How to Maximize the Use of Enterprise Cloud Platforms
Well-publicized cloud outages highlight the need to choose an enterprise-ready provider. This means a robust architecture that provides enterprise-grade scalability, security, and agility. This includes a flexible, pay-as-you-go model and solutions that support DevOps processes and agile development. Your organization can implement rapidly and successfully with the right cloud version control tools.
Identify the Right Applications for the Cloud
The cloud can make this process easier, storing data on external infrastructure rather than internal systems. This means you can access your data from anywhere, on any device, with minimal upfront cost. In addition, cloud storage is typically pay-as-you-go, meaning that you only pay for what you use. Efficient scalability is another significant benefit that the cloud can offer. Using the right cloud service provider can allow you to scale out services in seconds rather than the weeks that it can take to procure additional servers on-premises.
When selecting a cloud service provider, looking for providers that follow industry standards and quality frameworks is essential. This will demonstrate that they have a strong commitment to the health of their platform and to providing their customers with a high level of service. Verify whether there is vendor lock-in as well. This can be a problem for cloud users if your provider requires a large investment in proprietary technologies or your applications require extensive re-coding to be compatible with their platform.
Invest in the Right DevOps Tools
The right tools can help your DevOps teams develop, test and deploy software quickly and securely. These tools can also provide real-time observability, accelerate feedback loops, and ensure compliance.
A good DevOps tool should have programmable APIs, which are the building blocks of DevOps. It should also integrate with other DevOps tools via these APIs, not just stand-alone. Avoid using tools dependent on a human operator, as these types of tools present a significant learning barrier and limit the agility of DevOps. The cloud provides many business benefits, including enhanced scalability and meeting unexpected demand peaks. For example, a company can instantly add bandwidth to meet a sudden surge in customer demand, whereas it could take weeks for on-premises systems to scale up. These capabilities can also reduce IT costs. A recent study reports that a 65% majority of respondents cited reduced IT infrastructure expenses as a primary reason for moving to the cloud. Combined with the right application strategy, these advantages can ensure that your organization extracts the most value from enterprise cloud platforms.
Invest in the Right Cloud API Gateway
Choosing the right API gateway is crucial to maximizing cloud platform value. A good API gateway will support your organization’s most critical business requirements and enable you to scale your applications quickly and efficiently. However, choosing the right gateway requires carefully considering and evaluating several vital factors.
First, you’ll need to consider the features of different providers. Many leading providers offer a full-cycle API management solution, including developer functions, management tools, and analytics. Others focus on API security, performance, and compliance. Some also offer tools for analyzing and predicting usage patterns. Another important factor is whether a gateway offers native integration with your IaaS provider. This will allow you to reduce the time spent integrating the software with your environment. It will also make it easier to manage gateway upkeep as you scale your application.
Finally, it would be best to consider the price of an API gateway and its licensing model. The licensing model will determine how much you’ll pay for each additional upgrade in the future. It’s also important to remember that the gateway will add a layer of complexity to your system, which can increase maintenance costs.
Implement a Cloud Security Strategy
An enterprise cloud strategy is an essential component of the overall cybersecurity posture. Many organizations deploy their cloud infrastructure without a comprehensive security plan, which could leave them vulnerable to breaches and costly data loss. A strategy allows your team to prioritize and address potential threats to your cloud-based systems and applications, preventing them from spreading across the entire network. Often, this involves using a mixture of automated detection and remediation assistance and manual threat hunting to keep unauthorized activity at bay.
A cloud security strategy also includes implementing internal control regulations for your assets. Using the Zero Trust model, you can develop strict access controls to your systems, only allowing users with a real need for cloud access to do so. This is regardless of whether they are at the office on a work computer, at home on their device, overseas, on an interim contractor, or as a permanent staff member.
Another important consideration is securing your cloud-based data in transit. This means ensuring that all transfers are encrypted so the data is unreadable if it is intercepted or compromised during transport. This can be achieved with a secure web gateway (SWG) and an encryption service. This can help you achieve compliance with industry and government regulations, such as GDPR.
