Greater end-user understanding of cloud computing is needed in order to accelerate organisational uptake of the technology in Australia.

ARN.net.au reported on a recent roundtable, during which several leading cloud specialists discussed how to create greater clarity within the market. 

"Lots of businesses have different adoption and maturity rates. But overwhelmingly I'm surprised by the lack of knowledge around cloud, even from the CIO through to the technologists and how best to move forward," said Allan King, managing director of Infront.

"On the whole I think most organisations are excited by cloud, but they just don't know why they are excited."

Cloud adoption rates expected to rise further

There was general consensus among participants that cloud adoption rates would rise significantly in as-yet untapped markets over the coming years.

National Cloud Manager at Datacom, Alex Kennedy, said that while certain types of business have taken to cloud adoption, it remains a mere concept in other areas.

"Business still don't really understand what they want or how to get there in cloud and that's part of the navigation process for a partner," Kennedy explained.

Many heading to a hybrid cloud

While most Australian organisations are ready to embrace the cloud – 67 per cent, according to the IDC CloudView 2016 survey – only 13 per cent thought their current cloud strategy was optimised.

The findings also suggested a trend in favour of a hybrid cloud strategy, using a combination of public and private cloud services, with about 80 per cent of respondents saying this was the direction they would like to pursue. However, there was a lack of consistency in terms of how to define a hybrid cloud.

Interestingly, the IDC survey also revealed that organisations largely viewed cloud computing as a cost-reduction exercise – a way to slash IT budgets. Indeed, many rated cost cutting as one of the top three reasons they were interested in the idea.

One of the biggest challenges Australian companies face in setting up an optimised hybrid cloud environment is lack of internal expertise. This is why many choose to work with a partner – by leveraging their experience and expertise during the planning and implementation phases ensures they can get the best outcome for their business, within budget and deadlines.

ANATAS will help you deploy

Cloud computing could be an all-important step to help your business progress in today's rapidly evolving digital world. ANATAS is ready to help you gain clarity, provide you with the necessary information and expertise, and make that step a reality.

No one organisation is the same and all require a different approach when it comes to cloud deployment. However, we would recommend a hybrid cloud model in most cases to ensure easier integration of separate cloud infrastructures, platforms and services.

Hybrid cloud-enabled enterprises have the advantage of flexibility when it comes to a variety of IT infrastructure needs and aligning corporate and digital strategies. From a business viewpoint, the cloud offers a wide range of functionalities that can be easily integrated within a self-service model.

With years of experience, ANATAS consultants can certainly assist in defining how cloud computing can work for your organisation. It all starts with a cloud strategy and a clear road-map.

Contact us today to arrange a free IT architecture health check of your company, and learn more about how hybrid cloud integration can help your business make the most of the cloud.