It is said that “Change is the only constant”, and this fact applies everywhere. Nowadays, many businesses are shifting to the cloud-based service model. Some are migrating to innovate and re-engineer into knowledge work. Others are relocating to cut the expenses and increase productivity.
Every company, regardless of its goals, is migrating in the face of ever-changing business demands. And the pressure is worth it: many businesses are seeing tremendous gains as a consequence of cloud migration.
Although cloud has been in the spotlight for decades, it is the pandemic that has given cloud adoption a much-needed push. Now, the cloud is more than just a place to store and use computing power on demand, as it was before the pandemic.
Instead, it is an innovative platform for finding new ways to meet the business’s needs, which are always changing. Also, the cloud is no longer a single, static technology that works in isolation. Instead, it’s a ‘Cloud Continuum’, a dynamic continuum of capabilities and features.
What is Cloud Continuum?
Cloud Continuum is an easy way to connect different types of cloud services and capabilities, such as data center, private cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud, and multi-clouds. These capabilities are all tied together, and new ways of connecting, like 5G and SDNs, unify and support these capabilities. This feature makes it possible to access the cloud from any location and removes the barriers between public and edge services.
How does Cloud Continuum Benefits Businesses?
Accenture did a global survey of about 4,000 business and IT leaders and found that about 12–15 percent of those who continue to use the cloud are getting better results. Even though the global economy is in trouble, these businesses are getting ahead because they are using the cloud as a place to try out new ways of doing business.
Organizations that work in this Cloud Continuum are called Continuum Competitors because they use the cloud not just as a separate, distributed destination but also as a seamless way to run their business. As businesses keep using the cloud, it changes how they work with customers, employees, and business partners, create and deliver products and services, and run their IT systems. In a few words, the Cloud Continuum is changing how businesses work.
Organizations working in this Cloud Continuum are termed as Continuum Competitors as they are leveraging the cloud not just as siloed, distributed destination but as a seamless operating model. The continued cloud engagement transforms the way businesses engage with customers, employees, and partners, develop and deliver their products and services, and operate their IT systems. In a nutshell, the Cloud Continuum is reimagining the way businesses operate.
What are the Challenges for Cloud Continuum Adoption?
The following are some of the challenges that are common in the process of Cloud Continuum Adoption:
- Changing business and operating models
- Security and compliance risks
- IT and business gaps
- Complex legacy systems
- Data concerns and regulations
Then, how can enterprises get the most out of the Cloud Continuum by overcoming these challenges? Continue reading to learn the most effective methods for achieving Cloud Continuum success.
Important Steps to Get the Most Out of Cloud Continuum
Before you get started, you must first comprehend the Cloud Continuum’s nature: Its most essential characteristics are speed and change. Effective use of cloud capabilities necessitates continuous improvement and growth techniques. With that in mind, here are five important steps to take a successful Continuum:
1. Real Vision
Cloud Continuum adoption begins with an understanding of where a company wants to go. Since Continuum is growing all the time, it’s important to set clear priorities that will help the organization keep moving in the right direction.
The following elements are included in a good Continuum strategy:
- A vision that identifies the primary goals
- Competitive vulnerabilities and shortcomings
- Organizational strengths and goals for the future
2. Enhance Your Technologies
There is no such thing as a final destination when it comes to cloud migration. It’s a never-ending process. When you migrate, don’t sit back and enjoy the journey. After the migration, organizations must take extra steps, such as using edge to develop on the cloud, using PaaS services to get new capabilities, or using AI/ML to get insights from your data and processes.
If you don’t, then you will lose the competitive edge that your rivals already have. Cloud policies that support current technology should be established by businesses. This feature allows you to develop your non-technical areas in the same way as you improve your computational ones.
3. Prioritize People and Culture
As part of their cloud transition, competitors of Continuum pay attention to people and culture. The cloud is used to improve the customer experience, the productivity of employees, and the flexibility and creativity of the business as a whole. To do this, you need to align, invest, and adopt.
Organizations should make sure that their C-suite executives, shareholders, and partners are all on the same page about the value and potential that the adoption of Continuum brings. Then, one must invest in making sure that everyone in the organization has better cloud skills and digital fluency. Adopting new operational models to enhance methods of working, alleviate bottlenecks, and promote innovation is the last piece of the puzzle.
4. Embrace the Hybrid
There are no limits to what you can do in the Cloud Continuum. Organizations may, however, use a combination of cloud services from several platforms throughout the Continuum to best meet their business objectives. To do this, you need to switch from siloed cloud models to integrated platform strategies that use multiple clouds and new technologies.
It helps to keep the Cloud Continuum intact as well as makes the process simple. One of the most important benefits of adopting a hybrid culture is that you get flexibility in conducting your business in different cloud models.
5. Reinvent the Continuum
The first step in successful cloud migration is to move important systems and data to the cloud, but it’s just the beginning. It doesn’t matter where you are in the cloud, you can always progress.
Companies need to think about how they can use cloud and cloud-based technologies like AI/ML, edge, 5G, and PaaS to set up their business for long-term growth. With the Cloud Continuum, you have to be ready to take advantage of every chance that comes your way.
In Conclusion
Though Cloud Continuum has a lot of promise to help businesses, it’s critical that companies balance their Continuum goals with their business’s strategic ambitions. Organizations need to set business goals, decide how much risk they can take, and encourage a culture of flexibility and innovation. This is easy to say but hard to do.
As Cloud Continuum is still uncharted territory, it’s safe to say that complexities and challenges are around every corner, which could slow down the organization’s Continuum initiatives. One such underlying problem is data migration, and this is where AppleTech and our team of experts can help you out.
We at AppleTech can provide a personalised solution for all your data migration and cloud-related problems. AppleTech applies deep domain knowledge and industry experience to help organizations map a path forward on the Cloud Continuum.