You’ve moved into a new role that requires you to deliver a state-of-the-art IT organization that
will lead you and your team on a path to business success. Yet you find yourself saddled with
legacy infrastructure that weighs you down and slows your progress. It’s a common situation that
can frustrate even the most seasoned IT professionals.
How do you address the problem of integrating new technologies with legacy infrastructure and
ensuring they work together effectively? For most organizations, the answer can be found by
embracing the flexibility and adaptability offered by the hybrid cloud.
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Getting legacy apps and cloud-based services to play nicely together
Regardless of where your organization is on its digital transformation journey, it’s likely you’re already running some sort of hybrid environment. Most organizations have some combination of backbone legacy applications and data centers paired with a collection of cloud-based services that seemed like a good idea at the time they were implemented.
Even if you don’t have a formal hybrid cloud strategy, you might already be utilizing some level of private cloud services, even if not all your systems have been migrated. Many organizations find themselves with a blend of traditional on-premises infrastructure alongside various cloud services that have been adopted over time.
If this describes your situation, you are effectively operating an ad hoc hybrid cloud environment. The next step is to develop a more efficient and unified approach to managing and governing your entire IT infrastructure and services. It’s important to recognize that your hybrid cloud journey may not begin with a completely clean slate. By acknowledging and understanding your current IT landscape—whether it involves traditional data centers, cloud environments, or a mix of both—you can start your migration with a clear and informed strategy.
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Hybrid cloud is a journey
It’s essential to recognize that many hybrid cloud strategies are dynamic, evolving projects that progress in phases. Before diving into solutions or making significant changes, take a step back to evaluate your approach strategically. A thoughtful assessment of your current situation and long-term goals will pave the way for a more effective and aligned hybrid cloud journey.
Hybrid cloud is not just about selecting between private or public cloud environments. It’s about creating a cohesive approach that ensures consistency, automation, cost management, and governance across your IT infrastructure. The goal is to leverage hybrid cloud strategies to achieve meaningful business outcomes, rather than focusing solely on the technical aspects.
Adopting a hybrid model involves more than just operational adjustments; it signifies a cultural transformation within the organization. Changing how IT services are delivered and managed often requires more effort and time than implementing new technologies. Many organizations have established IT cultures that are deeply ingrained and resistant to change. Successfully navigating this cultural shift requires a well-defined roadmap and the right support to facilitate the transition and ensure long-term success.
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7 guidelines for building a successful hybrid cloud road map
- Identify your business objectives. This will provide the criteria for decision-making throughout the project and ensure results align with your organization’s needs.
- Carefully examine your current infrastructure and application services. Identify components that can be moved to the cloud model, what must remain on-premises, and what might need to be replaced or refactored to support a hybrid cloud environment. Are you going to lift and shift or rearchitect as cloud native?
- Determine which applications can be moved to the public cloud versus a private cloud environment. Public cloud services may offer easier manageability while private cloud can provide better security and control.
- Deploy the connections needed to make all applications and resources available where necessary for users throughout the enterprise.
- Adapt governance and security. The migration may require adapting your existing policies, so prepare for these changes before you get too far down the road. Balance the need for security with the level of risk you can accept.
- Implement processes to monitor and optimize your new environment from both a performance and cost standpoint.
- Consider adopting an as-a-service model for all your IT needs to optimize costs and performance while streamlining implementation.
From the edge to the cloud, connectivity and flexibility enable business success. The IT transformation journey never ends; there will always be another technological shift that will need to be evaluated and leveraged. But these changes don’t have to be onerous. With an effective road map to hybrid cloud, you maximize your chances of successfully implementing new technologies while minimizing the risk of disruption to the enterprise.
