It’s 2022, and “Moving to the Cloud” is far from a new concept. Businesses across industries have been rapidly adopting cloud-based solutions for a decade, and demand is rising. Today, organizations are increasingly embracing a cloud-first business strategy to help achieve their goals. According to a recent IDG survey:
- 92% of respondents said their IT environment (data analytics, applications, infrastructure, etc.) relies on the cloud
- IDG predicts that this trend will grow to 95% in the next 12 months
- Enterprises’ average cloud spending is up 59% from 2018 to $73.8M in 2020
But to see optimal results that go the distance, you need to build your cloud strategy around the right focus. To accomplish this, many companies adopt a cloud-first mindset to drive their cloud projects.
What is a Cloud-First Strategy?
Cloud Strategy Definition
A business guided by a cloud-first approach should always consider cloud computing solutions before anything else when addressing existing or new processes. This approach can help organizations get the most out of their investment by encouraging them to explore the possibilities of what the cloud can do for them.
How Does a Cloud-First Strategy Differ from Other Approaches to Cloud: “Cloud-First VS. Cloud Only”
However, the cloud-first mindset is not an end all be all. A common misconception about “cloud-first” is that the cloud is the strict answer to everything, all the time. This mentality, known as “cloud-only,” can often be counter-productive. The reality is that some applications and processes are better suited for the cloud than others, so prioritization is essential. With a cloud-first mindset, the cloud should be the first option you consider, but it doesn’t have to be your only option.
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Why Have a Cloud First Strategy
Benefits of a Cloud-First Strategy
When you commit to a cloud-first mindset and develop your strategy accordingly, you can unlock many benefits, including data security, disaster recovery, cost savings, and more. Embracing the cloud became vital for many organizations when the COVID-19 pandemic created urgency around remote workforce enablement, and IT cost optimization. These benefits and many others have helped organizations build resiliency amid the pandemic and will continue serving them in the future.
Disaster Recovery and Security
According to a Deloitte survey of more than 500 IT executives and leaders, security and data protection are the top drivers for cloud migration, with 58% of respondents ranking it #1 or #2 priority.
Cloud significantly decreases the risk of theft or damage so you gain peace of mind. If disaster strikes, with your data safely stored in the cloud, you can quickly and easily recover all of it. This way, you can get back to business as usual with ease. You can also access data stored in the cloud 24/7/365 from anywhere, which is highly beneficial for enabling remote workforces.
In addition to disaster relief, adopting a cloud-first strategy can do wonders for your organization’s security. Cloud solutions feature outstanding security standards protecting your information. Private, managed clouds like the feature individual encryption to protect your data while in use, in transit, and while it’s untouched. As a private, managed cloud solution, the Hyland Cloud also offers a fully dedicated team to manage your cloud. It also features seven layers of security protection for your data.
Another IDG study reports that Financial Services, Government/Non-Profit, and Manufacturing enterprises have the highest likelihood of using a single public cloud platform because of security and privacy concerns.
One of the key selling points of a cloud-first strategy is the financial savings it produces. Above all, building, managing, and scaling legacy hardware and software and hosting and managing applications and servers internally can be very costly. Not only are these practices a financial strain, but they require significant time, planning, and other resources. The costs can also be challenging to predict, too, since new areas needing improvements and updates frequently arise.
As a result, organizations that adopt a cloud-first strategy generally see a reduction in hosting costs, equipment, licensing, and labor costs. Some savings can surface early on as you eliminate and downsize resources, and others will come long-term. As a general rule, cloud has a much lower cost of entry than on-premise solutions. Hardware in the cloud is also typically cheaper year over year than managing it yourself. Applications in the cloud often become more expensive than putting them on-premise, however companies tend to break even at the 3-4 year mark. All in all, the hosted management component makes the biggest difference.
Better Collaboration and Productivity
Cloud-first businesses enhance productivity in a variety of ways. For one, cloud-first infrastructure can accelerate data analysis. It can also streamline business management systems across departments. But cloud-first businesses also enable a remote workforce. Whether your team members are in the same room or thousands of miles apart, the cloud connects them with tools that promote seamless collaboration and communication for more productivity. Such tools can include anything from email and calendar cloud applications to internal communication tools like Microsoft Teams.
