Four Items You May Be Missing in Your Multi-Cloud Strategy

If your cloud migration strategy has become a multi-cloud strategy, you’re not alone. Many enterprises find that a mix of public and private cloud solutions is the right combination to achieve optimal performance and best support their security policies. While key stakeholders in your organization may be excited about the potential of the cloud, it’s important to be sure that your plans have covered every critical consideration.

Take a look at four common omissions in a multi-cloud strategy:

Failure to include an exit strategy: You’ll be working with a variety of providers, and your strategy likely includes certain items you’re looking for with each provider you select. What if one or more doesn’t live up to your expectations or doesn’t fulfill the service level agreement (SLA)? You’ll need a plan for ending the relationship with your provider without incurring additional costs or disrupting business processes. You’ll need an estimate of how long it would take you to move your data and what that transition would cost, and it should be built into your budget.

Not considering downtime: Even major, reputable providers have had disruptions in service lasting an entire day. Be sure to ask for specific numbers, and include in your SLA a requirement of 99% minimum uptime.

Outdated permissions and data security: Every multi-cloud strategy should have a policy for the regular updating of login and password information. Hackers can target a few old permissions in the system, so it’s important to keep these files updated.

The likelihood of a breach increases if your strategy doesn’t include a specific set of policies around data security and compliance. You need security management policies organized around data and data access, with particular attention given to credential management.

Not focusing enough attention on a change management plan: A switch to a multi-cloud environment is disruptive to business processes, and while it holds potential for cost savings, productivity improvements and better customer experiences, it also comes with upheaval. Take time to fully flesh out what training will be necessary, how you’ll get feedback from staff, and how you’ll get buy-in from all levels along the way. From the first evaluation of a solution through testing and implementation, it’s important to schedule additional time for interruptions, more training needed and other bumps in the road to a multi-cloud environment.

Your multi-cloud strategy may introduce new levels of efficiency and reduce costs related to maintenance and hardware, but an otherwise sound multi-cloud strategy can be derailed with a few overlooked steps. Take time to fully address these issues so that you don’t introduce unnecessary delays or costs.

To begin exploring the benefits your enterprise could experience with a more complete multi-cloud strategy, contact us at Access One. We offer a consultative, hands-on approach to helping you select the right solutions to eliminate downtime and optimize performance.