Few things to consider before building your private cloud
Private cloud is a way to leverage your existing IT infrastructure, which composes of the overall computing power, storage, networking, and virtualization by providing on-demand computing services to either your customers or users.
Cloud computing is driving technology innovation, and most IT executives are moving towards this new era and changing their IT processes; according to
IDC Cloud Survey, “Most enterprise customers are likely to find their organizations relying on a mixed public, private, and non-cloud resources.” Similarly, one of the research that Gartner conducted in May 2011, “Private cloud services should be designed with long-term interoperability and migration in mind, thus enabling the choice of hybrid cloud computing as some point” 3 Deep, Dark Secrets of Cloud Computing
When it comes to building your private cloud, it is a big decision, and there are couples of things you need to understand before implementation.
These are some of the things you might want to consider:
You have to consider the cost of running and maintaining the cloud infrastructure, but if you choose a cloud provider (Amazon Web Service – EC2, RackSpace, Salesforce, Microsoft or others), you need to understand which Cloud company can offer the best solution that will streamline your operation and add value to your business.
Outline the benefits of what implementing a private Cloud will offer to your customers and your stockholders.
The returns on your investment for executing your private Cloud when compared to a public Cloud. Likewise, the benefits have to offset the costs.
Companies should empower the IT operation to control access and maintain and secure your Cloud. In some cases, there are complaints by developers and application users/admins that the IT infrastructure frequently delays the time it takes setting up the system for a request for a traditional data center. Even though Cloud computing increases efficiency and enhances business agility, I believe that Cloud infrastructure should be controlled and managed by IT administrators.
Cloud security should be measured when adopting private cloud. The IT security team needs to protect and avoid security breaches to the cloud infrastructure and all the services that contain your cloud services.
You need to understand contract and license fees with vendors and providers to make sure you are not locked into any vendor’s contract that could prevent you from adopting a different seller.
Investment in top talent that will implement your private cloud.
