How do you decide if new cloud tech is worth the risk?

A customised and deliberate implementation is ensured by evaluating the objectives and difficulties of the business and coordinating cloud solutions with the entire plan. Making decisions that support long-term success rather than just following trends requires an understanding of the effects on stakeholders, consumers, staff, and current procedures. It provides a reminder that specific requirements and a distinct vision for enhancing corporate operations should drive the use of technology.

Ask yourself questions about what problem you are trying to solve with new cloud tech, how it aligns with your strategy and vision, how it will benefit your customers, employees, and stakeholders, and how it will impact your existing processes, systems, and workflows. You can identify your needs and priorities by answering these questions and narrowing down your options. Researching the market and looking for case studies, testimonials, or references from other businesses that have used or tested the new cloud tech can also help you make an informed decision. Before committing to a new cloud tech, validate its performance, reliability, security, and compatibility. You can use free trials, demos, or sandbox environments.

There are few areas to look into before deciding which cloud stack to choose- 1. Use case and fitment into you requirements 2. SWOT analysis 3. Migration strategies of existing systems 4. Advantages(and disadvantages)of using newer stack as compared to existing one. 5. Pricing and usage estimation.

It's not whether the cloud tech worth the risk, but rather, does it worth exposing your organization to cloud risk? Moving to the cloud is a risky proposition and one needs to determine their workload cloud suitability. Below risk must be assessed to determine organizational workloads cloud readiness. Is it legal to store your org data on cloud? Can your org meet its agreed upon SLA, if workloads move to cloud? How much availability can the vendor offer? Does your org have a big enough pipe to handle the cloud traffic? Will moving your workloads to SaaS, IaaS or PaaS break integrations? Can your staff handle the change in required skills? and Do you have vendor management skills?

A successful cloud strategy should go well beyond merely planning a cloud migration. It should include a comprehensive roadmap that clearly defines the role of the cloud within your organization. A deep understanding of the underlying reasons for moving workloads or services to the cloud is crucial. Get granular and ask yourself what specific business objectives you are aiming to achieve. Ensure that cloud strategy aligns with those unique business needs. Without a broader cloud strategy, your cloud investments may be at risk, especially given that cloud expenses make up a significant, recurring portion of IT budgets.

While deciding on using the new tech, there can be two cases. One where you would be the industry leader in implementing the technology or two you would be following an proven example in the industry to implment the new tech. In case of the former, 1. Need to come up with the clear one liner advantage that you are trying to achieve. 2. Research over internet on the use cases 3. If possible, get in touch with the tech owner to go through various aspected for implementation 4. Start small. Identify the quickest MVP to prove the new tech work and then plan bigger implementations 5. Consider all the negative impacts also.

When researching the market for a cloud vendor, use all resources available to you. This includes going to vendors directly and getting external partner perspectives. This will ensure that you have an objective picture and reveal any blind spots. Your objective should be to understand the vendors' levels of expertise, product maturity, support capabilities, and business stability. This will help ensure the proposed solution delivers long-term tangible benefits for your organization.

Once you reach the POC stage, ensure you have a well-defined plan and a clear focus on execution. Prioritize essential elements and ensure that stakeholders fully comprehend the POC's scope and purpose. Throughout the process, make an effort to simplify the POC, as they are inherently complex by nature. You can do this by showcasing various functions and components at each iteration of the POC. If necessary, seek validation from external parties to get an outside perspective. Make sure to create a schedule outlining the expected duration of each POC cycle, as you may need to execute multiple proofs of concept.

Imagine adopting new cloud tech in manufacturing as introducing a cutting-edge machine to your production line. Before integration, you rigorously test its capabilities, assess the impact on your existing equipment, and gauge its reliability. If the benefits, like increased efficiency or reduced waste, outweigh the risks of potential disruptions or compatibility issues, you proceed. Your implementation plan, akin to machine installation, ensures a smooth transition, and contingency measures act as a safety net, guaranteeing uninterrupted production even in the face of unforeseen challenges.

Monitoring and evaluating the performance and impact of new cloud technology is essential to ensure that it continues to meet your business goals and expectations. By regularly assessing the outcomes, identifying issues, and making necessary improvements, you can maximize the value and benefits of the technology for your organization. Staying informed about the latest developments and best practices is also crucial in the ever-evolving field of cloud technology, allowing you to adapt and optimize your solutions effectively.