In the dynamic landscape of modern technology, cloud computing has emerged as a pivotal force reshaping the way businesses and individuals manage, process, and store data. At its core, cloud computing refers to the delivery of computing services—such as storage, processing power, and applications—over the internet. Cloud services offer a flexible and cost-effective solution, enabling organizations to adapt to evolving technological demands without the constraints of traditional on-premises infrastructure.

To comprehend the diverse spectrum of cloud offerings, it’s essential to explore the three primary cloud service models: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). Each model represents a distinct layer of abstraction, providing users with varying levels of control and responsibility. Understanding these models is crucial for businesses seeking to leverage the benefits of the cloud while aligning their IT infrastructure with specific operational requirements.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) stands as a fundamental pillar within the realm of cloud computing, offering a robust framework that liberates organizations from the burden of managing and maintaining physical infrastructure. In essence, IaaS provides virtualized computing resources over the internet, allowing users to rent servers, storage, and networking components on a pay-as-you-go basis. One of the defining characteristics of IaaS lies in its scalability, granting users the flexibility to scale their infrastructure up or down based on demand. Use cases for IaaS range from hosting web applications and development environments to supporting complex data analytics and high-performance computing tasks. Prominent examples of IaaS providers include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP). Despite its advantages, IaaS comes with its set of considerations. While offering unparalleled control and customization, users bear the responsibility of managing the operating system, middleware, and applications, which could be seen as a drawback for those seeking a fully managed solution. Additionally, potential challenges include security concerns and the necessity for skilled IT personnel to effectively navigate and optimize the infrastructure. Despite these considerations, IaaS remains a powerful tool for organizations aiming to build a scalable, efficient, and tailored IT environment in the cloud.

Platform as a Service (PaaS) represents a pivotal advancement in cloud computing, streamlining the development and deployment of applications without the intricacies of managing the underlying infrastructure. At its core, PaaS provides a comprehensive platform that includes not only computing resources but also the necessary tools, services, and frameworks for application development. This abstraction of infrastructure details allows developers to focus on coding and innovation, accelerating the development lifecycle. Key characteristics of PaaS include its seamless integration with development tools, automated scaling capabilities, and a shared development environment conducive to collaboration. PaaS finds its application in various use cases, ranging from web and mobile application development to data analytics and business process automation. Leading providers such as Heroku, Google App Engine, and Microsoft Azure App Services exemplify the diversity and effectiveness of PaaS solutions. The advantages of PaaS are evident in its ability to streamline development, reduce time to market, and simplify the overall application management process. However, this simplicity comes with trade-offs, as users relinquish some control over the underlying infrastructure, potentially limiting customization options. In essence, PaaS emerges as a compelling choice for those prioritizing efficiency and speed in application development, while acknowledging the trade-offs inherent in a more abstracted cloud service model.

Software modernisation is the process of updating legacy and outdated software with newer software, frameworks, and infrastructure. It is also known as application modernisation or legacy software modernisation. The main advantage of software modernisation is to improve security, add features, or to connect to other systems. Modernising software means extending its lifespan instead of retiring it and developing or migrating to a new piece of software.

Many businesses, both small and large, have come across challenges to their businesses due to limitations of outdated software. Some of the issues faced include:

• Security risks
• Inefficient process
• Lack of integration and software connections
• Unstable software
• Costly maintenance and upkeep
• Older version needs an update

Depending on certain situations and for specific requirements, it may be recommended to rehost, re-platform, or completely replace a system, each with its own pros and cons to consider.

Software modernisation methods

Common methods of software modernisation include:

Lift-and-shift: This involves taking the existing software or application and migrating from its environment to a newer infrastructure; an example of this could be from on-premises to cloud. This method ensures that the application is only moved without making significant changes to its code or architecture. As such, it equates to a relatively simple process, depending on the complexity of the software.

