Capabilities

Cloud is a style of computing where scalable and flexible IT-related capabilities are provided as a service to customers using internet technologies, and it’s driving a fundamental and seismic shift in IT thinking.

The benefits are compelling: organisations are able to deliver IT as a service, without the costly and complex investment in infrastructure and applications, freeing them to focus on strategic business initiatives while delivering better service levels, increased business agility and reduced costs. The big gain is users pay only for the services they use, without having to maintain or incur upfront infrastructure costs, giving businesses the technical tools to become more agile.

But moving to the cloud, however, is not all plain sailing.

First, it’s important to note cloud infrastructure can be provide as a a public cloud, where IT resources shared by multiple clients, or as a private cloud, where IT resources, whether external or internal, are controlled and managed by the IT organisation.

Second, and more importantly, it is not widely understood just how much any move to the cloud requires a shift in thinking from a technology-centric, project-driven mindset to that of a service-centric methodology.

The focus here is squarely on service levels based on business needs, resource planning, and the maturity of operational process, which entails careful business process reengineering and the dismantling of traditional IT management silos to ensure procedures and operations are ready to leverage the value of what cloud computing can offer. Failure to plan carefully will only lead to increased complexity, higher risk and inflexible cost structures.

At Oakton, we help and advise clients manage the very real challenges of moving to the cloud, and in the process we deliver real business value by successfully capturing the advantages and multiple benefits offered by cloud computing. To find out more about Oakton’s work in this area please contact James Watson.