Proactive Approaches: Transitioning to the Hybrid Cloud

Cloud computing is compelling businesses to change the way that they run their IT departments, and it represents a real opportunity for IT leaders.

Cloud providers store data, manage applications, and make updates--all of which is quite a change from the traditional way that IT administrators functioned within their organizations. Instead of maintaining systems, IT professionals now must take a proactive role in the strategic planning of cloud adoption. By doing so, they can prove even more valuable to their companies and help streamline the transition.

IT: Shifting Roles

When a business adopts a hybrid IT model, which is a combination of using private and public clouds, it provides IT administrators with a chance to transition their role from overseer to relationship builder. This opportunity arises especially because IT leaders are the ones responsible for brokering a deal with a cloud provider.

IT leaders should keep the following in mind when trying to lead a successful transition:

• They must determine solutions based on the company’s objectives.
• They must communicate effectively with the cloud provider to understand that provider’s capabilities and services.
• Before transitioning data and applications, it’s important that IT administrators take data privacy into account when selecting cloud solutions for their businesses.
• They must also assume a management role in making sourcing decisions about which information goes to which model of cloud.
• Lastly, they need to establish a cloud governance policy and collaborate with experts to determine business-process agility.

The foundation for ensuring a successful transition is communication. It’s important that individuals in charge take all factors into account before developing cloud-based solutions for their companies. By doing so, it ensures the transition runs smoothly and that relevant personnel within that organization are kept in-the-know.

New Roles Means New Responsibilities

With a transition to cloud-based services, there will be new roles that IT professionals must fill. Here is a look at just some of these roles:

• Leadership: This is the overseer who is the driving force behind transitioning to hybrid IT while communicating effectively with all personnel to ensure a smooth transition.
• Cloud architects: These are the professionals that make suggestions based on the design of cloud services.
• Legal: This is the person or group that works with the cloud provider to select the right services for their organizations.
• Security: They may work in conjunction with the legal team, and they provide the decision makers with information to help them make an informed decision about which cloud providers are most likely to protect their data.

By taking a proactive approach when adopting a cloud-based model, IT administrators can adjust their roles to meet their company’s needs.

Overall, when companies adopt a hybrid IT model, it’s important that they effectively communicate the changes and adjust roles of IT employees within their companies to meet these new challenges. By being proactive in their strategic approach, IT administrators can help their organizations take advantage of the many benefits that hybrid cloud models deliver.