INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Cloud
Overcoming the complexities of cloud transformation
Businesses worldwide have prioritised major Digital Transformation projects and are moving their data to popular cloud environments such as Microsoft Azure . Spend on cloud infrastructure has increased rapidly and although the cloud is extremely rewarding for companies that deploy and manage it properly , with the sophistication comes complexity .
Cloud skills shortage keep growing as more businesses migrate to cloud-based infrastructure and services . IDC says the global shortage of full-time developers will increase from 1.4 million in 2021 to 4 million in 2025 .
Gone are the days where IT departments hired a few junior techies and let them learn as they go . Cloud is too complicated , the type of systems the cloud brings to the fore are too broad for a resident IT team to become proficient on – in the SMB space typically .
Cloud transformation projects are complex , they have many moving parts when it comes to data and applications . As a result , many companies underestimate the lift and planning cycle when reimaging a company ’ s infrastructure and ensuring a pathway for data and app transformation to streamline operations without creating downtime .
In the past , many IT solution providers offered free services if customer bought products from them . Many companies still think this is the norm , but the subscription margins no longer allow for this . To provide top-class services , IT solution providers now need to attract and retain very expensive resources .
When building capability in their IT departments , companies only have two options . They can either hire skills and when
Garry Ackerman , CEO , Argantic
they become really proficient , it becomes expensive to retain them . Alternatively , they can sign a Service Level Agreement ( SLA ) with a solutions provider like Argantic , where they can ensure experienced and competent technical staff on demand .
Argantic realised that service agreement customers started embracing the value this model offered and appreciate the value that the combination of the cloud platform and its expertise offers .
With the shortage of skills in the cloud space , organisations need to commit to having people available when they need them . This means the best expertise is now only available through SLAs and technical staff will no longer be available on an ad-hoc basis .
In the past , IT would install a system and then was only contacted when there were problems . Cloud has also introduced the concept of continual improvement and value in IT . The tools available can be used to constantly focus on providing value to the organisation .
It is evident that almost without fail , customers that don ’ t have proper SLAs in place are being hit with cyberattacks . This often results in total data loss because they have no backups or it sets them back weeks while they try and recover the data . p
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