Cloud computing is a model of delivering computing resources, such as servers, storage, databases, and software applications, over the internet on a pay-per-use basis. In simple terms, it is the ability to access and use computing resources over the internet without having to own or manage the physical infrastructure. In an interview with Mr. Vish Srinivasan, Executive Vice President, BCT – TIBCO, shares with ET Insights on how he incorporates cloud computing in the operations of his business.
If a company wishes to adopt cloud computing. What are the most important technical aspects to consider?
Cloud transformation must be approached with the intent to create and capture value. When cloud computing is treated like a simple tech upgrade, and focused on cost optimization alone, it will fail to live up to expectations. Especially under current circumstances when customer-centric enterprises are embracing technology for differentiation, CXOs must leverage cloud to discover and sustain new revenue opportunities, increase the pace of innovation, and future-proof their businesses.
Cloud services can be successful when we focus on a few key factors:
- The why of cloud adoption: Evaluating the right cloud service model, whether it is Iaas, PaaS, or Saas becomes easier when there’s clarity about what you want to achieve. Whether it is the need for increased storage, helping teams innovate and meet regulatory compliance, or improving business resilience, your business objectives must determine your cloud service choice. Most enterprises struggle to realize the cloud’s full potential when they fail to identify the core business challenge to remediate.
- Performance and scalability: A key technical benefit of the cloud is the availability of on-demand resources to manage seasonal demands, on a pay-per-use model. But to get the most out of cloud, leaders must consider factors like load balancing, auto-scaling, and network latency for optimal performance. Whether it is vertical scaling for more processing power or horizontal scaling for increased performance of databases, ensuring a thorough cost-benefit analysis of the different models can truly help businesses create value.
- Financial transformation: The obvious and most well-known benefit of cloud is the shift from CAPEX to OPEX pricing model, which reduces costs on infrastructure and unused resources. Cloud, ultimately, optimizes DevOps processes increasing speed to market, and empowering enterprises with the capacity to deliver products and services quickly to customers.
- A strategic growth ally with shared goals: According to reports, a third of cloud computing investments go wasted because enterprises are unable to optimize cloud for optimum performance. Enterprises today are grappling to make cloud deployments work efficiently, and dealing with data explosion that is leading to data complexities. Growth partners like BCT – TIBCO can help clients in their cloud journey with Application Programming Interface (API) and provide services like data virtualization, data warehousing, and data management for seamless integration and value creation.
Is there something like an ISO standard for Cloud quality? What do’s and don’ts should be considered prior to implementing cloud services?
Data security and compliance adherence are sacrosanct, regardless of the cloud journey an enterprise embarks on. Every leading service provider is audited by a third party for ISO certification and other regulatory standards, pertinent to the industry and geography they cater to. For example, a healthcare company might want regulatory compliance related to HIPAA, while a BFSI customer might be looking for a different requirement. Most Cloud Service Providers (CSP) provide ISO/IEC 27017 standard that assures safe cloud-based environments.
When done correctly, cloud pays off tremendously. Decision-making leaders must clearly define the objectives of the cloud services, and consider factors like data security, certification, and compliance. Additionally, there should be regular audits of cloud environment to prevent overprovisioning and identify unused cloud resources.
Additionally, it is important for leaders to be mindful of security vulnerabilities and not rely solely on CSPs for data security. Another important yet often overlooked aspect is the importance of culture – a culture of zero trust and high awareness to raise the bar on cyber security.
What are two key technologies you plan to focus and implement in 2023?
We have seen AI evolve in a spectacular fashion over the last few months, and we’ve seen how AI has accelerated digital transformation across sectors. Similarly, AI and ML will become an integral part of cloud computing in the coming months. We can expect increased automation, enhanced data security, and even improved self-learning capabilities that enterprises will embrace to stay fit-for-future. Although still a bit young, Kubernetes, an open-source system for automating deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications is increasingly gaining relevance in large enterprises for critical applications.
It is important to realize that technological trends can change quickly, and the world of cloud computing is constantly evolving. For enterprises with customer experience at the crux of transformation processes, it is critical to stay current on industry advancements and engage with expert partners for the most recent perceptions and implementation techniques.
Mr. Vish Srinivasan,
Executive Vice President,
BCT – TIBCO