Re-factoring: This method consists of rewriting parts of the underlying code of the software, so it can run effectively in a new environment, typically the cloud. It may also involve restructuring the existing code to ensure it will work as intended in the new location. Refactoring is a common method for expansive amounts of code that need to be broken down into smaller “chunks”, this is referred to as microservices.

Re-platforming: This method is considered in between lift-and-shift and refactoring as it does not require major changes to the software code, as is the case with refactoring, but requires updates to be made. These updates would then enable the legacy software to take advantage of a cloud platform and enhance current capabilities.

Microsoft Azure grants businesses the power of cloud technology and replaces the traditional on-premises infrastructure that companies were reliant upon many years ago. Fast forward to today, we see AI quickly gaining momentum in the digital world as a powerful solution to many of today’s digital challenges. Entering the fray, Microsoft has invested in AI to bring innovative features to their solutions; a popular example being Bing’s new AI-powered capabilities thanks to ChatGPT. Azure’s AI features have also been extensively augmented thanks to AI advancements.

By implementing such AI features, we will see more efficient ways of working and collaborating. We explore a few of the options that Azure AI can help businesses make smarter decisions faster.

Azure Bot Service

With Azure Bot Service, users are able to manage, create, and launch chatbots with ease thanks to the extensive features that are available. Thankfully, Azure chatbots are available with out-of-the-box functionalities to get users started. Chatbots are particularly useful as answering client queries, presenting information from CRM and other data sources, translating, offering personalised recommendations, and moderating content.

AI-powered chatbots reduce the load on support departments by removing the reliance on telephone helplines and can improve the customer experience with quick problem solving and information gathering. When Azure Chatbots are connected with Azure Cognitive Services, it will benefit from natural language and conversational language understanding, image analysis, and more.

Azure Machine Learning Service

Customers looking to build their own machine learning solutions can use the Azure Machine Learning Service which enables them to create, teach, launch, and manage their own ML models. It can also be used as a base upon which to build to get faster results. As an end-to-end ML solution, users can manage and track models following deployment, achieve the best solution with several runs, and analyse predictions in real-time.

Azure ML Service is automated which means it identifies the best algorithms and configures hyperparameters with speed, thereby raising productivity and lowering costs through autoscaling. This also means that its accessible to smaller companies that want to start with machine learning without having a dedicated data science team. It is fully compatible with container services like Azure Container Instances, Azure Kubernetes Service, and Docker, making it easy to transport your ML solution.

Azure Machine Learning Studio

Azure Machine Learning Studio offers a simpler visual platform in which is create machine learning solutions. With an emphasis on drag-and-drop features, there are no coding requirements to get started. IT is also browser-based, so users can build upon an idea using Azure’s preconfigured algorithms and data modules.

With collaboration features built into ML Studio, teams can work together to build, test, and deploy their new ML solution. Despite offering a user-friendly interface, ML Studio offers the same powerful tools as ML Service. As long as the preconfigured algorithms are fit for your model, ML Studio is the perfect tool to get started.

Everything about the world of work is evolving. As offices made the shift to hybrid working and employees have focused on positive/progressive environments – it’s essential people partners and HR departments modernise, to allow for more time spent cultivating creativity and efficiency within the organisation.

That’s where SAP HR solutions come in, the following suite of tools are perfect for strengthening your team. To help give you the confidence to adopt SAP into your daily routine, we’ve put together a list of common use cases.

Streamlining HR operations with SAP SuccessFactors

With the help of SAP SuccessFactors, you can streamline HR operations for companies by offering a comprehensive range of solutions that assist with talent management, performance management, and employee engagement, enabling organisations to focus and optimise their processes to push for employee success.

Workforce planning with SAP analytics Cloud

SAP Analytics Cloud empowers HR departments with cutting edge analytical capabilities, enabling them to put data at the forefront of any decision and lay the foundations of effective workforce planning, insights, and instant reporting, ultimately leading to a more agile and proactive approach to HR.

Streamline HR Service Delivery

SAP Cloud Platform offers HR departments the flexibility to build custom applications, unify disparate systems, and automate HR processes, leading to improved service delivery, enhanced efficiency, and a seamless user experience for both employees and HR staff.

