Things Every Organization must be Aware of while Migrating to Cloud

Holding an MBA in Business Administration & Management from Symbiosis International University, Anuj boasts of a 26 years long career during which he has had successful stints with Wipro Technologies and RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group, prior to joining Tech Mahindra in 2021. Some of his key areas of expertise include driving delivery transformation, revenue, customer delight, profitability, talent growth and development across organization.

In a recent interaction with Siliconindia, Anuj Bhalla, President and Global Head - Integrated Cloud & Delivery Excellence, Tech Mahindra shared his insights various aspects pertaining to cloud technology and migrating to hybrid cloud. Below are a few highlights of the exclusive interview

Throw some light on the key factors driving the demand for cloud technology in India.

Being a tech savvy lot, today's Gen-Z millennials are one of the key drivers for increased digital innovation in India in recent times. As a result, the nation has become a bedding ground for fast-track adoption of new emerging technologies, and prominent among them is the cloud technology. The high level of computational power offered by the cloud, along with scalability, cost-effectiveness, global accessibility, faster time-to-market, enhanced security and collaborative ecosystems has paved the way for numerous hyperscalers and startups to explore multiple use cases and bring transformative innovations to various industries. The pandemic has been a critical driver for organizations across industries and sectors to adopt Digital Transformation on the foundation of Cloud technologies.

Be it enabling the policy landscape or the proliferation of AI use cases like NLP, Generative AI, or revolutionizing digital payments through the adoption of UPI or personalizing healthcare experience, the adoption of the cloud gives an edge. Another important aspect has been the growing awareness around sustainability and with Green-data centers coming into play, we are going to see a further traction in adoption of cloud as organizations look to cut down on their carbon footprint.

How are organizations integrating other cutting-edge technologies with cloud to get optimal results? 

Today, we are witnessing a convergence of emerging technologies such as Metaverse, IoT, AI, ML, Quantum and many others, with cloud providing a foundation for these technologies to thrive. While metaverse is enabling seamless delivery of content by creating immersive virtual environments and enhancing real-time interactions across different devices to improve user experiences, quantum computing is enabling businesses to handle complex calculations and simulations at an unprecedented scale. Similarly, edge computing is helping businesses to process data locally on edge devices or nearby servers to achieve improved latency and communication. Also, serverless platforms like AWS Lambda or Azure Functions are enabling organizations to auto-scale applications based on demand, downsizing cloud upkeep complexity. Furthermore, platforms like Docker and Kubernetes are facilitating companies to improve scalability, increase agility and promote resource efficiency. These transformative experiences also foster innovation, improve efficiency, enhance security, enable personalized interactions, and create new possibilities across industries.

Suggest a few key factors that organizations must consider while migrating to cloud.

Organizations which have undertaken cloud migration journeys are starting to see headwinds such as cloud gridlock, RoI on the cloud migration, cloud chaos and so on. Hence, it is critical to conduct a meticulous business case analysis to develop a deep understanding of the purpose of adopting the cloud and how it aligns with the overall strategic direction. Additionally, it is crucial to evaluate the compatibility of cloud-enabled technologies with existing legacy applications and the kind of business disruption such a transition would involve.

The first step in getting started is to define the objectives and asses the cloud provider reliability, availability, customer support, SLAs, geographic coverage and compatibility. Also, check if the cloud provider has all security measures like encryption, access controls, vulnerability management and regulatory compliance. Develop a well-thought migration plan considering application prioritization, sequencing, downtime tolerance and business impact. Additionally, the organization must evaluate scalability requirements to meet performance expectations during peak usage periods and invest in employee training and change management strategies to utilize cloud services effectively.

How can enterprises leverage the combination of cloud and on-premise infrastructure effectively to optimize their functions?

Adopting a hybrid cloud strategy and combining cloud & on-premise infrastructure will enable businesses to achieve scalability, flexibility, cost optimization, data integration and application modernization while ensuring better control and security for critical workloads. Hybrid cloud offers organizations the ability to host their critical and sensitive data on private on-premise servers while utilizing the public cloud for less sensitive data and applications. One of the key benefits of a hybrid cloud is its centralized management, which simplifies the implementation of robust technical security measures. These measures include encryption, automation, access control, orchestration and endpoint security, which in turn enable effective risk management. By leveraging the hybrid cloud model, organizations can strike a balance between data security, compliance and cost optimization, thus making it a compelling choice for modern enterprises seeking a versatile and reliable cloud computing strategy.

What does the future hold for cloud technology in the coming years?

Cloud technology has evolved significantly over the years, providing the foundation for the maturation of Generative AI solutions within enterprises. As value-driven modernization efforts continue to progress, businesses are starting to shift their focus towards industry clouds and generative AI to accentuate growth and enhance the end-user experience. Unlike one-size-fits-all horizontal solutions, these industry cloud platforms focus on customization, performance, and scalability, thus unlocking the unrivalled potential for businesses.

Also, while providers are leveraging Generative AI to improve their cloud offerings, enterprises are embedding it into their ecosystems to unlock new possibilities. Generative AI-specific portfolios, partnerships and relevant talent in the field are together enabling the accelerated delivery of cloud services. Also, the industry cloud adoption is allowing enterprises to bridge the gap between value realized and monetary benefits. Undoubtedly, by prioritizing business-focused growth, end-user experience, and innovation, enterprises can unlock varied use cases, propelling them to success.