AT GROUND LEVEL complex picture which also shows that even though the public cloud market is still booming , over 70 % of organisations of varying sizes are planning full or partial repatriation of compute resources from the public cloud , according to a 2023 survey by IDC .
The right workloads in the right place
Given these fascinating trends , what are the options for organisations and their technology leaders who want to focus their cloud spend so it aligns with their target business outcomes ?
For many organisations , rather than adopting a starting point dictated by a particular type of cloud infrastructure , a better strategy is to ensure each workload is in the right place , irrespective of whether this is on-premises or hosted in a private or public cloud environment . This kind of workload-centric approach can help focus IT investment more precisely against specific scale , performance and compliance parameters .
More specifically , a hybrid cloud approach could result in hyperscale infrastructure being used for requirements that must be delivered at scale . At the same time , on-premises technologies or private clouds can be adopted for specific workloads where security is paramount , where redundancy , resilience and Disaster Recovery are key requirements or in organisations where legacy technologies continue to play an important role .
As recently as 2021 , for example , over 90 % of the UK ’ s financial firms were still relying on legacy technology to some extent . With a workloadcentric approach , organisations can carefully select the most appropriate cloud execution venue for any legacy technologies that require modernisation or form part of a wider Digital Transformation strategy . In some cases , ageing software will work most effectively on legacy hardware from the same era , underlining the value of a pragmatic approach that doesn ’ t go ‘ all-in ’ with one infrastructure option .
AI innovation will require effective cloud infrastructure
In the last 12 – 18 months , cloud strategies have also been subject to a major new transformation trend – the growth of AI . Many businesses are anticipating significant changes in the way they operate , with potential benefits ranging from efficiency gains to creating custom customer experiences and the development of new products . Clearly , organisations will lean heavily on their cloud infrastructure and service providers to ensure any investment in AI can be properly supported .
Effective infrastructure planning and implementation will play a key role . The early adoption phase of cloud technology , characterised by unrealistic expectations and under-planned deployments , offers a cautionary tale for the way organisations choose to approach the implementation of AI . In doing so , they should prioritise issues such as data management and governance , as the success of AI applications fundamentally depends on the quality , structure and security of the underlying data .
In this context , a hybrid approach is likely to offer the best balance of performance and cost that AI-powered applications require . For example , AI ’ s heavy reliance on GPU processing power is more readily available from the hyperscalers , who have the resources to offer AI-ready compute services that can be integrated with private workloads . Similarly , the ‘ as-a-Service ’ model can also help deliver the levels of security organisations require without the need to establish the necessary protocols , access controls and authentication required within their own infrastructure . Here , the benefits are significant and range from preventing security breaches and data exfiltration to enabling users to remain compliant with compliance regulations , including those relevant to the process of building or training AI models .
Chris Jackson , Chief Product and Technology Officer at Six Degrees
In the current UK context , where Digital Transformation is a key focus for many organisations , the scalability and adaptability of hybrid cloud infrastructure supports longterm growth in a controlled environment . This scalability is especially relevant for companies undergoing significant Digital Transformation processes by offering a stable platform for innovation and expansion .
Looking further ahead , the cloud strategies of organisations everywhere will continue to evolve , driven by a dynamic range of factors and the constant influence of tech innovation . Across a huge range of current and emerging use cases , adopting a workload-centric strategy will play a crucial role in ensuring IT leaders can deliver the flexibility , control and positive impact that have driven the entire cloud revolution . �
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