Using SAP HR solutions to enhance compliance

SAP Cloud Identity Access Governance helps HR departments ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and protects sensitive company data by managing user access, enforcing security policies, and providing comprehensive identity and access management solutions, ensuring the highest level of data security and integrity.

With companies increasingly having to store and access large amounts of data, managing it effectively has become difficult. This holds true for companies that have data spread across various systems, held in separate locations. Enterprise data integration is a way of unifying these disparate data sets in a single location. The “enterprise” classification infers that the systems are more complex and expansive than standard data integration processes.

Why is it important?

With organisations that have a continuous requirement of collecting data, their priority lies in finding a solution to bring together large quantities of data effectively. The following are some of the key reasons for why enterprise data integration is important:

Cloud and on-premise inconsistencies
Many organisations have their systems and data both in the cloud and on-premises, leading to a hybrid cloud solution. Connecting such systems is not straightforward especially as cloud solutions are typically newer and may not work well with legacy on-premise solutions.

Manual processes
Automation is a key feature in assisting organisations in handling mass sets of data. For those that don’t have automation or intelligence capabilities, manual processes are a hindrance and blocker with a large amount of time and resources wasted.

Siloed data
As mentioned above, data is being spread across different systems and platforms making it difficult to easily locate and access it when needed. Data may also be held in non-standard formats making it impossible to make sense of.

Technical difficulties
A traditional IT department will not be equipped with the right tools or knowledge to perform enterprise data integration due to the complexity of the challenges. Purpose-built enterprise data integration tools will be necessary to manage existing integrations and to streamline the process.

Regulations
With compliance becoming an increasing factor in data privacy, companies have to proactively ensure they are adhering to regulations set around the world, including EU’s GDPR laws and CCPA. Enterprise data integration helps to ensure systems become and stay compliant across all regulations.

Benefits of enterprise data integration

Increased productivity
Free up the resources and time wasted on manual processes and focus on business critical tasks. Achieve better and faster output from your teams.

Greater visibility
Unify your data and get an overview in a single location, leading to empowered business decisions for stakeholders.

Faster time to value
Accelerate integration and share synchronised insights across teams. Derive key points of actions from data quickly and effectively.

Future planning
With centralised data comes better reporting capabilities, leading to successful decision making. With new data sources continuously being added, your system will ensure no data sets are siloed ever again.

Microsoft Azure is Microsoft’s public cloud computing platform offering many cloud services. This includes computing, analytics, storage, and networking. A major advantage for end users is the ability to use any service to develop new applications or run existing applications in the public cloud.

With migration and networking tools, single sign on, and identity management, hybrid storage devices can be deployed on-prem. A hybrid cloud is a cloud computing environment made up of one or more public and private clouds. Data, apps, and workloads are shared across the clouds as a unified system. This allows clients to scale workloads into the public cloud when private cloud resources are exceeded. Azure enables scalability and flexibility of public cloud systems while maintaining the security of business critical data and applications.

Read on as we take a look at the Azure hybrid cloud benefits.

Features of a hybrid cloud

Microsoft Azure is Microsoft’s public cloud computing platform offering many cloud services. This includes computing, analytics, storage, and networking. A major advantage for end users is the ability to use any service to develop or scale new applications.

There are even tools to migrate apps to your public clouds. With the Azure Hybrid Benefit program, you can transfer existing licenses for SQL Server and Windows Server.

Additionally, you can run apps across on-prem, cloud, and edge environments. These apps are either run as they are, or they can be refactored to run with cloud scalability and portability features. Azure provides advanced analytics and automated migration options for ease of use.

By using Azure in your systems, you’ll be able to take advantage of Microsoft’s expansive global network, and be able to utilise 100 Gbps connections with Azure ExpressRoute. Plus, you can connect thousands of users and endpoints with Azure Virtual WAN. Azure Firewall and DDoS Protection services come as standard to ensure secure connection management.

