Introduction
Moving to the cloud is a popular yet daunting step for most businesses. The cloud allows companies to redefine their back-end architectures by placing them in virtual environments. Here, their servers, databases, application software and more can be accessed remotely, without the need for physical server hardware or storage of their own. The cloud can streamline a business’s operations, hosting, data storage and app deployment.
Five things to know about the cloud and whether it’s right for you
The indisputable benefits of moving to the cloud are clear. It is an unseen, offsite server that is scalable according to your needs. You can free up space in your current setup by moving a single application or entire sections of your system to the cloud. Hybrid approaches that strike a strategic balance between traditional on-site servers and cloud servers are popular for small businesses. Here are some important questions to ask before choosing to move to the cloud.
- Is your existing back-end infrastructure compatible with cloud servers? It is important to consider the compatibility of your server-side software and ensure cloud compatibility with elements that you keep on-site.
- How will you divide and prioritise your back-end? It is important to plan out how you will virtualise your back-end if you’re moving to the cloud. Basic server functions can usually remain on-site, as could smaller apps and functions.
- Is it within your budget? The all-important question of cost is always a consideration in choosing the right cloud service. One of the most attractive prospects of moving to the cloud is that it is completely flexible; you can easily scale up subscriptions, data and more when you require it.
- Do you need to hire additional team members to help? Do you currently have a professional to handle your server, and if so, is he or she able to make the shift to cloud server management? A dev ops engineer is essential to help integrate with the cloud and handle issues with network reliability, as well as maintenance and fixes.
- What additional security concerns are there? A private cloud environment offers strong security, but you may want to keep sensitive information stored on your on-site server. Your IT and security team will need to come to grips with the security features of cloud environments and keep tighter control of data security.
Make the move today
If a cloud environment sounds like the ideal server solution for your business, why wait? Cloud and web service providers offer a wide range of packages and plans to host your cloud server. Contact Cloud.co.za to find out more.
