IT technology adoption and integration is an integral consideration of any new, small business. Some businesses even rely upon around the clock internet connection and specific applications to complete mission-critical operations. Although technology can offer convenient tools that will ultimately increase productivity and profits, the initial cost of building IT systems can be crushing. Purchasing servers, cables, and routers can quickly consume an IT budget. Furthermore, the cost of updating older networks can hinder a business’ flexibility and agility.
Fortunately, cloud computing has provided a cost-effective solution that allows small businesses to access high-levels of IT resources and hit the ground running. Cloud computing lets businesses use computing power and applications hosted on a remote server system. The benefits of cloud computing include reduced IT costs, scalability of products and services, efficiency, and stronger security.
When it comes to cloud computing platforms, the Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure are industry leaders. Often, businesses will find themselves comparing the two when deciding what cloud computing capabilities are priorities for their operations. To get you started on your journey to the cloud, this article will address one of the primary concerns of cloud computing: adoption and hybridization.
AWS Vs. Azure: Round 1—Adoption and Hybridization
Although cloud computing maintains many attractive benefits, switching business operations to a cloud computing platform can be time-consuming and complex. One challenge of implementing a new cloud computing system is utilizing existing IT structures. If a business has been operating and serving clients for some time, it’s unrealistic to believe all operations can be put on hold to ease the adoption of a whole new technological infrastructure.
In general, implementation can be broken down into three steps:
- Consultation. Like a building architect, cloud computing consultants design your new IT infrastructure from the ground up. They provide support, help you mitigate challenges, and maximize outcomes.
- Implementation. In this phase, your team strategizes what business operations will benefit from cloud computing and how. Initial costs and other necessities are weighed, such as acquiring increased bandwidth and determining agreement length.
- Migration. Cloud migration is the process of moving data, applications, or other business files from on-site storage devices to cloud servers. Transitioning from one cloud server to another is called cloud service migration. An integration tool may be necessary to secure files as they are moved from your servers to the cloud vendor’s technologies.
In the midst of these steps, the question continues to loom—what will you do with your existing hardware and software? Will investments be wasted before seeing a strong ROI? When it comes to hybridization, Azure may have the upper hand over AWS.
Enter the Hybrid Cloud
A hybrid cloud allows businesses to run cloud applications and deploy infrastructure assets and applications using a cloud model while also using on-premises computer resources when appropriate. Crucially, a hybrid cloud allows you to transition between the two seamlessly.
Many businesses have relied on the Microsoft suite of software for years—and Azure has leveraged this familiarity to great advantage. As such, Azure brings strong support for hybrid cloud configurations to the table. With platforms like Azure StorSimple, Hybrid SQL Server, Azure Stack and others, Microsoft has the advantage in the Hybrid Cloud space.
AWS is still catching up in creating a virtually seamless hybrid cloud experience, but it's progressing by employing hybrid solutions like Storage Gateway, DynamoDB Local, and OpsWorks.
Conclusion
Both AWS and Azure are robust cloud computing platforms that optimize businesses for flexibility and agility in an ever-changing business world. When it comes to adoption and hybridization, Azure is the currently the clear winner because of its focus on smooth integration. But with this consideration in mind, there are many more factors of cloud computing to explore, and more categories that AWS and Azure to compete in to secure market share.
Bizco Can Help You Decide
Choosing the right cloud computing platform for your business can be daunting, but Bizco Technologies is here to lend assistance. Since the early ‘90s, Bizco has watched IT technologies develop and has provided solutions for businesses. If you’d like to learn more about cloud computing, reach out to our team today.