It’s a major step that any IT director has to take, but once you’ve decided the cloud is right for you, there are a few steps you absolutely have to take. You are going to need to sit down with your team and discuss the timeline for the switchover, and just how you are going to fulfill this massive shift. Assignments will need to be made so that you know exactly who will be responsible for each part of the implementation. In many ways, the easy part of making the decision is over and now the real work begins. This isn’t really about handing over the keys to your IT department to someone outside of the company, but rather about moving forward to make sure the transition is a smooth one.
Appraise your options
Look at your current Enterprise Resource Program (ERP) and determine if the vendor you are using offers cloud capabilities. If they do, the transition should be able to go through this avenue. If not, then you will have to start looking at other options, plus get quotes from other vendors. As you are speaking to these vendors, there are three big questions you need to have answered.
1. Who actually manages the cloud?
In the contract process, you will have to negotiate this, but it is important to ask who generally has this responsibility. You need to decide if you want your company to completely control the cloud or if you want someone with the vendor who assists in management to help if there are any problems.
2. What security measures are taken against hackers?
This is an important question to ask. The company should give you a detailed account of their security measures and any information about past data breaches. In addition, look closely at the contract to determine how soon the company must inform you of data breaches and who is held culpable in the event of a successful cyber-attack.
3. What other companies will be available for references?
This is important because it all may sound great on paper, but you want to talk to some other IT departments to see not only how the transition worked, but also to discuss problems they may have had so that you can heed these off early on.
Pre-Assess Potential Problems
Another aspect that will help to make this transition a smooth one is if you can outline anticipated problems so you can try to moderate them early on. This pre-planning can include:
- Anticipate staff buy-in and schedule potential training;
- Establishing a mission statement that sets out exactly what you expect will happen by making the shift;
- Defining who is responsible for each step of the project; and
- Creating a timeline or schedule for each step of the project.
Start the Switchover
Now’s the time to start switching, but it’s probably not a good idea to try to do everything all at once. You may only want to start with one aspect of your business platform, such as data management, being put onto the cloud. Allow people to make the adjustment to this new style of computing and assess any internal problems before making the next step. This kind of layered approach to integrating the cloud has been found to cause fewer problems than trying to jump in completely.
The switch to a cloud system is one that needs serious consideration. Should you choose to use cloud services, choose New Edge Technology Solutions. We know that cloud services go beyond installing and regularly updating software. We know emergency situations can happen, and so our cloud engineers offer 24/7 remote support for our clients. The cloud can let your IT infrastructure evolve just as readily as your business does. If you’re interested in moving your business to the cloud, call New Edge Technology Solutions today for a free consultation.