To support the expanding role cloud services are playing across enterprise information technology (IT), Dimension Data, an ICT services and solutions provider, has launched several new cloud readiness services designed to help organisations assess their ability and readiness for migrating applications to the cloud.
Dimension Data’s approach addresses readiness across four critical aspects of cloud computing: business alignment, organisation, infrastructure and applications. With expertise in networking, virtualisation, security, data centres, application migration, Software as a Service (SaaS) and cloud technologies, Dimension Data’s team of consultants deliver a cloud roadmap to help organisations realise the benefits of cloud computing more immediately.
“The lack of a long-term cloud strategy can result in costly re-architecture and reintegration measures down the line,” said Steve Nola, CEO of Dimension Data’s Cloud Solutions Business Unit.
“Dimension Data brings a rich heritage in building multifaceted enterprise IT and hybrid cloud solutions, enabling organisations to build a cloud roadmap that preserves business agility and operational efficiencies even as their business needs evolve.”
According to Jeff Packard, Dimension Data’s Global Head of Consulting and Professional Services, “Moving to the cloud is a complex process. There are many aspects to consider, such as security, application migration, internal readiness, billing, authentication, single sign-on, and integration with other applications. Even the most sophisticated IT organisations find the process of migrating to the cloud challenging. Leveraging our expertise across traditional IT and cloud services, Dimension Data now offers its clients a suite of consulting services to help them prepare for their cloud journey.”
Dimension Data’s cloud readiness service is comprised of four elements, including, amongst others, the Online Cloud Self-Assessment which is a short and convenient web-based online assessment that includes an in-depth survey that determines the cloud readiness level and recommends actions to address the gaps. The other one is Cloud Readiness Workshop: a half-day engagement that allows Dimension Data’s Consulting and Professional Services team to use key findings collected during the workshop to build a detailed 12-24 month cloud roadmap tailored for your organisation.
Cloud Readiness Assessment, on the other hand, is a comprehensive review of a company’s organisational structure, operations and technology. This assessment is carried out over a period of approximately two weeks and focuses on developing a plan that would move a significant portion of a company’s IT environment to the cloud.
Equally, the Cloud Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) is designed to help our clients demonstrate financial justification for an investment in Dimension Data cloud services and communicate the value proposition for these services via a highly polished set of financial deliverables .
The cloud readiness services provide organisations a comprehensive picture of where they stand in their cloud deployment cycle while also providing a long-term strategy for migrating key applications to the cloud.
To date, hundreds of enterprises have already taken advantage of Dimension Data’s Cloud Readiness programme to assess their cloud computing needs.