In recent years, much of the cloud debate has centered on private vs. public. While past conversation focused on an “either, or” decision, today the argument is something of a moot point that assumes there can be a one-size-fits-all solution for all workloads. The focus going forward will be on workloads vs. risk, leading to blurred solutions that incorporate both public and private cloud services.
The question is no longer about cloud deployment models, but rather how to leverage cloud in overall business strategy. As such, savvy CIOs are seeking workload-specific IT solutions that are agile, cost-effective and, most importantly, purpose-built to support business growth and drive value.
Choosing the right cloud deployment model for each workload requires thinking about several factors, but it comes down to three basic questions:
- Does the risk profile of the workload allow it to be run on shared infrastructure?
Assessing workload risk, especially in terms of security and governance requirements, is crucial in determining which applications and data can readily move to cloud and which deployment models can be supported. With an escalating number of mission-critical applications moving to the cloud, businesses must choose cloud solutions that secure data, mitigate risk and address compliance requirements. With workload security and governance in place, CIOs can then increase the value of the appropriate cloud deployment model with confidence.
- What proportion of the workload and its associated data are on the customer’s premises vs. the provider’s?
Enterprises often face the dilemma of whether to host workloads on a cloud provider’s infrastructure or on their own premises. To determine the best solution, CIOs must assess their business needs and current infrastructure. With on-premises infrastructure, the business maintains control over all systems and data, and usually relies on dedicated IT personnel for support. When hosting data in a provider’s infrastructure, the business can reduce large upfront cost and turn management over to IT experts, but it does sacrifice control over data and processes.
- Does the network match the cloud?
Many cloud deployments will suffer from network performance issues making cloud and network codependent. A cloud implementation can’t be successful without reliable networking. However, network services should be fluid, like cloud services. Enterprises should be able to scale network services up and down to meet workload demand, usage and risk.
Enterprises are leveraging the cloud to transform their business through planned, strategic approaches focused on business goals and objectives. By focusing on workload-based cloud deployment strategies, CIOs can prioritize overall application portfolios to find the most impactful cloud solutions to meet their needs.
To that end, cloud providers are delivering workload management tools, such as Verizon’s new Cloud Console, to ease deployment and manage solutions that are right for each individual business requirement.
