The best of both worlds.

If you listened to all the latest buzz circulating in the tech world, you’d be led to believe that “cloud first” is always the way to manage IT. And there is some truth to that. After all, the cloud represents a powerful tool for transforming the way companies do business. But you’ve got to be smart about it, choosing the cloud infrastructure that best fits your organization and its specific needs.

That’s not always easy. There are a couple of different approaches your company can take – you might go with a full-bore cloud strategy, moving all your data onto a cloud platform en masse, or you might prefer hedging your bets by transitioning some files now and keeping others in a traditional data storage system for the time being. The reality is that most companies settle into some sort of middle ground, keeping some data in legacy systems and some in sanctioned cloud services such as Office 365. They might also splash in some workload-specific Software as a Service (SaaS) applications, plus perhaps a renegade cloud service or two. Truth be told, it’s often a pretty haphazard process.

It doesn’t need to be so haphazard. There’s nothing wrong with using a wide range of data storage platforms, but you can do it in a way that’s smart and organized. That’s what a hybrid cloud strategy is, and a lot of forward-thinking companies these days are using one. Some are keeping their sensitive data and applications on their own in-house systems, while making less sensitive data available on a public cloud. Others use a strategy that involves building a private cloud that is hosted on premises but accessible to remote teams via a secure login. Still other organizations are taking a multi-cloud approach to get all the benefits of more than one cloud-based infrastructure.

There’s no one right answer for everyone – it depends on your circumstances. But finding the right approach for your company should be a key strategic goal. In fact, this decision-making process is one that’s reshaping the role of IT in the enterprise. IT executives today aren’t merely responsible for procuring hardware and software – their role now includes managing integration across multiple environments and platforms, and doing it in such a way that drives stronger performance, lower costs and faster business growth.

When managed right, a hybrid cloud infrastructure can be more than an IT plan – it can be a key source of competitive advantage in business. Of course, this is far more likely to happen if you have a dedicated cloud infrastructure team on board that can draw up a detailed roadmap. This team should consist of business stakeholders and IT specialists, and it should have a comprehensive big-picture view of how your IT systems can be more efficient and cost-effective.

If you don’t have a team like this on staff, there’s no need to worry – the cloud experts at Zones can easily step in and play that role. At Zones, we offer a wide range of services that will help you design and implement your IT vision. Our specialists can help you assess your current storage performance, uncover future opportunities, and build a strategic path forward. With just a little bit of guidance, you can find the perfect cloud mix for your organization.

Eager to learn more about cloud technologies that can drive innovation for your enterprise? Keep browsing our website, or contact your Zones representative today to schedule a Cloud C.L.E.A.R. Workshop.

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