100% cloud is 100% achievable but not always the right way – Oracle

While the Internet of Things is the buzzword of the moment, the world of cloud computing has withdrawn to the shadows ever so slightly as the less ‘sexy’ component of the telco industry.

One aspect of cloud computing which is continuing to grab the attention of decision makers and vendors alike is the concept of 100% cloud. Vendors are pushing the concept for obvious reasons, and decision makers could be assuming the benefits can be scaled throughout the organization for a major win. But is the concept of 100% cloud right for enterprise?

“100% cloud is definitely possible and something which numerous organizations are striving towards,” said Neil Sholay, Head of Digital at Oracle. “There are many examples of organizations who have achieved this ambition, but you have to make a decision on why you are heading into the world of cloud.

“Is it a business decision or a deployment choice? If it is a deployment choice, 100% cloud could be the right decision, however from a business perspective you have to take into account such conditions as data sovereignty, governance and performance.”

The promise of cloud is faster, better and cheaper, and has excited IT professionals with currently untapped potential. Companies like AirBnB and Uber have revolutionized the digital economy, acting as one of the main catalysts of disruption. Though this excitement and promise could be seen as covering up a lack of understanding during the decision making process. This lack of understanding shouldn’t be linked back to the basic definitions of cloud computing, but more about the use cases. Some organizations could be seen as moving so quickly towards their cloud computing ambitions there isn’t time to ask the question of whether the cloud is right move.

“It’s now very rare we go to see customers and have to educate them on the benefits of the cloud and trying to convince them cloud is the right way forward,” said Sholay. “Businesses understand the cloud and are fully aware of what the benefits are. The question we are now asking people is are these customers ready for the cloud.

“That said some of the decisions can be lost in translation. People should be asking themselves why they actually want cloud, and then they should be asking what type of cloud they actually need to satisfy a business challenge. Is it third party or running their own private cloud? Sometimes cloud isn’t the right decision and the hybrid model, with a cloud mind set is the way forward.”

The role of cloud computing is now fully entrenched, but the question as to when and how is much more challenging. When the benefits are made so apparent, the ways in which money can be saved made so obvious and the potential for a competitive edge so appealing, it can be easy to get swept along with the momentum. The challenge for decision makers within enterprise organizations is to assess when the move to the cloud should take place, and what to keep on premise. Hybrid has proved to be a buzzword with effective staying power, and it would appear it still has legs.

“I think emotionally, decision makers are ready to aim for 100% cloud,” said Sholay. “We are seeing a lot more aspects move across to the cloud, some of which are moving faster than others. HCM, ERP, IoT and Mobility are moving very fast, but some are moving slower. The market is ready to aim for 100% cloud, but now people just need to ask whether that it the right decision for the business itself.”