37
CLOUD COMPUTING
37
By Jason Allaway , VP of UK & Ireland , RES
www . res . com
Jason Allaway outlines five key points about automation in a hybrid cloud environment
Businesses are continuing in great numbers to embrace cloud computing . However , while the cloud offers significant benefits , it also presents new management challenges that need to be addressed . Specifically , these relate to shortcomings in IT automation practices that weren ’ t quite as visible when a company ’ s IT was provisioned entirely with onpremises infrastructure . In order to address these businesses , and all of their relevant stakeholders must consider the following five truths about automating in a hybrid cloud environment .
Without Speed cloud is pointless
1
Businesses embrace cloud computing because it allows them to respond faster and more adaptively to unpredictable market conditions . With cloud , you can quickly take advantage of new digital capabilities , flexibly increase and decrease capacity as needed . Well , that ’ s the theory anyway . In reality , many factors commonly limit the speed with which cloud environments can be adapted to the changing needs of a business . If you want to put up an Ikea bookshelf and have everything you need for the job then no problem , you can have it done in less than an hour . However , if you ’ re deciphering cryptic instructions or suddenly realise you need another pair of hands to complete the task , then you might not get it done until tomorrow .
Similarly , it may only take a few moments for an administrator to use a virtual machine based on the needs of the business . But if the request has to go through a manual process to reach the administrator or is stuck in a queue of other requests , then it becomes irrelevant how quickly IT can utilise their cloud resources . Process latency is a huge issue for hybrid cloud ROI , and self-service and automation can help to negate this .
Scripting isn ’ t automation
2
As mentioned , businesses can eliminate process latency through automation . Unfortunately , many organisations attempt to automate cloud provisioning processes with home grown scripts written by in-house technicians . This is a bad idea for several reasons :
Scripting is incomplete and piecemeal Scripts almost always automate a very limited task or set of tasks . This may save time , but does not automate the complete end to end process . It ’ s also virtually impossible to string multiple strings together in a sufficient manner .
www . networkseuropemagazine . com