Empower your Cloud Adoption with the Right Consulting Services

Modern businesses understand that the cloud holds the key to the future. 5G, artificial intelligence, automation, and ecosystem-based applications offer much-needed flexibility, require low latency, and boost efficiency. Achieving all this in a minimal time frame may seem far-fetched, but not if businesses leverage the power of cloud consulting. When they utilize these services to their maximum potential, they can achieve business agility, expedite onboarding, and seamlessly execute their cloud strategy. But how do businesses single out a good cloud advisory, what exactly does cloud services consulting include, and what are their long-term benefits? Well, this blog will detail all these aspects systematically.

What is Cloud Consulting?

Cloud consulting involves a set of processes where organizations seek the counsel of cloud consultants for end-to-end management of cloud environments. Not only does cloud consulting boost innovation and business growth, but it also enhances performance and drives agility. Organizations can look forward to the following benefits with the right cloud infrastructure in place:

• Faster and smooth code deployments, databases, and application releases.
• Access to cloud resources and ensure optimal usage of the same
• Aligned deployment blueprints that increase the cloud applications’ stability, security, and performance.

Types of Cloud Consulting Services

Cloud consulting services can vary across organizations and can be divided into six categories.

1. Cloud Assessment

Cloud assessment is the first step in your cloud adoption to discover the readiness and complexity of your cloud transformation project by performing an assessment of the current technology landscape and arriving at an execution roadmap to migrate to a cloud environment based on the organization’s vision.

Cloud assessment analyzes the fitment of a portfolio/group of applications and application dependencies like application architecture/framework/library stacks, containerization readiness with blockers drill down to the code level, potential microservices for the cloud-native application, DevOps readiness, etc., and recommends the most accurate cloud transformation strategies to be considered.

2. Cloud Advisory

Organizations transitioning to the cloud will need a cloud advisory to define strategy, gain access to impartial advice, address technical lags, manage organizational changes and understand pricing models and purchasing options. It can help improve governance and accountability, enhance optimization measures, ensure rightsizing and aid with the end-to-end cloud infrastructure migration process. Cloud advisors work in tandem with data analysts to figure out the best strategies suited for changing business needs.

3. Cloud Migration

Transitioning to the public, private or multi-cloud requires formulating a holistic migration strategy for individual workloads and data centers. Cloud consultants manage the entire process and help organizations undergo preventive maintenance for the best results. It ensures that information is secured, stays uncorrupted, and data centers are preserved in the case of infrastructural changes and system failures.

4. Modernization & DevOps

DevOps transformation provides businesses with tools and strategies for modernizing applications. Identifying opportunities and strengths via specific assessments leads to seamless management of the DevOps pipeline with ongoing cultural guidance. With applications customized for business needs, organizations can look forward to smoother work mechanisms and reduced wait times.

5. Data & Analytics

57% of organizations lack the analytical expertise necessary to meet business needs. Organizations in the nascent stages of their cloud journey can expedite the same by enhancing their analytical insights by letting cloud consultants design and build the right framework. Smoother operations, seamless mitigation of risks, and personalized customer experiences are other things organizations can look forward to.

6. Compliance, Security, & Business Continuity

Security and compliance at each cloud layer are the stepping stones to seamless cloud infrastructure. Cloud advisors provide services that let organizations monitor their cloud environments 24/7/365. Seamless business continuity offers ease of access to IT personnel and other employees, which ensures that businesses can work on strengthening their data management goals and stay miles ahead of competitors.

7. Cloud Operations & Optimization

Optimization ensures the smooth functioning of cloud environments. Outsourcing the responsibility to a cloud consulting firm can help organizations maximize the performance of cloud assets. With reduced costs, optimum cloud utilization, and flexibility of work practices, businesses can look forward to revamping their IT processes in a strategic and streamlined manner.

8. Cloud Financial Management

Cloud financial management helps organizations plan, track, and optimize cloud costs. It enables organizations to manage their cloud spending in a way that maximizes their investment and helps avoid any cloud billing surprises while improving IT productivity.

Different Ways Organizations Can Deploy Cloud Services

Cloud deployment needs vary from business to business. Multiple factors like storage, infrastructure, and data analytics must be considered to single out a service.

a) Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

Base infrastructure is offered in IaaS, and end users must configure and manage the platform and deploy applications. AWS (EC2), GCP (CE), and Microsoft Azure (VM) are used by enterprises to simplify their cloud transformation journey. Cost saving, on-demand scalability, improved focus on business growth, and guaranteed uptimes make IaaS a viable option for businesses. However, security issues, lack of flexibility, regular upgrades and maintenance, and user-privacy issues must be addressed beforehand.

b) Software as a Service (SaaS)

Also known as “On-demand software,” end-to-end management is done by vendors. From runtime data, middleware, virtualization, storage, servers, and networking can be used by end-users using a thin client via web browsers. SAP, Salesforce, and Gmail let clients use applications best via multiple browsers.
Lower capital expenditures, ease of access, saved maintenance costs, simplified deployment, and scalability make SaaS a business’s first choice. On the other hand, issues related to connectivity, service level agreements, control, and security are significant adoption barriers.

c) Platform as a Service (PaaS)

