What Is the First Step in the Process of Deploying a Cloud Computing Project?

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The on-demand availability of things like big data, computing power, and other computer service resources over the internet without the direct intervention of the user is known as cloud computing. Cloud computing is used by organisations to store large amounts of data without the necessity to deploy physical storage systems. Cloud computing programs help the employees to access information from anywhere in the organisation using any electronic device that is connected to the internet. The different types of cloud models are Public Cloud, Private cloud, and Hybrid Cloud.

There are different types of cloud computing services, such as -

• SaaS (Software as a Service) - Web-based software, often known as Software as a Service, is a method of delivering applications as a service over the Internet. It eliminates the need for complex software and hardware maintenance, and instead of installing software, the Internet is used to access it.
• PaaS (Platform as a Service) - A type of cloud computing in which a service provider provides clients with a platform that allows them to design, use and manage applications without having to construct or maintain an infrastructure.
• IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) - It is a type of cloud computing that provides consumers with on-demand servers, network, and storage resources over the internet on a pay-as-you-go premise. Within a service provider's infrastructure, organisations employ their own platforms and applications.

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Steps in the process of deploying -

The enabling of solutions, like SaaS (Software as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service), or IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), which can be accessed on demand by end-users or consumers is referred to as Cloud Deployment. Before user provisioning can come into effect, all of the necessary installation and configuration processes must be completed in the cloud.

The steps in the cloud adoption process include -

    1. Creating a thorough plan that starts with analysing cloud computing readiness.

• Key steps to assess cloud readiness-

Determining the business objectives for your cloud migration.

This can typically include consideration of aspects related to maintenance cost, scalability, resiliency, collaboration etc.

• Examining your team's potential and finding any skill gaps.

This typically includes considerations of aspects, like prior experiences, skills required, various tools and technologies, priorities, etc.

• Examining your existing IT infrastructure.

This includes considerations of aspects, like volume and purpose of usage, consumption levels, technologies, capabilities and limitations, etc.

• Determining your security needs.

Here, aspects like management of identity and access, obligations of compliance, mechanisms for disaster recovery, endpoint security and firewalls, etc., are considered.

• Assess your operational preparedness.

This includes considerations of aspects like ownership of operations, determining operational model, gaining consensus, disaster recovery, etc.

• Determining the budget

Here, aspects, like estimated growth rate of workload, infrastructure overhead, maintenance and training requirements, usage per month etc., are focused on.

    2. Aligning company processes with cloud services and making plans for centralised resources

Cloud computing depends on procedures and solutions that can be delivered by the cloud provider. Since cloud services are often managed outside an agency’s own IT infrastructure, aligning company processes with cloud services and making plans for centralised resources is crucial.

    3. Committing  to Service Level Agreements or SLAs

SLAs are agreements between a service provider and a customer that specifies what the customer can possibly expect from the provider. These are generally contractual in nature, and if the mentioned criteria are not fulfilled, a penalty can also be charged.

Conclusion-

An integrative approach that includes organisational preparedness, discovery and assessment of applications is known as cloud readiness assessment. Its main purpose is to offer the organisation with a gap analysis, and a list of applications that can be seamlessly migrated to the cloud.

There are various cloud computing certification courses available online that can help you learn the fundamentals of cloud computing to advance in your career.

This also includes defining the objectives of your organisation, documenting the goals you aim to achieve, making systematic assessments about your applications and workloads, selecting a cloud provider that would be able to help you to achieve your goals, and keeping track of any modifications.

FAQs-

    1. How can I determine which cloud computing option is best for my company's requirements?

There are various factors that you should consider before selecting a cloud computing option. Consider the certifications and standards, technologies and service roadmaps, SLA’s, migration support, security and policies, reliability and performance, and a company’s profile.

    2. Which workloads can be shifted to the Cloud?

Almost any workload can be moved to the cloud infrastructure. But it is important to examine the impact of a cloud migration, and pay careful attention to any regulatory requirements that may apply.