In this White paper, BT offers a three-pronged answer to this question: Why adopt a hybrid cloud Different needs require different cloud deployment models ? BT recommends that companies adopt a hybrid cloud architecture that allows for easy integration of distinct cloud infrastructures and services. It’s important to redesign the IT department for cloud service brokering.

Invest to grow

The cloud is here to stay. Investments in cloud services are expected to continue growing at double digits over the coming years. Nevertheless, obstacles to the effective adoption of cloud services remain. Principally, IT decision makers have concerns about data security and regulatory compliance, which raises questions about the optimal cloud deployment model (private versus public).

In addition, IT departments worry about losing control over how cloud services are procured, deployed and managed, since a purely reactive/ad hoc approach to the cloud could lead to spiralling costs, security issues and data interoperability problems. In BT’s view, the hybrid cloud is neither a point solution nor a transitionary state toward a more unified model; on the contrary, a hybrid cloud is the optimal architecture for handling the inevitable complexity of a company’s IT infrastructure.

How select the right cloud service delivery model for each application ? How do companies ensure that they adopt a strategic approach to cloud deployment and thus achieve maximum benefit from the latest cloud developments ?

Three-pronged answer

1 ) Why adopt a hybrid cloud Different needs require different cloud deployment models. BT recommends that companies adopt a hybrid cloud architecture that allows for easy integration of distinct cloud infrastructures and services.

2 ) Redesign the IT department for cloud service brokering. The role of IT in the business is evolving. IT departments will increasingly adopt a service broker and service integrator role, as opposed to building platforms themselves. This fundamental shift to focus on the ‘I’ of Information in IT, has implications for IT procurement, governance and compliance that should be considered.

3 ) It is critical that IT controls the development and management of the organisation’s cloud strategy from the start. By defining your strategy with the cloud and by taking a piecemeal approach to its implementation you can define long-term goals, as well as reap short-term benefits
To learn more BT & Cisco organizes a roundtable in Luxembourg about ‘Art of Connecting’ on june 26th .

[button color=”blue” link=”http://www.itnation.lu/event/bt-cisco-roundtable-art-connecting/”]Register[/button]