Making public cloud work for Australia

As a nation, Australia is taking huge strides in the adoption of cloud computing. The digital economy of Australia will contribute $2.6 million to address and mitigate national security risks associated with AI, including cloud services. Among other technologies, the cloud has played a big role in enabling and accelerating the digital economy and forecasts from analyst firms indicate a monumental shift towards embracing public cloud services. Research firm Statista predicts that the public cloud market in Australia will grow by 9.87% (2024–2028) resulting in a market volume of US$16.83 billion in 2028. Investment in modern technology infrastructure including cloud services is not only improving efficiency but also growing the adoption of cloud technology amongst many Australian organisations that are still grappling with the common concerns centred around cost, risk and security.

Balancing cost, risk and security

It has often been observed that while the cloud promises enhanced flexibility and responsiveness, many organisations in Australia remain apprehensive about migrating from traditional data centres. This reluctance often stems from perceived costs and risks associated with cloud adoption.

Despite the prevailing belief that on-premises data centres offer superior security, cloud providers deliver round-the-clock data protection while adhering to stringent industry and regulatory standards. Through robust service level agreements (SLAs), organisations can gain greater control over their applications and data and mitigate the risks of unauthorised data access. Cloud service providers also invest heavily in state-of-the-the-art security infrastructure, employing a team of cybersecurity professionals dedicated to staying ahead of evolving threats. This expertise translates to a higher level of security compared to what many businesses might be able to achieve on their own, especially for smaller organisations.

Cloud providers have sophisticated security monitoring systems in place that can detect and respond to security threats in real time. These systems analyse network traffic for suspicious activity, identify potential vulnerabilities and automatically trigger security protocols to mitigate threats. This continuous vigilance provides a significant advantage over relying solely on in-house security personnel. Cloud infrastructure is also scalable, allowing resources to be provisioned and deprovisioned rapidly. In the event of a cyber attack, cloud providers can quickly isolate affected systems and scale up resources to maintain service and business continuity. This redundancy and scalability mitigate the risk of downtime and data loss associated with data centre breaches.

There is also a misconception that on-premise solutions are inherently more cost-effective. This is far from the truth. A comprehensive evaluation of the total costs reveals hidden costs such as maintenance, upgrades, security and performance optimisation. In this context, cloud migration, when viewed holistically, emerges as a financially prudent choice, offering potential cost savings and operational efficiencies that transcend traditional infrastructural limitations.

The flexibility of cloud

For organisations attempting to move to the cloud, a one-size-fits-all approach in the adoption process is impractical. Collaboration with cloud providers is crucial for organisations contemplating migration. They must choose their path towards the cloud meticulously: this should encompass upgrades, optimisation and modernisation. Each component must be tailored specifically towards meeting the unique needs of each organisation. This is imperative for a successful cloud migration.

Within the cloud landscape, software as a service (SaaS) has emerged as a preferred deployment model for new applications, with companies expressing a preference for scalable, subscription-based solutions. The SaaS model has reportedly helped organisations with best practices which previously was the prerogative of large enterprises. This enables and empowers organisations of all sizes to drive efficiency and innovation. The SaaS model also enhances cost savings, supports a flexible workforce, eliminates implementation and maintenance costs, and provides improved collaboration capabilities. For organisations in Australia aiming to enhance efficiency and agility, SaaS has emerged as a preferred deployment model.

Finding the middle ground

With hybrid clouds being the norm more than the exception, maintaining visibility and control across disparate environments can be difficult. Businesses struggle to monitor performance, ensure compliance and optimise resource utilisation. Managing separate tools and processes for on-premises and cloud resources increases complexity. Siloed operations make it difficult to achieve consistent automation and orchestration across the entire IT ecosystem. The integration of different environments introduces new security concerns. Businesses need robust security measures that seamlessly integrate across both cloud and on-premises infrastructure.

Hybrid cloud management solutions bridge the gap between on-premise and cloud environments, by offering a consolidated view of all IT resources, both on-premise and in the cloud. This enables businesses to monitor performance, manage deployments and automate workflows across their entire hybrid infrastructure. By offering standardised tools and processes for managing cloud and on-premise resources, hybrid cloud management solutions streamline operations. This translates to increased efficiency, reduced operational costs and faster time to market for new services. Additionally, by providing a holistic view of resource utilisation across the hybrid environment, businesses can identify and eliminate inefficiencies. This leads to optimised resource allocation, reduced cloud costs and improved return on IT investments.

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