Cloud Transformation: using the cloud to accelerate your business
Cloud Computing is one of the main technologies used to support digital transformation of companies and can be defined as an ecosystem of tools and services that can be used in multiple ways, in order to create value for the company and accelerate its transformation.
Specifically, the cloud allows you to take advantage of IT resources (servers, storage resources, software, databases ...) via a remote server, which are provided as a service on consumption by a provider. The cloud therefore offers flexible resources, both software and hardware, which make it possible to grow and transform the business model, reducing infrastructure costs and time-to-market.
Advantages of Cloud Computing
The use of Cloud Computing represents a big change compared to the traditional use of IT resources. Here are some advantages for companies:
- cost reduction: the cloud allows you to eliminate the costs related to the installation and management of hardware and software technologies, providing each company with the possibility to pay only for the services it really needs;
- scalability: the amount of IT resources used by the company can be flexibly and as necessary scaled down;
- speed: most cloud computing services, such as computing resources, are delivered on request and in a few minutes;
- security: many providers offer specific technologies and controls to increase the security of cloud services.
Types of Cloud Computing
There are different types of technology and cloud models, each with its own characteristics and advantages, to offer the solution that best suits the needs of the company. Cloud services can be implemented in three different ways: public cloud, private cloud and hybrid cloud.
In the case of a public cloud, the infrastructure is owned by a third-party provider who provides IT services, such as servers and storage resources, over the Internet. The company pays on consumption only for the services it uses.
Private cloud models offer the company a completely dedicated and internally managed infrastructure. A private cloud can reside in the company's data center, or it can be entrusted to a third-party provider who will take care of all management and maintenance operations.
A hybrid cloud environment uses both public and private cloud in order to make the best of both. Based on technologies that allow the sharing and movement of data and applications, hybrid clouds offer great flexibility and help optimize processes and security.
Three models of Cloud services: IaaS, PaaS and SaaS
Cloud computing services fall into three categories: infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS) and software as a service (SaaS).
In the case of infrastructure distributed as a service or IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), the provider offers companies cloud infrastructures (servers, virtual machines, networks, storage resources) where they can install and manage their applications independently. Resources are paid according to consumption and are scalable according to business needs.
PaaS (Platform as a Service) or platform distributed as a service, offers companies an optimized environment for the development, testing, and distribution of software applications.
SaaS (Software as a Service) or software as a service provides for the distribution of ready-to-use software applications managed through a cloud infrastructure. The company can access services and software on-demand, incurring costs based on actual consumption.
Cloud market in Italy in 2019
According to a study conducted by the Osservatorio Cloud Transformation of the Politecnico di Milano, the Italian Cloud Computing market is currently worth 2.77 billion euros compared to 2.34 billion in 2018 (+ 18%), confirming a trend of fruition IT services, with a hybrid and multi-cloud approach, and applications as a service that continues to grow.
In particular, 82% of Italian companies use at least one public cloud service and show that they understand that the cloud is the way forward for greater agility of corporate IT. Although the technology is increasingly mature, 58% of companies continue to face difficulties in identifying professional profiles with specific skills in cloud management.
Large companies have understood that the benefits of the cloud are not only linked to costs, but also to better process quality and innovation opportunities. The path of Cloud Transformation therefore has an increasingly strategic importance and about 31% of large companies consider the cloud as the first choice for new digital projects.
For SMEs, the road is still long since only 30% of them use cloud services. The lack of internal skills and organizational maturity slows down the process of transformation and seems to be the real elements on which it is necessary to work.
Internet & Idee has the skills and experience to support companies in the transition to the cloud. Request a consultation with our experts now!
