The Roadmap Every CIO And CTO Needs For A Successful Cloud Strategy

 

In today’s Future Of Work environment, the foundational pillar of Digital Transformation and Industry 4.0 strategies is Cloud Technology. But how does the engaged CIO and CTO ensure they are adopting the right Cloud functionality to meet their organization’s business requirements? This article arms IT Professionals with the in-depth knowledge they need to make those tough decisions and also includes a free tool to help design and source the best fit Cloud Applications with regards to cost, performance, and ROI. The Roadmap Every CIO And CTO Needs For A Successful Cloud Strategy

UNDERSTANDING THE CHANGING NEEDS OF BUSINESS....WHAT SDWAN CAN DO IN TODAY'S TECH ENVIRONMENT

As businesses everywhere look to address their constantly escalating need to provide more bandwidth cost-effectively, many have found that software-defined wide-area networking (SD-WAN) provide the right solution. 

It is an amazing time to be in technology. We are at a time where almost everything is becoming software-defined. It is no longer about connecting customer sites, which used to be so much of what networking was. Today, everything is about how well you can connect your customers to the things that matter. Traditionally there are fixed elements about connectivity and networking, but now Comcast is creating the software-defined rules of how they connect people to applications, webinars, and video conferences. Businesses are having to learn how to be massively distributed, and those able to adapt and change are the ones who will be successful during these trying times.

So, how does Comcast differentiate?

Comcast has taken into consideration over the last year that when it comes to SD-WAN, most of their customers want control and more auto-driving. One key thing Comcast is big on is making sure their work doesn’t end at activation; they know the thirty days post-activation is what requires the most hand-holding. Here are some customer benefits of managed services:

In North America alone there, are 120,000 SD-WAN sites deployed. This is will grow to just under 600,000 by 2024. As we have said before, SD-WAN is not just connectivity between sites. It is connecting customers to the things that matter. This includes anything from multi-cloud to application databases and APIs. It is the software-defined fabric that allows customers to connect. This has led Comcast to take the product and create two versions:

Comcast Business Managed Networks is the right foundation for more cloud-based applications, digital transformations, and the successful pursuit of new business opportunities. Comcast stands out through their:

• Scalability with options from low-bandwidth to gigabit speeds
• Simplified, flat-rate pricing
• Dedicated solution architects to ease the configuration process during onboarding
• Unique digital experience, providing analytics, command, and control
• Secure, encrypted traffic (AES 256) and integrated stateful firewall

To learn more about Comcast SDWAN and take advantage of a comparison of 100s of other providers ... including FREE network design and sourcing support ... simply ask at FreedomFire Communications.

The Impact Of COVID-19 On Businesses Worldwide....Fast Forward To A Cloud Economy

It is evident that the economic reopening from COVID-19 will be less like flipping the light on, and more like an unpredictable dimmer switch. As we have seen, the soft opening of businesses will require strict social distancing. This means ordering ahead, setting appointments, waiting in line to enter a store, and restaurants at half capacity with spaced out tables. These changes will also pose a challenge to businesses with office workers as they try to establish a safe, dispersed working environment.

Businesses will likely be expected to accommodate workers, if they choose, to work from anywhere (WFA). Employees who live with elderly or at-risk individuals, or who are at risk themselves, may want a work-at-home option for the foreseeable future. In fact, we may see laws requiring businesses to provide equal and fair WFA capabilities. This will put a strain on Information Technology Systems as companies scramble to provide WFA options that allow for the same productivity as an employee in the office. Providing a productive hybrid WFA environment for employees opens up a host of challenges from managing the productivity of remote employees to optimizing team collaboration while still providing an excellent customer experience.

Leveraging cloud-based technologies provides the best platform for a productive WFA environment. Meeting these demands requires virtualized workstations, phone systems in the cloud, and cloud applications optimized for a distributed user. Businesses that adapt well to this environment will optimize systems and application performance for a WFA user, deploy employee collaboration tools, and enhance systems security to accommodate remote users. Companies and divisions of businesses that focus on Customer Experience (CX) will find the most success moving their systems to the cloud to allow for workers that will not be in the typical call center building.

Even before the outbreak of Covid-19, the economy was moving towards a cloud-based IT infrastructure. However, today we have fast-forwarded to a future where systems will have to be cloud-based to accommodate a diverse WFA. Coronavirus has forever changed the way people work, as WFA has quickly become the new norm. Companies will need to upgrade their technology infrastructure and policies to adapt and survive.

Businesses have already been forced to make some rapid changes to migrate to cloud-based technologies. They will require an independent technology consultant who not only understands cloud solutions, but also understands applications, data centers, security, and network connectivity.  Network optimization using SD-WAN technologies will be critical for not only cost savings but performance optimization.

Luckily, businesses are not left to navigate this daunting technology challenge on their own. FreedomFire Communications is an independent technology consultant with a global reach and portfolio.  We are experts in UCaaS, CaaS, Security, WaaS, IaaS, SD-WAN, Network, and other technologies needed to establish a secure, productive cloud environment optimized for a distributed worker. The best part about FreedomFire Communications as a technology consultant is they are agnostic, not tied to a specific vendor, but take a focused approach regarding each company’s desired outcomes.  As the economic “dimmer switch” starts to brighten, the demand for technology consultants who understand how to enable WFA will be greater than ever.  That's where FreedomFire Communications can help YOUR company emerge from the COVID-19 crises stronger for both the short AND long term.

To learn more about all the options available to you for cloud based applications simply ask at the link below and tell us what you need accomplished.

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