Samuel Tourbot, head of the Enterprise Cloud Business Engine at Alcatel-Lucent, helps those trying to figure out the right “as-a-service”.
Adopting cloud services is becoming an obvious choice for many organizations due to the flexibility, security, and scalability that the cloud offers compared to on-premises solutions. The advantages of using the cloud for IT services are many, but if not executed properly, it can quickly become complicated. Often, more time and resources are spent on cloud implementation and maintenance than is entirely necessary.
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The cloud works best when it is running in the background. Employees don’t have to think about the cloud. Instead, they should just know that it aids communication and helps businesses operate safely and efficiently, facilitating efficient collaboration anytime, anywhere.
Find out about ‘as-a-service’ technologies
On-demand and “as-a-service” solutions are everywhere. When considering infrastructure as a service, the infrastructure must be open and flexible. Using upgradeable hardware is more cost-effective and sustainable than tearing down and replacing old infrastructure when changes are required.
With this in mind, a good infrastructure should scale indefinitely, both up and down, to accommodate future growth and change. Likewise, the same factors should be considered for platform-as-a-service – due to the growing trend from simple tools to platforms, new platforms must be able to support the current and future setup of the enterprise.
PaaS is a cloud computing service that provides businesses with an entire platform including hardware, software, and infrastructure. Therefore, it is much simpler for IT teams to develop, manage, and run applications than to maintain the platform locally.
Instead of having to evaluate IT decisions, employees can simply enjoy the benefits the cloud offers, such as lower costs, improved simplicity, accessibility and greater flexibility.
In addition, cloud technology allows employees within the same organization to collaborate on a larger scale, with users from different departments able to access the same information. However, finding the right product for your individual business needs is critical.
Complying with local regulations, the best platforms will provide integration capabilities for over 85% of the tools a business already has. Reduced friction provides convenience and ease of use for employees.
Software-as-a-Service requires more thinking; the ideal tool should cover all the bases and create a long-term plan that fits the company’s needs but remains flexible in terms of contractual binding. Requesting a free trial allows you to delve into the software and explore not only how your employees interact with it, but also how the software interacts with your existing tools.
Choose the right cloud technology for you
Initially, the enterprise’s focus was on extending communications to different workforces using unified communications as a service. Employees are able to work directly from the cloud by facilitating the exchange of fluid information between employees across multiple locations. However, businesses can now bring communications capabilities directly into their business processes or applications by leveraging a communications platform as a service. This allows employees to access communications directly from their commonly used tools such as CRM, ITSM and even LMS platforms.
Incorporating solutions such as CPaaS further ensures workflow continuity between employees. Real-time communications can be integrated into existing business applications, making teamwork, communication and collaboration easier. Building this communication bridge between people, things and processes enables faster, simpler and safer digital engagement in the enterprise.
Cloud enabled
The appropriate cloud-enabled technology must be selected. The right infrastructure, deployment strategy (private, hybrid, public) or related services are all factors to consider when deciding to implement a cloud solution in an enterprise.
Choosing the right equipment and software helps the cloud work efficiently behind the scenes and ensures that organizations take full advantage of the cloud’s benefits and potential.
Additionally, effective cybersecurity protecting an organization’s cloud network is critical to keeping data stored in the cloud safe. From secure IoT connectivity to workflow automation, a secure infrastructure is a must. Behind-the-scenes encryption of cloud data provides this security.
be transparent
Digital transformation and reliable cloud infrastructure help future-proof organizations. The business landscape is constantly changing, and with the rise of remote and hybrid work, the right cloud solution is now more important than ever.
The cloud enables businesses to overcome geographic limitations by facilitating a multi-regional infrastructure that can be accessed anytime, anywhere. International businesses with operations around the world are able to come together as a cohesive unit to pursue common goals, no matter where they are located. Because of the cloud, the transparency provided by this collaboration is critical and should be preserved for business efficiency.
Samuel Tourbot, Head of Enterprise Cloud Business Engine at Alcatel-Lucent.