A Deep Dive Into Cloud Optimisation

Over 90% of organizations have embraced cloud computing, yet merely 30% possess precise insight into the allocation of their cloud-related expenditures. However, this surge in cloud adoption has introduced a host of complexities. In this blog, we'll take a deep dive into what cloud optimisation I, how it can help 

What Is Cloud Optimisation

Cloud migration is the process of moving applications, data and other types of business components to Cloud. There are several components of cloud migration an organization needs to perform and the most widely used model is the applications and data transfer through an on-premises and local data centre to any public cloud. 

Why Optimising the Right Way is so Important

The introduction of new cloud services with varying cost structures has, for some organisations, led to increased IT spending rather than the anticipated cost savings. Without the requisite skills and expertise, coupled with the appropriate tools, the cloud migration process can quickly become bewildering and financially burdensome.

As an increasing number of businesses strive to enhance their operational efficiency, the reduction of this excess expenditure has assumed paramount importance. Through vigilant and ongoing monitoring of your IT infrastructure, cloud optimization can enable the judicious selection of the most appropriate resources for specific tasks. This process also identifies opportunities for cost reduction and the elimination of waste.

Best Practices for Cloud Optimization

The following steps outline the key areas of focus when planning a cloud optimization project:

1. Attain comprehensive visibility over your cloud environment: The acquisition of relevant data is the initial step. Many organizations, particularly those utilizing cloud service providers like Microsoft Azure, may already have access to robust reporting tools. Alternatively, collaborating with cloud optimization specialists can assist in identifying the most impactful data points.

2. Measure the metrics that are of paramount importance: While cost reduction is a common objective, there is no mandatory obligation to reduce expenses. An increase in cloud spending in areas critical to an organization's priorities can have a positive impact on revenue and application performance. Therefore, it is imperative to establish the specific priorities of your organization and determine how cloud optimization can support them.

3. Rightsize your resources: In some instances, users of cloud resources may have not only the incorrect instance size but also an inappropriate instance type. Similarly, developers may inadvertently leave resources running idle, resulting in oversized, costly instances and wasted computational power. Addressing these missteps is essential to achieving optimal resource utilization.

4. Introduce automation: Leveraging Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools, such as AWS CloudFormation, to automate infrastructure provisioning is a highly efficient approach to cloud management. This minimizes manual tasks, reduces the potential for human errors, and enhances your cloud continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipeline.

5. Review pricing plans: With numerous pricing options available in cloud computing, it is easy for things to become convoluted. To curtail cloud spending, organizations should explore Savings Plans and Reserved Instances, both of which offer substantial discounts compared to On-demand pricing. These pricing models are particularly suitable for long-running and steady-state workloads.

6. Continually monitor and improve: Cloud optimization is most effective when treated as an ongoing initiative. Embed the process within your overarching cloud strategy, continually monitor the most relevant metrics, and adjust them as your business objectives evolve.

Five Benefits of Cloud Optimization

1. Alignment of Costs with Services Cloud optimization enhances efficiency by appropriately aligning resources with the requirements of applications and workloads. Real-time visibility into spending and usage data allows organizations to align their costs with business Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), thus establishing a direct link between spending and return on investment (ROI). Data-driven insights enable users to evaluate and tailor each service offering to meet their specific needs.

2. Reduction in Cloud Expenditure By diligently monitoring cloud costs, organizations can gain powerful control over their infrastructure. It is estimated that following optimization, most companies can achieve a reduction in cloud costs ranging from 20% to 30%.

3. Enhanced Cloud Application Performance Overprovisioning and excessive network traffic can lead to suboptimal application performance. Cloud optimization identifies opportunities to remove or scale down resources, enabling organizations to run workloads more efficiently.

4. Increased Productivity With greater control over their infrastructure, organizations can detect and address issues more promptly. An optimized environment, coupled with automated processes, allows developers to allocate more time to the creation of new products and experiences for end users.

5. Improved Cloud Utilization The vast array of cloud solutions available can be overwhelming. Cloud optimization makes it easier to discern which features are essential to an organization's operations. Moreover, practices like auto-scaling allow for the dynamic adjustment of cloud resources based on workload demands.

Cloud Optimization with entrust IT

Entrust IT Cloud Optimization services are custom-tailored strategies designed to enable organizations to fully leverage their IT infrastructure. Our offerings can take the form of a one-time consultancy engagement aimed at identifying immediate efficiency gains or as part of an ongoing managed service designed to implement architectural changes that reduce costs and enhance sustainability. 

If you need help figuring out the best strategy for getting an application to the cloud, or are looking for a partner with extensive cloud experience to migrate with, then the entrust IT Group are here. We have over 15 years of experience in moving businesses to the cloud and take time to get to know their unique requirements. As a result, we form a cloud migration strategy that is right for them in the long-term, not just the most convenient at present. Please get in touch on 0330 002 0045 or email enquries@entrustit.co.uk to have a chat with one of our experienced consultants to take the next step.