Utilizing a hybrid IT architecture—running some apps on-site, others in the cloud—may be far more common than you’d think. According to a recent survey of almost a thousand (<1,000) IT professionals, ninety-six percent (96%) use the cloud.
If you’re sold on the benefits of utilizing a hybrid IT infrastructure, you’ll no doubt hear from the on-prem naysayers who insist that traditional infrastructures can’t meet the ever-changing demands of the modern business world. Oh, and that purchasing everything upfront is cost prohibitive and not sustainable.
The cloud, they’ll insist, is the only thing that truly provides the rapid innovation needed today. They may act as if on-prem solutions have gone the way of the pager. Not so. Many new technologies are available that improve agility and lower costs, such as, to name a few, hyperconvergence, flash storage and containerization.
But here’s one (1) thing everyone will agree on—if you’re moving to a hybrid IT infrastructure, you’ll be faced with determining which applications should move to the cloud and which should remain on-prem. The following workloads are what many organizations and experts have determined aren’t ready to leave the on-prem nest.
CRMs, ERMs, Supply Chain
Revenue generation. The backbone of your organization’s IT infrastructure. Both define CRMs, ERMs and Supply Chain Management applications. Keeping them on-site will provide easier monitoring and management, and help ensure they’re up and running. If they aren’t, your organization may soon hemorrhage cash and lose loads of revenue.
Engineering
Engineering or more technical applications like those, for instance, that automate business processes can be rife with custom requirements that require a particular level of expertise and skill sets. And because they frequently involve intellectual property and may be subject to compliance or regulatory laws, security is critically important.
Unstructured Data Analytics
Any software that is used to gather and analyze the unstructured data that we use every day, such as email, rich media, reporting, invoicing, et al., is often maintained on-prem. While unstructured data doesn’t fit into traditional row and column databases, it comprises over seventy-five percent (75%) of the total data that organizations process on a daily basis. Unstructured data analytics tools are used to turn that data into actionable insights. Running these tools on-site can provide the ability to respond to business needs faster and more securely.
Structured Data Management and Analytics
Structured data management software manages defined data kept in one (1) or more databases. Running workloads related to the management and analytics for structured data involves sensitive information, and running it in the public cloud can increase data exposure risk(s). And with the need to address regulatory and compliance laws, running these tools on-site can provide more security and peace of mind.
Moving to a hybrid IT infrastructure? Talk to these folks first
Migrating to a hybrid IT infrastructure is a big move. If you don’t have the right skill sets, expertise and experience on staff, the many benefits you’re counting on could fall well short of expectations.
That’s why turning to experienced experts like those at GDT can help make your hybrid IT dreams a reality. They hold the highest certifications in the industry and are experienced delivering and optimizing solutions from the IT industry’s premier, best-of-breed providers. They can be reached at CloudTeam@gdt.com. They’d love to hear from you.
If you’d like to learn more about the cloud─migrating to it, things to consider prior to a migration, or a host of other cloud-related topics—you can find them here:
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Calculating the costs–soft and hard–of a cloud migration
Migrating to the Cloud? Consider the following.
