How to achieve flexible IT provision – four tips

Businesses and organisations can never sit back and relax with an attitude of “it’ll all work out”. Most people realised this before the pandemic hit last spring, but the consequences of Covid-19 made it painfully clear how important it is to have an agile operating model capable of adapting to rapid change. Read on to see how to take the first steps toward flexible IT provision that cuts costs without cutting corners on on security.

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Studies and analyses carried out since the outbreak of the pandemic all point to the same thing. Remote working and online meetings are here to stay, as is an ever-faster pace of change. This means businesses must constantly challenge old structures that inhibit change. They must continue to be just as bold, flexible and quick-off-the-mark as many proved to be when the pandemic struck.

For most businesses, in concrete terms this means a fundamental shift to make their organisation more flexible and keep it that way.

For many, moving to the kind of scalable solutions offered by hybrid cloud services is a first step towards a flexible digital strategy, and there are many vendors today who can help businesses create a hybrid IT environment that is flexible, secure and supports an evolving modus operandi. However, to maximise the positive impact of the cloud for your business, you’ll need to look beyond the technology. Although these solutions are relatively straightforward to implement, the path to optimum cloud operation is often strewn with challenges that need to be continually addressed. This requires new work processes and flexibility in the way IT is managed.

4 Steps to flexible IT provision

1: Develop a sound strategy

A flexible business strategy is about developing processes that help your organisation to work smarter.

Each business is unique, so, to develop a strategy that suits your particular needs, you must start where you are, with your specific needs; there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all solution. Consider who should take charge of these matters and whether you need to bring in external expertise to set up new processes and systems.

2: Consider your specific needs and circumstances. Cloud solutions for risk mitigation

As you probably know, there are many different types of agile digital solutions. In IT, hybrid cloud solutions are often the first step toward a more agile business. As they can be scaled up and down to suit, they are both cost-effective and adaptable. However, the journey to the cloud is not without challenges. Every cloud journey is truly unique; it’s not plug’n’play according to a standard template.

Various factors influence the development of the most secure, technically best and most cost-effective solution for you. These can be:

How far you have come in your digital journey
What systems you use today
The most suitable technical solution based on your needs in relation to functionality, security and budget

The key to a successful cloud journey is to set up a long-term cloud strategy based on sound preparation. This work should involve teams from different parts of the business who can work together to develop a plan for making the most of the cloud. The focus should be on the desired effect for your business. Although important, the technology itself is not the decisive factor.

3: Reap the cost benefits of the cloud

Having decided that cloud solutions will be part of your digital strategy, the next step is to ensure you keep costs down and only pay for what you use – one of the great benefits of cloud solutions.

Allowing a cloud partner to manage your infrastructure and make your costs visible can save you a lot of money. It is also an advantage to build the cloud structure from scratch to make costs transparent. Transferring your infrastructure operations to a partner also gives you greater control of the solution so you’re not at risk of losing control of costs, development and administrative issues.

4: Never walk alone

Ideally, never walk the path to flexible IT alone. Seeing your organisation as others see it is never easy, so cross-border cooperation within and outside your organisation is a crucial factor in identifying new opportunities quickly. This is also the key to a flexible corporate culture.

Accepting help from a partner ensures you get the best solutions for your digital strategy, while your business is always ready for future fluctuations. A partner can help you challenge existing corporate culture, and identify new business models and work processes for moving forward.

To dare to try new solutions and possibly fail, you have to be confident of your decisions. Working with seasoned experts who are engaged, proactive and agile is the foundation for precisely this peace of mind, benefiting your business, customers and employees alike. It also frees up time to develop your business.

Curious about how Basefarm could help make your organisation more agile?
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Download the Guide To A Multicloud Strategy

The most important business benefits of multicloud
How to design a cloud strategy that streamlines your business
How to create business benefits with work away from office.
How to best take advantage of the opportunities of an increasingly cloud-native world
Security in the cloud
Challenges with cloud transformation and how they are best handled
Key insights for a flexible multicloud strategy
Why you need an experienced cloud partner
Your complete guide to a future-proof multicloud strategy

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The cloud plays a crucial role in the business of the future. The effects of Covid-19 have accelerated our transition to a hyper-connected world driven by the cloud, where collaboration and security support a contactless economy. Multicloud is central to this hyper-connected world through its ability to connect people and digital tools.

The growing impact on long-term profitability and sustainability is important in a multicloud strategy and increasingly important for companies that strive for increased efficiency, flexibility, cost control and access to new technology.
Download your guide to see how your organization can review and reinvent your cloud strategy.