hybrid cloud

As more and more companies make the switch to the cloud, it’s important to consider the financial implications of such a move. Cloud costs can be difficult to control for several reasons, including different pricing structures and billing models with various options and combinations, and constantly changing offers and pricing. In addition, the cost of migrating to the cloud can be significant, as many organizations do not have the necessary in-house knowledge and need to hire specialists.

Building a business case

To manage cloud costs effectively, preparation is key. Before making the switch, it’s important to make a business case and carefully consider which applications, infrastructures, and workplaces can be moved to the cloud. For large data sets that require significant resources and can increase cloud costs, an on-premise solution may be a better fit. Additionally, legacy applications that pose problems when deploying to the cloud may also be better left on-premise. For applications with fluctuating workloads or disaster recovery purposes, the cloud can be a more viable solution. A hybrid cloud approach can also be beneficial, allowing organizations to take advantage of the best of both worlds.

It’s also essential to map out what can and cannot be transferred to the public cloud. For example, it’s often cheaper to run databases on-premise, and organizations should regularly assess whether certain data is still needed. Additionally, it’s important to ensure that existing processes continue to work correctly after the switch. By opting for a VDI solution, for example, IT departments can easily centralize desktops in a data center, saving time and improving productivity.

Making the most of your cloud investment

To minimize cloud costs, it’s also important to turn off virtual machines, databases, and services when they’re not needed. As long as organizations take these steps into account, they can take advantage of the many benefits and capabilities of the cloud, including faster time-to-market, innovation opportunities, and more opportunities. By effectively managing cloud costs, organizations can make the most of their cloud investment while avoiding financial pitfalls.

The original version of this article appeared in Computable.

Latest release, just announced, includes exciting new features—especially enhanced integration with Azure Virtual Desktop.

You already knew that Parallels RAS (Remote Application Server) plays well with others. After all, the entire point of Parallels RAS is to enable seamless work on the OS and the device of your choice. Now, we’re taking things to a new level with the just-announcedrelease of Parallels RAS 19.2—including a collaboration with Microsoft to rev up Azure Virtual Desktop integration.  As organizations move to the cloud, we perceive Azure to be a strategic hyperscaler in their digital transformation. Our hybrid cloud setup facilitates easy startup and scaling of Azure Virtual Desktop with hassle-free deployment and management.

Why is hybrid cloud important?

The cloud isn’t one-size-fits-all. Savvy companies are carefully evaluating their specific needs and requirements to determine the best approach for them. Hosting applications in the cloud should be used when it makes sense—think seasonal workloads, or disaster recovery to shore up a second data center for failover. Still, some applications might be better off on-premises, like legacy apps, or large data sets that require a lot of resources that could drive up cloud costs.

The demand for flexibility

The name of the game: flexibility. Flexibility has never been more in demand, and that’s why organizations are flocking toward a hybrid model that enables both public and private cloud options. That demand for flexibility is the same reason so many companies are embracing a remote and hybrid workforce.

Reduced cost and maintenance

Parallels RAS 19.2 allows for an unparalleled (sorry!) level of flexibility at all levels of business. Of course, flexibility is only part of what businesses and workers need right now. With economic uncertainty and a tight labor market, they also need as much streamlining and efficiency as possible. With this new release, Parallels RAS delivers even more of what customers have come to expect: reduced costs, optimized operations, an enhanced user experience, easy implementation, no need for specialized expertise—the list goes on. And the numbers back it up. This new enhanced Azure Virtual Desktop integration translates to up to 79%* Azure cost reduction, with up to 70%** reduction in time spent on maintenance and troubleshooting.

Total cost savings

With Parallels RAS 19.2, adopting a hybrid cloud model has never been easier.

Can’t get enough? Learn more about what’s new in Parallels RAS 19.2.   

*Based on unoptimized AVD native |**Estimate based on reduced time to deploy, no trial-and-error management, driven by intuitive and wizard-driven RAS management console (incl. FSLogix config and MSIX App attach) | More info at https:// https://www.parallels.com/products/ras/capabilities/avd/

As SVP of Technology at Alludo, I’m often asked about what technology trends I see coming down the pipeline. I recently shared new predictions with Italian publication BitMAT and wanted to highlight them here as well.

Trend #1: Investment in technology will be a requirement, not a “nice-to-have”

With the economic downturn, companies are looking for ways to tighten budgets. Technology should not be a place to compromise in 2023. Smart investments in technology can make companies significantly more economically efficient, doing more with fewer resources.

In 2023, companies will be called up on to ramp up their technological equipment—both to remain competitive in an increasingly complex and demanding market, and also to cope with the exponential increase in costs and constraints related to issues like sustainability and productivity.

Trend #2: True hybrid cloud is the way forward

In 2023 and beyond, enterprises will finally start planning for a true hybrid cloud. To that end, we’ll see a push toward integrating cloud services and legacy infrastructure teams. However, skills shortages will continue to be a challenge. Employees who have the skills to build serverless and cloud-native infrastructures are very rare, and companies will have to squeeze their budgets to attract and retain this type of top talent. 

Trend #3: Green computing for a sustainable future

More and more businesses—especially midsized to upper-midsized—will significantly accelerate their cloud adoption investments to securely and efficiently manage both next-gen and legacy applications. This is especially important as the threat of the global energy crisis and economic downturn continues, and companies increasingly focus on their carbon footprints.

While the cloud isn’t perfect in terms of sustainability, it’s greener than traditional data centers. And with more and more companies moving workloads to the cloud, cloud providers can continue to invest in renewable energy sources to enable environmentally friendly cloud-native applications. 

Trend #4: Tackling talent shortage through automation and long-term investments

As skills shortages continue to dominate the labor market globally, companies will adapt to augment and automate repetitive tasks. This automation will also feed into a trend toward qualifying and enhancing existing talent to focus on higher value-added activities. This is going to become crucial in an increasingly resource-strapped and highly competitive labor market.

Automation isn’t the only path forward. Companies will also have to make long-term investments to train and nurture talent that has yet to enter the labor market, with the aim of enriching the ecosystem.