The cloud computing industry has grown significantly in recent years. According to industry analysts, the market more than doubled from around $30 billion in 2017 to $61 billion in 2020. It is projected to continue growing for the foreseeable future.
Around 81% of enterprises currently have a multi-cloud strategy that is already in place or is being implemented. A reported 67% already have an infrastructure that is entirely based in the cloud.
Unfortunately, despite the growing benefits of cloud computing, many organizations don’t know how to use the cloud effectively. They make a number of common mistakes, which can derail the execution of their cloud strategy.
Here are some common cloud management mistakes that your enterprise should avoid.
Not using the right tools
You need to use the right tools if you are relying on cloud technology. Solutions like Microsoft Azure can make a huge difference. You might want to take Microsoft Azure training courses if you need to learn the ropes.
Failing to understand where the servers are located
When you are using the cloud, the servers may be located anywhere in the world. Too many companies don’t find out where their servers are located before they start moving their data to the cloud.
There are a lot of reasons that this can be a mistake. One issue is that it is less efficient to exchange data between website visitors and servers in completely different countries. If all of your visitors are in one part of the world, then it makes more sense to use a cloud server that is closest to them.
You also have to be mindful of data storage regulations. Companies in certain industries like the healthcare sector must make sure that none of their data is stored on servers overseas. You must be careful about monitoring server location to ensure you don’t violate these regulations.
Neglecting to plan for scalability
One of the great things about the cloud is that you can purchase very flexible data storage plans. You can buy a plan with minimal data storage capabilities and bandwidth if you don’t expect to need to handle a large amount of traffic and data.
The problem is that traffic and data storage needs can grow exponentially when you least expect it. If you haven’t accurately forecasted your bandwidth and data storage needs, then you might find yourself completely unprepared with your current hosting plan.
Believing that the cloud is already adequately secure
The cloud is many things but being innately secure is not one of them. In fact, around 40% of enterprises have suffered a cloud data breach. This does not mean that it is impossible to have a secure cloud environment. However, it is going to take time and effort.
One of the reasons that data breaches have grown so much in recent years is that many companies that store their data on the cloud think that it is already secure enough. They get blindsided when they discover that there are security loopholes that they did not prepare for.
Your company needs to be aware of the different cloud security tools that you can put in place. This will help you minimize the risk of a cyberattack.
Forgetting to consult with your IT team about integration issues
You will need to speak with members of your IT department when you are trying to transition data to the cloud. They will need to give their input on the type of cloud environment that they are going to need and what steps need to be taken to set it up properly.
You are going to have a number of different applications and tools that your organization will depend on. Your IT team will have a better idea of how these applications will be integrated with each other. Make sure that you seek their expertise when you’re choosing a hosting plan.
Neglecting to make sure your data is properly backed up
You might believe that data is automatically backed up on the cloud. Unfortunately, it is not always backed up on the timetables that you need. You should find out what time intervals it is backed up on by default and change the settings if you need it done more regularly.
