Skyrocket Your Success: The Cloud Migration Imperative

First, let's explore what cloud hosting is. It refers to the practice of hosting software, applications, and data on remote servers owned and managed by a third-party provider, while on-premises infrastructure refers to hosting on servers located in a business's own data center or server room. In this article, we will highlight some reasons (not all) why cloud hosting is not just a trend but rather the future of software companies and why it will dominate the tech world.

Scalability and flexibility are some of the biggest advantages of cloud computing. With on-premises solutions, businesses must set up their own hardware and software, which can be time-consuming (or might not be needed in the long run) and take up valuable space. In contrast, with cloud computing, businesses can easily scale their infrastructure up or down depending on their needs. This is especially important for businesses that experience fluctuations in demand or seasonal spikes. One of the most well-known examples is Netflix. The streaming giant relies heavily on cloud computing to deliver its content to millions of users worldwide. During peak usage times, like evenings and weekends, they need significantly more computing power and bandwidth to handle the increased demand. With cloud services, they can easily scale up their infrastructure to meet these demands, and when the demand decreases, they can scale it down, saving on costs. It is worth mentioning that businesses can experiment with new products and services more easily, as they can quickly spin up new environments and test out innovative ideas without having to invest heavily in infrastructure upfront.

This means that cloud computing (if done right) can be a more cost-effective solution compared to on-premises solutions. With this new approach, businesses can avoid the upfront costs associated with investing in their hardware (installation, maintenance, and decommissioning) and software.

In addition, businesses only pay for what they use, which can result in significant cost savings over time. Many startups opt for cloud computing services like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure because of the cost advantages. These companies can launch and test their products without significant upfront investments. They only pay for the resources they consume, which is crucial when they are in the early stages of development and may not have substantial funding. Some might say that hosting bills they receive from cloud providers after migration from on-premises are high, and in most cases, that might be true. But we must look at the possibilities this migration opened. By migrating to the cloud, GE Healthcare reduced the need for maintaining complex on-premises hardware, thus allocating costs to more profitable areas. They invested in cloud expertise for their IT teams, leading to cost-effective cloud management and the ability to develop innovative healthcare solutions more rapidly.

There are also important human factors to consider when choosing cloud infrastructure. Cloud hosting requires a different way of working compared to traditional on-premises solutions. It often involves a DevOps approach and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) methodology, which can help businesses automate their infrastructure and become more agile and efficient in their operations. This requires businesses to invest in training and education to ensure their teams have the necessary skills. The good news is that engineers with valuable knowledge of maintaining existing on-premises solutions can make a successful career shift toward cloud engineering.

Most companies can attest that cloud computing allows enhanced collaboration among team members by enabling access to data and applications from anywhere in the world, leading to improved communication and productivity. A perfect example is Airbnb, which operates in many countries worldwide. Their use of cloud infrastructure not only ensures scalability but also enables seamless collaboration among their global teams. Employees can access data and applications from anywhere, facilitating communication and productivity. For instance, their development teams in different locations can work on code simultaneously, thanks to the cloud's accessibility, ultimately speeding up feature development and bug fixes.

In conclusion, cloud computing offers many benefits that businesses should consider when deciding on their infrastructure needs. The advantages of cloud infrastructure include scalability, cost-effectiveness, flexibility, security, collaboration, and innovation. To fully experience those benefits, it also requires a shift in culture and way of working. Adopting a DevOps approach and using IaC can help businesses take full advantage of the privileges of cloud hosting but requires investment in training and education. By embracing these human factors, businesses can unlock the full potential of cloud infrastructure and stay competitive. Centric sees that businesses that make the move to the cloud will be better positioned to compete and succeed now and in the future.