FINAL WORD
Firstly , the use case for cloud needs to be expanded and often redefined . If , for example , cloud adoption was seen as merely a cloud-based database , the benefits would be limited to elements like improved hardware performance , automated redundancy , improved Disaster Recovery , and protection against hackers and ransomware .
Cloud adoption , when coupled to a data strategy , dramatically grows the value of the data assets , and delivers tremendous value to businesses . A data strategy , that aims to democratize data within all levels of the organisation as well as outside , has shown the best return on investment .
Unpacking the data strategy
A data strategy is a business plan for data . Data strategies define the roles of people , process , and data with the aim of supporting business decisions and insights . More importantly , a data strategy should be aligned to the vision and mission statements of the business .
Data warehouses and data lakes are important considerations in leveraging the best value from data assets . Unfortunately , both have suffered from a negative perception due to the high number of failed implementations .
The primary driver behind these failures is either the lack of a data strategy or a data strategy that is too rigid , aligned to a particular technology or methodology , or is aimed at IT governance rather than
Cloud computing , when coupled with a comprehensive data strategy and automation tools , eliminate the traditional barriers to entry , reduce costs , and multiply the return on investment .
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