Migrating to the cloud: Myth versus reality
MIGRATING to cloud services is top priority as your business considers its IT strategy. The strategic focus of organisations is to improve operational efficiency and reduce capital expenditure, and cloud migration helps achieve this.
Cloud services range from computing services, servers, storage and databases to networking, software, analytics and much more - all delivered over the internet.
Common examples of applications that can be accessed through the cloud are email, as well as calendaring and collaborative tools - all available today through Microsoft Office 365.
Liquid Telecom is bringing full cloud services to Zimbabwe. It partnered with Microsoft through the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) programme in 2017. Liquid Telecom recently launched newly-expanded data centre facilities in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa.
The company now delivers scalable and secure cloud services to businesses that are tailored to the local market.
Technology today has addressed earlier concerns on cloud services and trusted partners like Liquid Telecom are available to help businesses on their digital journey.
Here we look at the truth behind some of the popular misconceptions about moving to the cloud:
Myth 1: If our data moves to the cloud then our business will no longer have control over our technology
When you move to the cloud, time and effort spent maintaining hardware and upgrading software is significantly reduced.
Now you and your team can free up time to focus on core business rather than maintaining services. Instead of spending significant portions of your capital budget on servers for email storage and workloads, you can think strategically and support business managers in a much more agile fashion and respond to their needs quicker.
Myth 2: Keeping data on-premises is safer than in the cloud
To keep cloud security in-line with the latest industry standards, our dedicated security team uses processes such as the Security Development Lifecycle, traffic throttling and preventing, detecting and mitigating breaches that many companies might not have the resources to do on their own.
Most importantly software applications such as Microsoft Office 365 have 99,9 percent financially backed uptime guarantee.
Myth 3: I have to move everything to the cloud - it is an all-or-nothing scenario
The hybrid cloud creates a consistent platform that spans data centres and the cloud, simplifying IT and delivering apps and data to users on virtually any device, anywhere.
It gives you control to deliver the computing power and capabilities that business demands, and to scale up or down as needed without wasting your onsite technology investments.
Many companies are moving productivity workloads to the cloud; the path for each is different, and the time it takes for those migrations varies.
Myth 4: Cloud migration is too much for my business to handle
When you start considering how to move petabytes of data to the cloud, it’s easy to see why some people think “going cloud” is too big a challenge. Through its partnership with Microsoft, Liquid Telecom can help you every step of the way with information and tips on firewall configurations, reverse proxy requirements, identity options, migration possibilities, and a phased approach for hybrid set-ups. Microsoft have created several paths you can follow, and in most cases, you can use your existing tools and processes.
Myth 5: Corporate spies, cyberthieves, and governments will have access to my data if it is stored in the cloud
This is a top fear that many businesses have about the cloud. But it’s unfounded. Your IT team manages access, sets up rights and restrictions, and provides smartphone access. Your company remains the sole owner: You retain the rights, title, and interest in the data stored on the cloud.
Microsoft operate under several key principles when it comes to safeguarding your data:
◆ Microsoft do not mine your data for advertising or for any purpose other than providing you services that you have paid for
◆ If you ever choose to leave the service, you take your data with you
◆ Privacy controls allow you to configure who in your organisations has access and what they can access
◆ Extensive auditing and supervision prevent administrator from unauthorised access to your data.
By moving your business email to the cloud, you can rest easy knowing that the experts who created the software are taking care of the tricky maintenance, while your team keeps control of your company’s capabilities and of how your employees use features.
You can spend more time on the core operations that build business value rather than keeping up with persistent hardware maintenance. Software updates and fixes are delivered automatically as soon as they are released, and Exchange Online is always first in line for updates.
The truth is that cloud is a compelling value proposition for businesses seeking more cost-effective and efficient service delivery.
Enterprises can access the same services and infrastructure via the cloud without having to endure the headaches and increased overheads that come from managing data in-house.
To find out more about the cloud services best suited for your business, send an email to Liquid Telecom cloud@liquidtelecom.com or call us today on 08677030000.