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Why embracing cloud evolutions will keep businesses connected

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Why embracing cloud evolutions will keep businesses connected 2

Introducing Cloud Connect for businesses

Cloud technology has been deeply embedded in businesses for years. However, despite the numerous benefits of cloud, there are still a few issues that businesses should be wary of. Namely security and availability.

Unless they’re willing to accept the large cost outlay that comes with a totally private cloud, businesses need to use the public internet to connect to the cloud. That approach often opens up security concerns, in many cases putting businesses in breach of their own IT policies, as well as those of legislators. For smaller businesses in particular the cost of lost data, coupled with fines and reputation damage, means a breach could well spell the end.

A similar concern is the latency and outage problems that come with over-the-internet connectivity. When using these solutions, businesses can’t choose the path their data traverses. There is always the risk of decreased throughput and increased data consumption charges – neither of which are conducive to a good customer experience or cost savings.

Put simply, businesses need a new way forward. Fortunately, there is one.

SSE Enterprise Telecoms’ Cloud Connect service enables businesses to connect directly to their Cloud Service Provider (CSP) of choice, without having to use the public internet, meaning businesses can ensure a reliable, secure connection with less risk of downtime and fewer latency challenges. The service can also ensure high performance network connectivity, directly to CSPs such as Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Cloud Connect offers a direct virtual connection from SSE Enterprise Telecoms’ Ethernet network to any chosen CSP, such as Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Office 365, VMware or Redstor.

Alongside a direct connection, it also provides:

> Secure, private connectivity, so users don’t have to share connections (and therefore bandwidth) with others

> Fixed quarterly OPEX cost, so they know how much is being spent

> A choice of bandwidth options, ensuring the solution is easily scalable and fully flexible

> A robust solution with agreed SLAs of 99.95%, and improved SLAs available

> Multiple Virtual Connections (VCs) provisioned at the same time for different CSPs

> A dedicated connection from a trusted provider with a Net Promoter Score of 70%+

> The ability to order this service directly via our online pricing and ordering tool, LIVEQUOTE

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Why embracing cloud evolutions will keep businesses connected 3

The benefits of embracing the cloud

To understand the true benefits of Cloud Connect, it’s essential to understand why it’s a necessary evolution of cloud, and why embracing cloud is vital in the first place.

The 2017 State of the Cloud report found that, on average, cloud users are running apps in four different clouds. And are likely to be experimenting with a further four. It shows us that businesses are increasingly comfortable with cloud computing1 and are beginning to understand exactly what works for (and benefits) them.

For example, UBS recently moved its risk management platform on to Microsoft’s Azure’s cloud and have seen a saving of 40% on infrastructure costs and gained nearly infinite scale within minutes2. Similarly, IDC found that 74% of tech Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) think cloud computing will have a measurable impact on their business in 20173. And the consumer space is dominated by cloud technologies and solutions, utilised by everyone from Facebook to high street banks.

IT Infrastructure Spend, Global, 2014-2016

Cloud users are running apps in four different clouds. And are likely to be experimenting with a further four.

1. Rightscale, 2017 (https://www.rightscale.com/lp/state-of-the-cloud)

2. Finextra, 2017 (https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/30495/ubs-moves-risk-platform-to-microsoft-azure cloud?utm_medium=newsflash&utm_source=2017-4-27)

3.IDC, 2017 (https://www.idc.com/getdoc.jsp?containerId=prUS42056416)

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

2013

2014

2015

2016

Traditional Data Center Public Cloud Private Cloud

9%

11%

13%

15%

14%

17%

20%

22%

76%

72%

67%

63%

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Why embracing cloud evolutions will keep businesses connected 4

The benefits of embracing the cloud (cont.)

Clearly, the overall benefits and reach of cloud are wide-ranging. But there are five specific advantages of cloud that every business should know about:

> Operational agility: easily scale bandwidth up or down as

required, enabling greater flexibility

> Security: not only because of the expertise that cloud providers

can bring to bear, but also because cloud encourages

businesses to develop strategic cloud plans

> Disaster recovery/business continuity: all businesses should

already have robust business continuity plans. But the cost of

infrastructure and expertise can be pricey. Cloud offers a more

affordable alternative. Intriguingly, currently SMEs are twice as

likely to have a recovery plan in place, compared with larger

organisations4

> Cost efficiencies: using the cloud moves IT spend away from

the traditional CAPEX model (where a large outlay of capital is

required, and the supporting hardware has to be continually

upgraded), to an OPEX, pay-as-you-grow model. Crucial, as

58% of cloud users cite cost savings as their top focus for 20175

> Improved productivity: cloud computing enables users to work

from any location and on any device (apps dependant). It also

enables increased collaboration between members and teams,

providing the ability to access, edit, share and create documents

without needing to be in the same room. Document control in

the cloud is also tighter – without the need to email documents

as attachments, versions will not be confused and access will

be correctly restricted.