Scalability and Flexibility
Since change is inevitable, your organization needs a solution that can evolve with you. But when you manage your applications and data internally, scaling can be difficult to execute. It can be costly, too, requiring companies to invest in new equipment and revisit infrastructure design. And these add-ons increase IT staff workload. The cloud, however, can support the data storage needs of businesses big and small as they change. This way, your organization can easily scale, and you can pocket the money and time saved in the process.
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How to Adopt a Cloud-First Strategy Approach
Learn from Your Peers
A useful step in building a cloud-first strategy is learning from the experiences of others. Identify other organizations which have successfully navigated the cloud migration journey. Don’t hesitate to do your research. Consider asking questions about how they reached their accomplishments and what their long-term vision is for their solution.
Cloud-First Strategy - Our Story & The Results of Switching to the Cloud
Build a Cloud-First Culture
Your cloud-first transformation’s success is dependent on buy-in from the top down in your organization. To make this happen, you’ll need to make a culture shift to the cloud-first approach. Prioritize transparency. Let your employees know what you’re planning to do and why. This can go a long way in helping them understand the value of this change. Don’t be afraid to address employees’ feelings of doubt head-on from the start. Be available to answer their questions before, after, and during implementation. Additionally, help everyone in your organization understand how cloud migration will directly make their jobs easier and more enjoyable.
Many organizations tackle a cloud-first culture shift through employee engagement and education initiatives. For example, an organization might develop a cloud training program for employees in both technical and non-technical positions. A program like this could help employees see the technology’s impact for themselves and better understand how it works.
Additionally, organizations should continue to prioritize clear, two-way communication during and after implementation. Getting employee input can help ensure that your solution is working at its best. Focusing the attention on the people at the center of the processes not only helps to lower resistance, but it emphasizes a cloud-first mindset.
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Cloud-First Design: Create a Cloud-First Migration Roadmap
When it comes to cloud migration or any other major project, having a plan is key. Design a roadmap unique to your organization that includes all your solutions. Define each step in your cloud migration process. Set a clear migration path for every application you have, from your newest most recently updated applications to your oldest legacy application. Determine whether you’ll choose public, private, or a hybrid cloud deployment.
How Does a Cloud-First Strategy Help Clients?
The bottom line: A cloud-first strategy enables clients to take an active approach to cloud migration, rather than simply “making the shift” to get it over with for survival’s sake. The goal of the cloud-first strategy is to remove the restraints of costly, inefficient legacy infrastructure and outdated applications so your organization can innovate and scale long-term.
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Become a Cloud-First Organization Now
Don’t just submit to the change, embrace it. Cloud can no longer be considered an aspirational innovation. It’s an imperative investment to remain competitive. But it’s not just a matter of catching up to stay relevant. Organizations must view cloud as an opportunity to thrive and ultimately strive for a cloud-first digital transformation.
Wherever you are in your cloud migration journey, we’re here to help you get the optimal value out of your solution.
FAQs
What is a Cloud-First Strategy? A cloud-first strategy is a business strategy in which organizations transfer all of their internal processes to a shared cloud infrastructure to save on IT costs. They essentially replace all of their current software and digital platforms for a single integrated cloud service provider.
What is a cloud first strategy in Accenture? ›
Accenture Cloud First helps you navigate complexity, from landing zones in the cloud continuum to regulating data sovereignty. We work with you to determine the right cloud strategy, operating model, roadmap, and ecosystem partners.
How does a cloud first strategy help clients TQ answer? ›
How Does a Cloud-First Strategy Help Clients? The bottom line: A cloud-first strategy enables clients to take an active approach to cloud migration, rather than simply “making the shift” to get it over with for survival's sake.
What is in a cloud strategy? ›
A cloud strategy team defines motivations and business outcomes for cloud adoption. They then validate and maintain alignment between business priorities and cloud adoption efforts. Your company ideally forms a strategy that clearly ties technical activities to the business outcomes.
