Beyond the hype: the reality of cloud adoption
Fujitsu / August 29, 2024
Summer is a perfect time for reflection, offering a moment to look back on the past few months. Throughout this period, I've engaged in numerous conversations with our customers about their cloud journeys. With a vast array of cloud options available and in use, it's crucial to continuously evaluate whether the cloud is fulfilling its initial strategy and business case. Equally important is identifying what aspects are most compelling when planning future developments and transformation initiatives.
Promise of cloud
The promise of cloud has been hyped over the past two and a half decades, bringing a wave of expectation around its transformative and cost cutting potential. During this period, cloud strategies have matured, and approaches to procurement and implementation have changed. In an ideal world, the cloud provides access to a vast ecosystem of tools and services, empowering you to experiment with cutting-edge technologies like AI, machine learning, and big data analytics. This opens a world of possibilities for disrupting the current technologies, enabling new capabilities, innovate and disrupt the business. But is reality living up to the hype?
The importance of a pragmatic strategic approach
The initial rush to the cloud, often driven by a desire to shed expensive data centers, has left many organizations grappling with complex multi-cloud environments. While the cost benefits of cloud are undeniable, the initial "lift and shift" approach often failed to fully realize the transformative potential of cloud technology. Experiencing a complex multi-cloud landscape, it’s challenging to consistently measure and optimize performance across various platforms and providers in a timely manner, required to unlock the investment to continue the cloud journey. A consultative approach supports the IT alignment with business goals, creating a business driven strategy underpinned by a pragmatic adoption plan. This will drive a coherent approach to cloud usage, anticipating benefits and potential challenges (Fujitsu has announced to expand with 10.000 Wayfinders consultants by 2025).
From migration to integration
In the ever-evolving realm of cloud computing, the focus has undergone a significant transformation over the years. Initially, discussions centered around migrating workloads, choosing platforms, and managing costs. In optimizing current cloud setups, the emphasis has shifted to the detailed governance of the entire infrastructure ecosystem and its seamless integration with vital business applications and application development. The operating model becomes a critical success factor, requiring an evolution from traditional Cloud Center of Excellence (CCOE) to a Platform Engineering practice that includes both CCOE and Automation COE.
Other challenges
The potential of cloud is huge, but significant challenges remain. Cyber security remains a major concern, with a widespread belief that responsibility cannot be fully outsourced to hyperscalers. Organizations must retain ownership of cyber risk. Also, cloud adoption has blurred the lines between IT and business. CIOs see their role evolving from controlling the cloud to providing "guardrails" that empower innovation and experimentation while managing risk. Due to the fluid nature of consumption, predicting cloud expenditure is challenging. A platform approach to infrastructure, like Platform Engineering, is gaining traction to manage cloud complexity and accelerate application delivery. This approach emphasizes self-service capabilities for developers while ensuring security, scalability, and cost control.
Finding the right partner
Trying to navigate the complex cloud landscape alone can be overwhelming, even for the most experienced organizations. That is why finding a partner that not only provides technology, but also understands the need for business-driven cloud strategy to drive a pragmatic adoption plan is crucial. With Fujitsu as your partner, you'll be at the forefront of digital transformation. We'll help you unlock the full potential of the cloud, driving innovation and achieving your strategic goals.
Fernando Almeida | LinkedIn
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