How to maximise business value from the cloud

There are many external factors that are influencing business priorities, such as load shedding, stagnating economic performance and the need for massive cost reductions. This is changing the way companies view digital assets, including the cloud. Cost optimisation has become a massive need for many enterprises, so maximising business value from the cloud is vital.

The cloud still offers opportunities to do business more efficiently and cost-effectively. Extracting value from a cloud environment is possible, even amid a tough financial period. However, this may prove to be slightly more difficult for businesses that shifted to the cloud without updating and modernising their IT systems during the process.

To fully reap the benefits of cloud migration and all that it offers, the underlying IT infrastructure needs to be optimised for the cloud environment. If this does not happen, then the company could find itself with a complex IT environment that actually adds to the costs of cloud computing and a hybrid IT ecosystem.

Four ways to maximise value from the cloud

There are four essential factors that need to be addressed for any company to get the most out of its cloud environment. These include the following:

1) Utilise digital tools for smarter business - There are many digital tools available to companies that can offer time and cost savings. Data is perhaps the biggest of all. Enterprises are finding newer and smarter ways to make money from their data, whether it’s by gleaning insights into their customer behaviour or optimising their supply chain.

Data that is stored in the cloud is only useful if a company can access and process it to derive data-driven insights. This will inform business leaders on the best decisions for the brand. Once again, this is made easier by updating and modernising the underlying digital infrastructure.

2) Shift to an open architecture - Consider open-sourced cloud architecture where it makes sense for your business. This is often a cheaper (even free) alternative to vendor services. However, be sure that the open-source architecture used is reliable and trustworthy; some of these services are vulnerable to cyber threats.

There are open-source service providers out there that offer full customer support and invest in the development of their cloud environments. This means that companies can benefit from affordable cloud services without costly vendor lock-ins. Do your research and find the solution that best fits your business and your cyber security needs.

3) Security needs to be addressed - As mentioned above, some cloud environments might have inherent security concerns. Your data is one of the most valuable assets you own, so it needs to be stored in the cloud safely. With cyber attacks running rampant in South Africa and the rest of the world, now is not the time to skimp on security measures.

To get the most value out of your cloud environment, you need to ensure that it is secure. Losing your data or having to pay ransom to get it back will cost your company far more than paying for a secure cloud environment.

4) Ensure that collaboration is prioritised - Many cloud environments provide greater ease of collaboration, especially for remote teams. A cloud ecosystem that does not prioritise collaboration is actually an expense to your business. If teams cannot work together on the same projects efficiently, then you’re wasting time, money and resources.

Always find a cloud environment that improves collaboration for teams and that offers version control of documents. This makes the user experience better and allows your employees to do their jobs with ease, which boosts productivity.

Work with a reliable cloud service provider

On top of these four steps to maximise value from your cloud, you should work alongside a reputable cloud service provider. The right partner will be able to set up a cost-effective cloud environment for your company and ensure that it runs efficiently at all times.

SEACOM offers numerous cloud services to enterprises in South Africa, including infrastructure, backup and recovery, hosted solutions and Microsoft 365. Our comprehensive cloud services and industry-leading expertise ensure that your company’s data and cloud applications can be leveraged for maximum value.

Partner with SEACOM and optimise your cloud architecture to improve efficiency and collaboration. Our team of experts are on hand 24/7 for support and guidance with your cloud architecture. For more information about these services or to get a quote, email us at marketing@seacom.com or leave us a message.

SEACOM owns Africa’s most extensive network of information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure, including subsea cables and secure internet connections. We offer a diverse range of flexible, scalable and high-quality solutions for businesses that meet world-class standards for connectivity.

SEACOM is privately owned and operated, making it agile and adaptable to the needs of the customer. This makes us the preferred ICT and internet connectivity partner for African businesses and peripheral service providers. We can guarantee high-speed, low-latency and secure internet connections to corporates and small enterprises.

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