As an Azure customer, you’ll also have access to the high-performance resources that Microsoft offers, including enterprise-grade security and availability. With Single Sign-On (SSO) across on-prem, cloud, and mobile apps, you can centralise identity management and promote standardised access.

Organisations are increasingly having to adapt to changing technological, economic and industry challenges. Modern businesses focus on reducing business costs and complexity, as well as increased agility and innovation.

Modernising workloads by moving them to the cloud is a significant digital transformation and one that provides security and flexibility. In addition, cloud infrastructure and capabilities allow companies to work efficiently and provide the best service to their customers. Microsoft surveyed 1200 IT decision makers to reveal several key cloud adoption trends.

Cloud adoption planning

More than half (62 percent) of companies have a migration and modernisation strategy that they are following. Their key priorities are reducing business costs, future-proofing business strategy, and driving revenue up.

Subsequently, Microsoft expects ROI considerations to be the main driving factor behind cloud initiatives for implementation – either optimising existing cloud workloads or migrating additional workloads.

It’s expected that companies will be looking to move over to the cloud in the near future. Of the surveyed companies, those with more than half of their workloads in the cloud will rise from 27 percent to 47 percent over the next 18 months. Microsoft also saw that organisations with a cloud migration and modernisation strategy are 58 percent more likely to be ‘cloud-only’ three years from now.

Modernisation is key to digital transformation

Migrating to the cloud is a stepping stone towards digital transformation, 82 percent of companies agreed. Modernisation involves changing existing applications and workloads to take advantage of cloud-native technologies. Based on the survey, 74 percent of migrated workloads are already candidates for modernisation, which would speed up the product innovation cycle and personalise end-user experiences.

Hybrid and multi-cloud interoperability and integration

As companies embrace multi-cloud plans, cross-cloud management and interoperability is highly valued from their cloud provider. Companies enjoy the investment flexibility and cloud capabilities as 71 percent continue implementing a hybrid or multi-cloud strategy.

With challenges such as multi-cloud integration, legacy backend integration and refactoring existing applications, support from a dedicated migration/modernisation team ranked highest on customer wish lists. Post-migration support, access to engineering resources, and help with technical training were also highly valued.

As the new cloud-era continues to push us towards Industry 4.0, customer engagement is more important than ever. Businesses of all shapes and sizes have turned their backs on on-premise capital expenditure and looked to cloud solutions/SaaS to meet their needs.

The rise of WFH, BYOD, and hybrid working cultures has encouraged businesses to look for less traditional solutions – and in doing so they’ve achieved streamlined comms, increased flexibility, and a spike in satisfaction from both staff and customers.

Businesses have the ability to run securely, without putting strain on their in-house IT team to maintain.

How the Cloud enhances customer engagement

If businesses want to get the most value from their cloud applications – using it to optimise customer engagement should be key.

Make the most out of your customers data. Implementing cloud solutions enables you to analyse and improve on your customer data profiles. Keeping new and existing customers happy with a tailored experience.

Who should deal with customer engagement?

Caring for customer engagement is paramount for long-term business success. Keeping customers engaged requires regular contact and establishing as an advocate of the customers needs. Who has time to facilitate this in your business?

At egforit we place customer engagement at the heart of our day-to-day business. Which is why we introduced our engagement managers, a team of technically skilled account managers focused on keeping communications open and ongoing.

Build your ideal customer engagement practise with egforit Software…we can help you craft the ideal CRM solution.

Looking for a different solution? Let our engagement managers support you in your next project

With 94% of businesses already using cloud computing to some degree, the global market is forecast to grow to £440 billion in 2023 – it’s clear cloud computing is an integral part of business in today’s climate 

Although, many companies are still reluctant to fully migrate to the cloud. If you’re one of them, don’t worry – we’ve compiled some evidence to show why migrating to the cloud just makes sense. 

On-premise servers are going extinct

In an increasingly online world, flexible working arrangements are quickly becoming the norm. 