Herein end-users can run, develop, and manage applications without maintaining or building the infrastructure. Google App Engine, CloudFoundry, Heroku, and AWS (Beanstalk) are some examples of PaaS. Streamlined production, cost-savings, omnichannel access, and reduced in-house IT resources make PaaS an excellent choice for enterprises. At the same time, no mechanisms to manage in-house security, incompatibilities with current systems, limitations based on product functionality, and patchy platform transitions are not suited for organizations.

d) Container as a Service (CaaS)

Container engines, underlying resources, and orchestration are delivered to users via cloud providers in container-based virtualization. Google Container Engine(GKE), AWS (ECS), Azure (ACS), and Pivotal (PKS) are some examples of CaaS. Agile functioning, platform-agnostic environment, improved data security and protection, and ease of creation with Portability set CaaS apart from other cloud services. However, security issues, high costs, and performance limitations must be eliminated before cloud transformation.

e) Function as a Service (FaaS)

It provides a platform allowing customers to develop, run, and manage application functionalities without the complexity of building and maintaining the infrastructure. AWS (Lamda) and Google Cloud Function are some examples of FaaS. Scalability, simplified code, and decreased latency make it an ideal choice for businesses. But, vendor lock-ins, testing hurdles, and cold starts put it at a disadvantage regarding other cloud services.

Business Benefits of Cloud Consulting Services

Cloud consulting services can simplify organizational digital transformation initiatives and ensure smooth data transfers.

1. Reduced Migration Costs

Cloud consulting companies enable the development of the best migration strategies for businesses which in turn can reduce costs and efforts on redevelopment efforts in the long run. Besides, with optimal resource orchestration patterns that include auto-scaling for load surges and services tailored for specific cases, cloud consulting services can make a business reach higher echelons of success.

2. Reduce Technical Debt

Cloud consulting service providers perform a detailed analysis of your IT state, portfolio, business initiatives, and growth patterns, helping build a plan for an open, flexible architecture that supports customers’ needs. It improves an organization’s ability to respond and adapt faster to changing market needs and stay ahead of the competition.

3. Enhanced Development Speed

Cloud consulting services have an in-depth understanding of DevOps processes, testing and delivery, and code integrations. Besides, businesses also get access to tailor-made cloud services that can easily fit into their apps rather than writing code from scratch. Organizations get access to a fault-tolerant architecture and can be assured of leveraging the best practices of cloud performance management. Thus, ensuring faster recovery and high-app reliability.

4. Better Security

Cloud consultants let businesses encrypt data in transit and at rest. Besides, organizations can also establish effective user behavior policies, conduct security training, and establish granular access. As organizations continue to grow in size and value, data protection can become a huge hassle. Cloud consulting services will save businesses from getting lost in that maze and focus on business objectives.

How to Choose the Right Cloud Consulting Company?

Here are some parameters businesses need to take care of before finalizing cloud services consulting.

1. Independent Operations and Expertise

IT consultants need to find the best options for businesses. Companies with an unbiased knowledge base and hands-on experience on Amazon Web Services(AWS), Google Cloud, Azure, and DigitalOcean, and leveraging open source platforms as an alternative will be an ideal fit. Also, cloud consultants or companies with transparent work processes, credible testimonials, sound technical mastery, and the right soft skills to deal with organizational challenges will make cloud journeys simple.

2. Adherence to Service Level Agreements

Clarity on service level agreements and expected response times is a must. With the right timelines, organizations can look forward to achieving goals and expectations and work with a free mind for a monthly fee. Moreover, cloud consultants with knowledge of data sharing rules and, most importantly, HIPAA compliance must be given priority. Cloud consulting services that stay up-to-date with the latest rules and regulations can make or break an organization’s data.

3. Team Expertise

Cloud consultants function as a team, and independent advisors are not adept when a software upgrade needs to be performed. A team can answer complex questions, address mid-project breakdowns, and complete projects with unparalleled finesse.
With changing needs, firms offering customized cloud computing should be a business’s first choice. It is imperative to analyze documentation and check past works and accomplishments before taking the plunge.

4. Data Backups

Cloud consulting services providing daily backups must be prioritized over the ones that don’t. Restoring data and seamless migration processes are parameters that need to be taken care of when selecting a provider. Network and server-level security measures protect against data theft and manipulation. Reliable service providers must be well-versed with prevention systems (IDS & IPS), access control systems, enterprise-grade firewalls, data encryption, and multi-factor authentication.

5. Data Security

Cloud consultants provide end-to-end data security by following best practices that protect cloud computing environments, applications running in the cloud, and data held in the cloud. A proactive data security plan secures the cloud against data breaches, has a disaster recovery plan in place, eliminates vulnerabilities, generates access levels, and follows regulatory compliance as per the organization’s data privacy policies.

Hyperscale Your Journey with Hexaware

With the right strategy, features, and requirements, businesses can be sure that their cloud platforms will yield the best results with Hexaware. Hexaware’s patented IP platform amaze^® enables organizations to look forward to maximizing ROIs and seamlessly identify key use cases. The focus of the amaze^® enterprise-wide cloud platform is to bridge the gap between an enterprise’s current on-premises state and the to-be cloud environment.
Amaze^®‘s processes are foolproof as they involve detailed cloud maturity assessments, where existing workloads, operational procedures, and customer journeys are mapped while ensuring data security on cloud. It also encompasses a cloud economic toolkit, fine-grained migration/modernization patterns, templates, and best practices to ensure robust architecture, security, compliance, and performance. Thus, amaze^® not only reduces the technical and monetary debt but also helps fuel strategic investments and innovation.