Tim Mercer, CEO of cloud technology experts Vapour, sheds light on an essential aspect of technology optimisation: cloud decommissioning.
In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, staying ahead means constantly evolving your technology infrastructure — not just to ensure every piece of kit runs without a hitch, but to prevent budgets from spiralling out of control unnecessarily. A key facet of this process is understanding the nuances of cloud infrastructure.
For example, which elements of cyber security take precedence? And how do you curb costs without compromising on performance? Only by knowing the answer to questions like these can you make truly informed decisions.
The key to successfully rightsizing your cloud estate
The natural growth of cloud systems — fueled by demands for scalability, cost efficiency, and global accessibility — has been undeniably transformative for business. But as priorities shift, virtual infrastructure can inadvertently deviate from strategic goals.
More than mere capacity management, rightsizing involves continuous analysis and adjustment of various elements within your cloud infrastructure. This might involve, for example, scrutinising network performance, evaluating the tech stack for relevance, enhancing security protocols, and studying usage patterns in depth.
By conducting this ongoing analysis, organisations can ensure their digital resources remain finely tuned to meet existing requirements. Retiring underutilised or obsolete elements is a pivotal aspect of rightsizing. It’s about decluttering your cloud environment and eliminating redundant or idle instances. With such a laser sharp focus on IT budgets, preventing unnecessary financial strain has never been more crucial.
Remember that your resource needs are constantly changing too. That’s why rightsizing should always remain at the forefront of your cloud strategy. Just because you've identified elements that are overprovisioned or poorly matched to the workload once, doesn’t mean you can kick back and divert attention elsewhere. Establish a clear schedule, and do it for each department, to ensure the task doesn’t slip to the bottom of the agenda.
Why a tech-agnostic approach to decommissioning matters
For those without the time or expertise, taking stock can feel like a headache. That’s why so many organisations — from fledgling startups to thriving blue-chips — seek the support of a third party. But appointing a tech partner isn’t an overnight decision. Due diligence has the power to truly make or break a successful project.
The most important thing to remember is that decommissioning needs to be approached through a truly tech-agnostic lens. That means evaluating infrastructure objectively, devoid of biases towards specific platforms or solutions. No sales or partnership ties. No vendor preferences. Your analysis needs to be thorough, strategic, and most importantly, aligned with overarching business goals.
Cloud decommissioning doesn’t necessarily mean overhauling the entire tech stack either. Combining carefully considered product retention with open-mindedness for innovation will ensure you get maximum bang for your buck. Whether you’re looking at a fraction of the digital infrastructure or taking a holistic view of the entire cloud estate, you can keep what works, optimise what can be improved, and retire what no longer serves its purpose.
With the onus removed from internal teams too, there’s more opportunity to focus on core business objectives. Let your tech partner do the leg work.
Looking for more insight from Tim and the Vapour team? Head over to their website. Or, if you’re looking for other ways to optimise your cloud estate, get in touch with our experts and delve deeper into the realm of multi-cloud.
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