4. Aberdeen, 2017 (http://www.aberdeen.com/research/9311/rr-smb-cloud-backup/content.aspx) 5. Rightscale, 2017 (https://www.rightscale.com/lp/state-of-the-cloud)

74%IDC found that 74% of tech Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) think cloud computing will have a measurable impact on their business in 2017

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Why embracing cloud evolutions will keep businesses connected 5

Finding the right cloud strategy

6. Rightscale, 2017 (https://www.rightscale.com/lp/state-of-the-cloud)7. https://www.ibm.com/blogs/cloud-computing/2013/09/top-five-advantages-of-software-as-a-service-saas/

The 2017 State of the Cloud report research found that 85% of enterprises have a multi-cloud strategy, with only 1% having no cloud plans at all6. The numbers overwhelmingly confirm that cloud is a priority for businesses. But, even so, there remains a level of confusion around which cloud strategy is the right one, based on business priorities and data usage.

Importantly, when defining a strategy, businesses must recognise that it’s not just about cloud. Instead it’s about the services that sit on top or alongside it. Based on that service platform, their offering will become one of the below:

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)

SaaS applications are run in the cloud, are owned and operated by a Cloud Service Provider and can be accessed via the internet.

Five benefits of SaaS7:

> Reduced time to benefit: the software is already installed, so services can be set up in a matter of hours, instead of months

> Lower costs: assets reside in a multi-tenant environment, where hardware and software licence costs can be shared, reducing the overall spend per customer

> Scalability and integration: the ability to scale and integrate is instant, as long as server capacity allows

> New releases (upgrades): Cloud Service Providers push software updates on their users at a much lower cost and in a much more flexible way than traditional methods

> Easy to use: SaaS offerings are easy to use as they already come with the best practices and samples

85%of enterprises have a multi-cloud strategy, with only 1% having no cloud plans at all

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Why embracing cloud evolutions will keep businesses connected 6

Finding the right cloud strategy (cont.)

Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)

PaaS enables the building and development of applications, but still removes the need for a big outlay of cost for the supporting hardware.

Five benefits of PaaS8:

> Innovate faster: applications can be set up, deployed and adapted quickly, allowing businesses to be more agile

> Save money: focus development resources and benefit from economies of scale, saving money while growing

> Stay up to date: with PaaS, platforms keep up with the business over time, ensuring that applications are always running on the latest and greatest

> Scale easily: ability to scale is near on instant with PaaS, meaning businesses can respond to unpredictable spikes in demand with greater flexibility

> Maximise uptime: determine availability goals to give a level of assurance and peace of mind

Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)

IaaS provides all computing resources, such as servers and storage, and businesses only pay for what they use.

Five benefits of IaaS9:

> Cost savings: IaaS means upfront infrastructure costs are no longer needed, plus businesses benefit from a pay-on-use model, meaning IT spend is not wasted on under-utilised assets

> Scalability and flexibility: IaaS providers generally have the latest, most powerful storage, servers and networking technology to accommodate the needs of their customers. So scaling up or down can be instant

> Supports disaster recovery: IaaS offers a consolidated disaster recovery infrastructure, reducing costs and increasing manageability

> Focus on growth: by moving infrastructure to a service-based model, organisations can focus their time and resources where they belong – on developing innovations in applications and solutions

> Faster time to market: IaaS provides elasticity and scalability – organisations can ramp up and get the job done (and the product or service to market) rapidly

8. https://www.engineyard.com/whitepapers/top-10-advantages-of-platform-as-a-service9. https://statetechmagazine.com/article/2014/03/5-important-benefits-infrastructure-service

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Why embracing cloud evolutions will keep businesses connected 7

From the right strategy to Cloud Connect

With the advance of cloud technology and the many benefits associated with it, now is the time for businesses to review their IT strategies. Part of that will mean a move away from aging, legacy equipment and a move towards cost-efficiencies and improvements in productivity with the flexibility that holistic cloud use can offer.

But even when they are using the cloud, businesses can do more. By coupling their cloud policy with Cloud Connect, they can gain more through additional security and a substantial performance boost with fewer latency concerns. At the same they can enjoy fixed quarterly costs and no large outlays.

Importantly, these Cloud Connect business benefits are not contingent on using a particular service platform or cloud provider. Cloud Connect works for anyone, anywhere – substantially boosting the potential of the cloud.

To find out more about Cloud Connect and securely connecting to your preferred Cloud Service Provider, take a look at our brochure, email us or call on 0345 070 1997.

By coupling their cloud policy with Cloud Connect, they can gain more through additional security and a substantial performance boost with fewer latency concerns.

Download our Cloud Connect brochure here