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2023-10-26 12:34:06
The Cloud: Simplifying Complexity and Unlocking Potential
The intricacies of the cloud computing market can make some business decisions seem daunting. But it doesn't have to be this way, says Nick Gliddon, Vodafone's Business Director in the UK.
Earlier this month, Ofcom published its report on the UK cloud computing market, asking the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to evaluate whether technical barriers are hindering innovation and adoption in this crucial area.
We are supportive of this recommendation, as this is a highly complex market which needs simplification to improve accessibility.
2023 Tech Lovers: Your Essential Christmas Gift GuideFor the most part, businesses have already started their cloud journey. According to Ofcom research, 82% are using the cloud for storage, 76% for databases and 71% for backup and disaster recovery. Add in systems that are already commonly in the cloud – from emails to CRM and payments systems to name just a few – and it’s clear the cloud is more commonplace that some would realise.
Ofcom’s perspective is that these businesses are not getting the most of out the cloud – and we agree with them.
According to the same research, only 38% of businesses host their clients’ applications on the cloud, while 42% are hosting their own on the cloud. 79% of organisations plan to increase spend, but only 43% plan on moving more applications onto the cloud.
The Challenges of Cloud Adoption
Interestingly enough, the same Ofcom research suggests these challenges are more commonplace in the public sector. Public sector organisations are more likely to be later adopters (due to complexities of moving to the cloud and transparency of on-going pricing), while private companies are most likely to have migrated more fully. However, only 21% of SOHO customers and 43% of SMEs are using the cloud in some form.
The enduring appeal of the high street during Christmas shoppingThe cloud is an opportunity to be more efficient, create new revenue streams and transform how business operates. We are seeing benefits, but we are only scratching the surface of what is truly possible.
The main challenge which many people will face is that of diversity and interoperability.
Let’s say you work with one cloud provider, and train your team on that specific platform. If you later want to switch or bring in another cloud platform for different workloads, what does that mean? Either reskill your team, or hire a new one. Both options are costly and time-consuming. 45% of businesses said moving data from one provider to another was the biggest challenge in using a multi-cloud environment, while 34% of companies who had more than one cloud provider said it was the skills aspect.
The Need for Market Diversity
As Ofcom highlights, there is competition with plenty of innovative services entering the market, as well as free courses to upskill employees. But market share is concentrated between two players, who are also the most profitable. The concern is whether this is healthy for the cloud market in the UK. Diversity in a market should always be the objective.
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This is not the only challenge which has been highlighted. How much will it cost to port data from one provider to another? How would you go about doing this? Is it even possible from an operational or financial perspective? If a company elected to switch cloud provider, would the applications and software that company uses still work?
All these concerns have prompted Ofcom to ask the CMA to evaluate the cloud computing market.
The barrier for customers isn’t necessarily a lack of understanding, but a fear of making the wrong decision, and then becoming entrenched in that position due to a lack of data, application and system interoperability. This can lead to hesitancy, one of the most difficult obstacles to overcome, especially in a period of financial constraint where every pound has to drive as much value as possible.
This is where companies like Vodafone can fit in seamlessly.
Unveiling the Surprising Beliefs of One-Fifth of Men: Women's Aptitude for Tech Roles Under ScrutinyFirstly, Vodafone has worked with customers from a connectivity perspective for years. We know the business inside out and are in the best possible position to advise the right way forward. We have been operating in the cloud for years and have hired extensively to ensure our workforce is in the best possible position to help your business evolve.
Secondly, Vodafone sits in the middle of the cloud ecosystem, managing partnerships with both the cloud infrastructure providers and independent software providers.
This ensures we can make the right recommendations on which cloud partner to work with, how a multi-cloud environment could be managed effectively, and whether a private or hybrid cloud could be a better option. The objective should always be to create the best solution for your business, and the cloud companies are some of the most innovative in the world – it makes sense to partner with them.
Vodafone can bring together the three elements (connectivity, cloud infrastructure and applications) into a single conversation, helping to identify the best solution for your business need. This doesn’t simply mean moving everything to the cloud in one single swoop, but smart migration to unlock the full value of cloud and decrease cost. This is digital transformation in action – a sustained programme to realise value at the right time.
Breakthrough: Doncaster Welcomes Game-Changing Gigabit Broadband by Virgin Media - Connecting Over 5,000 Homes for the First Time!Our teams of professionals can manage the complexity of cloud, making us a very useful ally. We know your business and can make the right recommendations to ensure the cloud delivers the greatest value.
Ultimately, a more diverse landscape will be healthier for the UK. With market share concentrated into a small number of companies, there could be a knock-on to innovation. The UK Government could play a role here as one of the biggest customers of technology in the country.
A cloud-first Government…
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If you would like to know other articles similar to Tips for Managing the Overwhelming Power of the Cloud updated this year 2024 you can visit the category Frequently asked questions about Vodafone.
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