Cloud Transformation Myths

Organizations are in the midst of various stages of digital transformation and are searching for the right solutions to help them implement the best strategies and technologies to help them on their journey.

But there is a lot of information to sort through, and the learning curve can be high as organizations try to leverage the data and artificial intelligence that are driving change.

Ronald van Loon is a Citrix partner and was able to craft a series of videos that expose common myths about digital transformation so that businesses executives can overcome their hesitancy when approaching new digital transformation solutions.

We will uncover three widespread myths about the modern digital era and bring clarity to the solutions driving digital change from cloud technologies to security. That way, organizations can take the leap to the cloud and overcome their associated migration fears and the legacy systems holding them back.

Myth #1: On-Premises Security is the Best Security

Data architectures are growing, and legacy IT systems and virtual desktop infrastructures (VDIs) must enable and support analytics at scale. Businesses can implement desktop-as-as-service (DaaS), which brings the agility of the cloud to the management of on-premises desktops and applications.

Security is challenging for organizations to traverse as they try to align business goals with IT transformation and manage the evolving threat environment that comes with hybrid and remote working. Business systems need to be protected at all times, including employee devices, as they work in the office or at home.

Effective cybersecurity requires unique talents and skill sets to manage evolving threat landscapes while protecting employee and customer data. In addition, traditional IT systems need 24/7 support from employees to keep up to date on the latest cybersecurity threats and protect business systems around the clock. But this simply isn’t practical.

Modern businesses need help in focusing on security as much as functions and capability. Cloud services can help. In the cloud, security updates occur automatically, watermarking and anti-keylogging capabilities can prevent data loss, and behavior analytics helps notify teams in case of a potential breach.

The cloud helps organizations achieve their zero-trust cybersecurity goals and simplifies endpoint management, too, modernizing IT infrastructures and bringing organizations closer to true modernization.

So let’s debunk the myth right now that on-premises security is the best security. It’s clear that DaaS security and cloud security are much more adaptable and are better suited to support an organization’s digital transformation.

Myth #2 ROI and the Transition to the Cloud

Economics is always a top concern of executives looking to integrate new intelligence solutions into the organizations that drive digital transformation. Businesses want to know that they are saving money, and, when they are migrating to the cloud, they want to understand how it will help them reduce costs.

But many organizations are under the misconception that migrating to the cloud is too great a risk. Systems and technologies currently in place are working, and organizations have spent a lot of time integrating these solutions over time. These solutions might work for the short term, but they are not sustainable.

Organizations face many barriers moving into the future if they want to scale efficiently, and traditional IT infrastructures aren’t flexible and resilient. However, virtual applications and DaaS solutions don’t require capital expenditures and can be set up quickly using cloud-provided management. In addition, organizations have to look to a future of digital transformation, which involves implementing and scaling new technologies over time.

The cloud is perfect for modern, agile business models because:

• New workloads can be added to the cloud at any time.
• Businesses can pay for services that they use or want.
• They don’t have to deal with any associated hardware costs, data center space, or related IT equipment.

Organizations have to think about their existing VDIs and consider that they can’t keep up with the demands of a hybrid remote workforce or the support for a sudden increase in new customers or use cases.

So let’s be clear. Organizations might save some money leaving their existing infrastructures the way they are. But they should think about DaaS cost benefits. What happens if they have to implement new technologies or scale analytics moving into the future? How are they going to meet the demands of new customers or the needs of employees who want modern tools to help support their work?

It’s time to shed some light on this second myth about there not being sufficient ROI for a transition to the cloud. Businesses need a cloud foundation to meet current and future digital transformation initiatives.

Myth #3 Cloud Migration is Complex

Migrating to the cloud can be intimidating. However, with the right approach and ecosystem partnership, businesses can better manage their cloud transitions.

IT leaders are concerned that cloud and DaaS solutions will require a lot of additional talent and experience much downtime during the cloud migration process. But DaaS is flexible and helps businesses transition at their own pace to migrate existing VDIs and leverage their current investments, such as moving parts of their infrastructure to the cloud and keeping the rest in the data center.

Organizations need the capabilities that help them prepare and respond to disruption without experiencing any downtime to current operations. For example, businesses need the capabilities to scale with new customer mergers or acquisitions or to onboard new workers. DaaS helps organizations manage capacity to scale up or down as needed and manage apps and desktops from a single cloud.

We can expose our last myth that cloud migration is complex. Organizations can migrate at their own pace, leveraging existing investments and securing a cloud foundation that brings them flexibility in the face of future demands and business challenges. In addition, businesses can take advantage of better visibility and have support from a cloud migration partnership that helps them configure their on-premises workloads while migrating in stages that best suit their unique needs.

Support Digital Transformation with the Cloud

Businesses have a lot on their plate to implement new technologies, operations, and processes that help them prepare for a digital future. The cloud is an integral component of digital transformation for organizations across industries and acts as the foundation to support new digital solution requirements.

Cloud solutions will help organizations overcome their digital transformation challenges, the limitations of legacy IT systems, and common myths and fears about cloud migration. With the right cloud migration partnership, organizations can meet modern cybersecurity requirements, save costs, and reduce the complexities of transitioning to the cloud.

By Ronald van Loon