What is a cloud first strategy TQ answers? ›
Cloud-first strategy is an approach to cloud computing that involves the adoption of cloud technologies for all new applications, platforms and infrastructure. It is a strategy that prioritizes cloud computing services over legacy IT systems.
What is a cloud first strategy Brainly? ›
Answer: Cloud-first strategy help clients by moving application, infrastructure, and data to the cloud with speed and predictability (option c). Teams who use cloud-first techniques migrate all or most of their infrastructure to cloud computing platforms.
What is the first step of cloud adoption? ›
The first step is to understand which on-premises applications are the best candidates for migration to, or development in, the cloud. This decision should be based on usage trends and business impact.
How does a cloud first strategy differ from other approaches to cloud Accenture TQ? ›
How does a cloud-first strategy differ from other approaches to cloud? it enables an organization to completely move to the cloud without infrastructure or support requiremenThis. it keeps all the services performed by legacy systems while moving to the cloud in a staggered approach.
What is first stage in cloud adoption? ›
When organizations contemplate migrating to AWS at scale, they are somewhere along the path of what is called the stages of adoption, as shown in the following figure. The four stages are project, foundation, migration, and reinvention.
How does a cloud first strategy help clients Accenture Brainly? ›
It helps clients by moving applications, infrastructure and data to the cloud with speed and predictability.
How does a cloud-first strategy help clients? Cloud platforms are "always-on," which means that customers, suppliers, and employees can access them at any time. Whereas physical hardware, no matter how well-made, can fail with no immediate overlay or backup, cloud-based storage includes these features.
What is a customer first strategy? ›
A customer first strategy is a business plan centered around meeting customer needs and creating delightful brand experiences. These plans use special services or features that enhance the company's value in the customer's eyes.
What is cloud strategy example? ›
A cloud strategy example — Netflix took almost seven years to transform its applications and adopt the microservices architecture to move to Amazon Web Services. The reconfigured application structure maximized service availability and reduced IT costs as opposed to on-premise management of resources.
What are cloud adoption strategies? ›
Cloud adoption strategies take into account specific business goals, best practices, cloud standards for current and future use by a company. A basic adoption strategy for any type of cloud model will consist of a series of steps that includes Assessment, Planning, Migration and Optimization.
Why a cloud strategy? ›
A cloud strategy is essential to guide your organization through the transition to the cloud by balancing expected benefits with guardrails to reduce risk exposure. Without a strategy, business groups and users will adopt solutions to increase productivity as they become available.
How does a cloud first strategy approach a client's migration to the cloud TQ answer? ›
Answer: by bringing multiple services together to serve the client's business needs.
What is a cloud strategy Brainly? ›
a service that enhances and automates a business's customer acquisition strategy. B. a wearable technology that provides customers with on-the-spot personalized experiences. C. a multi-service approach that re-platforms global businesses with greater speed and value.
What are key success factors for a cloud first strategy? ›
Seven critical success factors for a safe and compliant “Cloud First” strategy
- 1) Responsibility. ...
- 2) Divide and conquer. ...
- 3) Compliance. ...
- 4) Automation. ...
- 5) Security Guidelines. ...
- 6) Training. ...
- 7) Security Awareness. ...
- As safe as the strictest client.
Imbibing cloud-first will facilitate the automation of the IT infrastructure while mobile-first will help organizations to directly address and cater to the customer requirements on mobile and website accessible platforms.
How does a cloud-first strategy differ? ›
Cloud-first strategies are operations strategies where teams move all or most of their infrastructure to cloud-computing platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure. Instead of using physical resources like server clusters, they house resources—even mission-critical and secure resources—in the cloud.
With a cloud-first network, your team can manage all network devices from a single location via a cloud-based dashboard. With access to APIs, your team can build in automation so routine updates and maintenance can be done literally while they sleep.
What are the first stages of adoption process? ›
There are six product adoption stages—awareness, interest, evaluation, trial, activation, and adoption. Product adoption isn't always a linear process—users can jump between stages. There are also five adopter profiles—innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards.
