4 Ways You Can Calculate the Cost of Switching to Cloud
No more than a few years ago, the Cloud was something that floated overhead in the sky which blocked out sunlight and brought with it rain. Now that may never change, but the Cloud that floats around in the IT world will. It changes almost every day. Cloud computing is, without a doubt, the way of the future. According to a recent study, SaaS (software-as-a-service), and PaaS (platform-as-a-service), will both continue to grow at a rate of 18% and 56% respectively. This shift to Cloud services will also bring with it a major change in the way in which we conduct business. If you wait too long to adapt to the change, you'll be left in the dust and all your competition will be miles ahead of you.
To help you get started on your journey to the Cloud, here are 4 ways you can calculate the cost of the switch.
Audit Your Current IT Infrastructure
Before you're able to determine the cost of switching to the Cloud, you need to take a detailed look at where your current IT infrastructure lies. This will help you to better understand what you pay to keep your systems up and running, and give you a base to compare to the Cloud. Be sure you calculate both your direct and indirect costs. Direct costs are those such as purchasing new hardware and software, maintenance, etc. Indirect costs are costs associated with labour, training staff, etc. Understanding your current system is pertinent to understanding how to move forward onto the Cloud.
Calculate Cloud Infrastructure Costs
After you've taken the time to audit your current infrastructure costs, next on your list will be to figure out how much your Cloud will cost you. To do this, there is a few things you need to consider. How many different programs will you need and what is their monthly subscription cost? Do you need to upgrade any physical infrastructure to handle the load (i.e., servers)? Do you have enough storage space to store the new data? Is your building network connection secure enough to operate in the cloud? It might seem a bit intimidating at first, but switching to the Cloud is easier than it seems!
Migration Costs
Now that you have an idea as to how much it will cost to get you Cloud ready, you need to calculate the cost of actually switching over to the Cloud. How much data do you have that will be to be transferred over? What is the setup time like? How many hours or days will it take to get you up and running? Will you need to shut down your office in order to complete the entire switch? Your IT service provider (such as MicroAge) will be able to tell you exactly how long it should take, helping to keep you out of the dark.
Post-Migration
Once it's all said and done, and you're finally up and running in the Cloud, you can take a breath and relax! That is of course, after you've calculated your final cost. The cost to run your business in the Cloud. This can include costs such as the monthly fees you calculated in step two, the cost of continued app and program integration, the cost of strong and reliable internet, the cost to train your employees, and any troubleshooting costs which may arise throughout the course of your day.
Easy, isn't it! Don't be worried, MicroAge has a team of well trained technicians and sales staff who are all ready and willing to help you evaluate the costs of your current setup, and how much it will cost to get you to your goal. We can help with the setup, the migration, and the installation. As well, we can assist with any post-migration troubleshooting, and security needs to keep you up-to-date and running smoothly for years to come!
Feel free to reach out to me with any questions you may have. I can quickly provide you with a quote, and have a technician at your door ready to help!