, data, and things in the world safely, solves social problems, and creates new value.

Jeroen Mulder

Global Senior Business Development Manager, Hybrid IT

Jeroen Mulder is Global Senior Business Development Manager for Hybrid IT at Fujitsu and a certified enterprise architect - advising, designing and guiding companies on their journey to digital transformation. Jeroen is also active as an author for various publishing companies such as Packt and Apress (Springer Verlag). Recent titles include books on multi-cloud architecture, enterprise DevOps and the digital transformation of healthcare.