Your employees are looking to work from anywhere, on any device, and still be able to access core information and data the way they would in the office.
With that in mind, on-premise software can limit a business’s performance. 

The cost of maintenance for on-premise and off-site backups is also substantial. If you’re in a highly regulated industry like finance or healthcare, changes in government policy might mean another cash injection to keep servers secure. 

Cloud computing is the future

Cloud Computing gives your team the flexibility to work anywhere and everywhere with complete peace of mind. 

Over the past few years, we’ve watched business interest in cloud migration skyrocket and help companies of all sizes and sectors introduce a business solution fit their needs. 

Whether you want to cut costs, improve efficiency, or ensure continuity of security, the benefits of migrating to the cloud will vary depending on your business model. 

Cut expenses

Once you’ve started investing in buying and looking after on-prem servers, the task of migrating away from them gets increasingly complex and problematic. 

One of the most significant benefits of cloud migration is the flexible expenses, giving your business the power to be agile. 

Scalability and flexibility

Cloud hosting providers offer flexible pricing plans depending on a business’s needs. You can start small when you have a head count and only a few clients and scale up your storage to fit new requirements. 

Considering the comparative cost of buying and managing new servers to manage this transition, there are significant benefits of migrating from servers to the cloud for finance and expedience. 

Peace of mind

Gain complete peace of mind with superior cloud security. Despite the traditional belief that more access means an increased security risk, the host handles all security updates, meaning you’ll never have to worry about compromised data again. 

Better time management

After stepping away from on-prem, your team will save time typically spent on mundane and irrelevant tasks. Let your team innovate and organise their time by moving online. 

As cloud services become more widely adopted by companies around the world, the scale of impact that cloud usage has on the environment has also been increasingly important. With the announcement of the general availability of the Microsoft Emissions Impact Dashboard, Microsoft customers using Azure are able to view, track, report, and analyse their carbon emissions as a result of their usage of cloud services.

Track your environmental impact

The Emissions Impact Dashboard first released in January 2020, as a tool for Microsoft Azure customers to gather meaningful data to help them make informed business decisions about sustainable computing. The tool allows organisations to view emissions data sorted by month, service and data centre region to get more in-depth emissions information. 

 The easy-to-use platform also enables users to input un-migrated workloads to get an estimate of emissions savings from migration to Microsoft cloud services. The tool shows Microsoft’s third-party validated calculation methodology to provide accurate and measurable data across scopes.

New functionalities

The tool is continually updated by Microsoft to ensure the latest emissions information is widely available for customers. New security tools added by Microsoft means administrators can now control who can access and view company emissions data for enhanced data protection. 

Furthermore, as part of Microsoft’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions, the tool now has enhanced capabilities of calculating Scope 3 emissions associated with Microsoft cloud usage. Scope 3 emissions are indirect emissions linked to the product value chain, this includes material extraction, manufacturing, transport, usage and hardware disposal.

Reducing your environmental impact

As Microsoft continues to provide solutions that help customers be aware of and take action on their impact of the environment, we are also helping our customers do the same. We offer bespoke development and always try to use PaaS Azure services to ensure resources are correctly sized. This in turn leads to clients not overpaying for services required and that they don’t use more resources than necessary, which directly and indirectly impacts the environment. We previously used PaaS to build a Severe Weather Impacts Monitoring System (SWIMS) for Kent County Council as part of our drive to be more involved in climate initiatives.

Here at egforit Software, we’re conscious about the waste we produce and how the way we work has an impact on the environment. As part of our commitment to reducing an impact on the environment, we actively help local charities, promote sustainability and recycling, offer a Cycle To Work scheme and encourage staff to work from home to reduce the impact of transport emissions.

Experts in cloud technologies

We’ve helped many clients migrate to the cloud in order to become more sustainable and you could benefit massively if you’re not currently using cloud services. We can also help you get started with the Emissions Impact Dashboard, so get in touch with our cloud solutions experts today.