15 February, 2022

Cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) continues to be the leading topic for discussion among our manufacturing and banking customer base. Businesses considering moving to the cloud are concerned about security and accessibility. These are both major considerations.

However, the bigger issue, and one that isn’t as obvious, is lack of clarity around ownership costs. The general consensus seems to be that cloud is cheaper than on-premise. This assumes that infrastructure management is included. And that everything is taken care of for you.

But the cloud is not turn-key.
It is true that investment in hardware is reduced. But it is never eliminated. In almost all cases companies end up in a hybrid-cloud solution. This is because they have applications, processes, and business requirements that require local infrastructure. And in all cases, everyone needs firewalls, switching, networking, and end-point security. And those require maintenance and support.

Also, all cloud options are internet dependent. Reliable and redundant high-speed internet connections are required for any business moving to the cloud. Again, these are elements that require maintenance and support.

When you choose cloud infrastructure, there are still local management costs that are not included in the price. Aside from equipment, there is also staff time (and headcount) required. It may be tempting to think that cloud eliminates the need for an IT team. But that is incorrect.

In many cases, moving to the cloud adds additional complexity.
Companies may be surprised by this additional complexity and may regret moving to the cloud. It’s imperative to realize that the cloud is not a “one size fits all” approach. Every company has different infrastructure needs and requirements. ICG has decades of experience with all cloud offerings. Our experienced team can help you determine the right infrastructure architecture to fit your business. We are well-versed in cloud, hybrid cloud, private cloud, and traditional on-premise infrastructure. Contact our sales team today to learn which option is best for your business!