Why Are the Objectives of Cloud Computing Changing?

From “An Insider’s Guide to Cloud Computing”

Cloud computing value as defined in the past has been a bit of a moving target. You may recall from the earlier chapters that cloud value was once based on operational savings created by avoiding capital expenditures. Now it’s more about business agility and the ability to scale. This shouldn’t be news to anyone who’s read along this far into this book, but it’s thinking that most enterprises still don’t share. So, the next lead story should be: Enterprises finally accept that cloud computing is not just a movement to cheaper servers; it’s a fundamental foundation to improve and modernize the business.

My question to new clients is often, “What do you consider the core value of cloud computing?” If the answer is “cost savings,” there needs to be another discussion before we get started because they are missing the true value of cloud computing. Based on each company’s unique situation and criteria, I sometimes advise them not to move to public cloud servers because staying put will likely be the cheaper path, at least for the time being. It’s always interesting to see the looks on their faces when I give that answer.

There are a few hard realities about moving to the cloud that we all need to understand. For most, you have little choice. Consider the cloud innovation dollars that enterprises have spent for the last five to seven years. They can’t stay off public clouds because they’re already on them, and they won’t gain an advantage from the technology providers’ investments in innovations. Another confusing spin on this fact is that not all applications and data should reside on public cloud providers. Moving forward, you need to wisely pick the applications and data sets that move to the cloud. Look at the true value of cloud computing as it relates to these applications, meaning business advantages such as agility and scalability, with the pragmatic review of an application and data in terms of where they should be hosted to bring the most value back to the business.

Confused yet? Long story short, we now have options for where applications and data should exist to bring the most value back to the business. All things and all places need to be considered. How we view cloud and non-cloud resources is changing and will always change. While we have cost/benefit data points to consider, at the end of the day we must take the criteria and metrics and then determine the right location for applications and data. The criteria should include values to the business, such as operational cost savings, agility, speed, and scalability. The analysis should point to and cost justify one of three possibilities: Leave it be, lift-and-shift, or refactor.