By Niño R. Valmonte, IPC Director for Marketing & Digital Innovation
Information technology underwent a paradigm shift since cloud computing was introduced, and ultimately changed the game for enterprises the world over. For early adopters of cloud computing, workplace productivity and operational efficiency have since improved exponentially. Despite global prominence of cloud computing in business, however, it may be pointed out that most enterprises in the Philippines still have reservations about implementing cloud-based systems for one reason or another. The latest Cloud Readiness Index, a study conducted by the Asia Cloud Computing Association, showed that the Philippines remains to be one country in Asia Pacific that is yet to improve in cloud adoption preparedness, ranking ninth out of 14 countries surveyed.
It’s been observed that this mainly stems from the misconceptions surrounding the migration of data to the cloud. Most businesses that fall under this category are fearful that moving to the cloud is a rigorous process that requires a lot of time and in-depth planning. While this is true, many have attested to the wonders the cloud brought their businesses.
It’s about time the myths that affect the country’s adoption maturity are broken down and debunked.
- MYTH: Business data is not secure in the cloud.
The idea of handing over a company’s data assets to another business entity for safekeeping always seems like a suspicious proposition. The question is, why isn’t it the same when organizations use financial institutions to safekeep its hard-earned money? If the latter can be done as opposed to installing bank vaults in every office, then perhaps data and its processing may also be outsourced to experts in the trade. The key is in finding the right cloud service and provider to suit an organization’s needs. Similar to how banks are with money, cloud service providers ensure the security and scalability of their services and facilities to deliver the best results. Otherwise, going out of business is very, very easy. Global compliance and certifications ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and data to authorized personnel. Look for providers that are certified for ISO 27001 Information Security Management Systems to be certain that they are serious about customer trust and satisfaction. In addition, robust cloud services use complex algorithms to detect and combat cyber threats, as well as ample data recovery and backup methodologies to protect against any kind of data storage mishaps.
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MYTH: Cloud is too expensive.
Switching from client/server setups to cloud entails a shift in mindset as well. While the former allows organizations to treat hardware and software like owned assets, the latter is an operating expense. The illusion is that the total cost of ownership (TCO) is better with capital expenditures in the long run. The truth is that we aren’t moving to the cloud because it’s cheaper. We are making the move because of the inherent value it provides us: mobility, reliability, enhanced productivity, and cost-efficiency. ROI is a non-issue with cloud services. Staying cashflow-positive is the new game, where hard work pays off with instant gratification. And through the scalability and flexibility of cloud services, we only pay for what we need and use, enabling users to expand and shrink their usage of the cloud as needed. This eliminates any unnecessary spending and encourages businesses to allocate budget as appropriate to where it is needed.
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MYTH: Migrating to the cloud requires too much effort that doesn’t pay off.
Any new endeavor would have its version of birth pains. Obviously, migrating from one system to another — whether cloud-based or not — requires much time and effort, mostly dedicated to planning stages, but the latter part of this myth proves wrong in the case of cloud computing. The cloud offers more than data storage, computing, and analytics. Aside from these, a variety of business benefits including faster deployment, better mobility and easier collaboration for the workforce, better data security, and less complexity in infrastructure can be found under a single cloud platform. The cloud migration journey can be a taxing one, but it certainly delivers more than expected. Numerous companies around the world, big and small, have reaped more than what they’ve sown in migrating to the cloud. What mitigates the complexity in cloud migration is knowing your priorities, active progress monitoring, and working with trusted providers and consultants that allow for unhampered business operations while migration is underway.
In addition to these misconceptions, some organizations in the country also think they are already too late to the party. On the contrary, there is no better time to move to the cloud than the present. Cloud services are currently at the best they have ever been, thanks to the first adopters who blazed the trail for the rest of the organizations. Through the years, these adopters helped identify the aspects of enterprise cloud that needed improvements, which not only brought cloud services to their phenomenal state today, but also allowed for new providers to establish themselves as formidable partners in the digital pivot. The sheer number of enterprise cloud services out there today is staggering, and there are no signs of this growth slowing down. The options seem endless, which means the market is huge and the timing is right.
The cloud migration journey has its ups and downs, but it offers a promise that things will get easier. With a well-thought out plan and strategically coursed timeline, entrusting business data to the cloud empowers organizations with yet unmatched business solutions and enhanced productivity.
Niño Valmonte is an established ICT marketer, enterprise cloud advocate, public speaker, and writer. As Director of Marketing and Digital Innovation at IPC – an ePLDT company, he oversees partner relations, product lifecycle and marketing, brand equity, and corporate communications.