How do I adopt a cloud service? ›
Download our Free Cloud Adoption Framework and Guide Your Organization Through Cloud Migration with Confidence
- Assess your business' current status.
- Establish an information-driven process.
- Educate your workforce.
- Identify and address gaps in skills and processes.
- Reduce implementation risks.
- Ensure a successful transition.
The multi-cloud approach offers several models:
In this approach, you set up one application in cloud provider A, then set up another application in cloud provider B. Such an approach gives you flexibility in terms of optimizing each application based on the offerings of each cloud provider.
What are the three approaches to cloud computing? ›
There are also three main types of cloud computing services: Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platforms-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).
What is the difference between cloud first and cloud only? ›
In the short term, it means to consider the cloud before all other technologies. This ought to be when a new IT project crops up, a replacement or refresh is identified. A cloud-only strategy is a mandate that compels your organization to implement cloud solutions only.
What is a cloud adoption plan and what are some of its components? ›
A cloud adoption plan is an iterative project plan that helps a company transition from traditional IT approaches to transformation over to modern, agile approaches. This article series outlines how a cloud adoption plan helps companies balance their IT portfolio and manage transitions over time.
What stage is the cloud adoption journey? ›
Testing Phase: Start of Cloud Adoption
At this stage, when starting IaaS for non-critical applications, such as test or development environments, it's also the time for designing the first hybrid setups.
What are the four main drivers for cloud adoption? ›
Following are the top 10 business drivers that are leading companies to cloud adoption:
- 1) Security: ...
- 2) Cost Saving: ...
- 3) Efficiency: ...
- 4) Flexibility and Scalability: ...
- 5) Rapid recovery: ...
- 6) Increased Convenience: ...
- 7) Speed and Productivity: ...
- 8) Strategic value:
Imbibing cloud-first will facilitate the automation of the IT infrastructure while mobile-first will help organizations to directly address and cater to the customer requirements on mobile and website accessible platforms.
Cloud-first strategies are operations strategies where teams move all or most of their infrastructure to cloud-computing platforms like AWS, Google Cloud, or Microsoft Azure. Instead of using physical resources like server clusters, they house resources—even mission-critical and secure resources—in the cloud.
What is the mobile first approach? ›
A “mobile-first” approach involves designing a desktop site starting with the mobile version, which is then adapted to larger screens (contrary to the traditional approach of starting with a desktop site and then adapting it to smaller screens).
What is the first step of cloud adoption Azure? ›
Begin the cloud adoption process by reviewing your Azure platform readiness. Assess your plan to create a landing zone that will host the workloads that you build in the cloud or migrate to it.
How does a cloud-first start? ›
Explanation: A cloud-first strategy allows businesses to save money on software, platforms, and infrastructure. Instead of building their own tech stack, they subscribe to a service provider who can provide premium services at a cheaper cost.
How does a cloud-first strategy differ from other approaches to cloud TQ? ›
How does a cloud-first strategy differ from other approaches to cloud? it enables an organization to completely move to the cloud without infrastructure or support requiremenThis. it keeps all the services performed by legacy systems while moving to the cloud in a staggered approach.
How does a cloud-first IT differ from other approaches to cloud? ›
The evolution of cloud computing has led to what has been described as the “cloud-first” strategy. This approach to computing suggests that an organisation should look first to cloud solutions when developing new processes or adapting old processes before considering non-cloud-based solutions.
Which one of the following is true about cloud strategy? ›
Correct Answer : Option (B) : Cloud Computing makes our business applications mobile and collaborative. Explanation : Cloud computing offers platform independency, as the software is not required to be installed locally on the PC. Hence, the Cloud Computing is making our business applications mobile and collaborative.
What is customer First strategy? ›
A customer first strategy is a business plan centered around meeting customer needs and creating delightful brand experiences. These plans use special services or features that enhance the company's value in the customer's eyes.
Why do you need a cloud strategy? ›
The purpose of cloud strategy document is to guide the organization in the various stages of using or migrating to cloud services, while balancing the benefits for the organization and conducting proper risk management at the same time.
