Cloud computing was meant to be simple. It was celebrated as a “game-changing” technology that would allow businesses to both scale quickly and operate their IT environment with greater convenience and efficiency.
When implementing change, it’s a mistake to assume that, just because the leadership team have come to the conclusion that certain processes or systems need to be improved or done differently, everyone else involved will suddenly jump to the same conclusion. It takes time for people to work through a thought process and conclude that change is beneficial.
One of the biggest mistakes is to forget one of the fundamental paradoxes of being human; on the one hand, we human beings are the most flexible and adaptable species on the planet, incredibly evolved to live and thrive with changes in climate, changes in food and the ways we live and interact. However, we can also be the most resistant ‘so-and-so’s’, especially when change is thrust upon us without adequate explanation. So, engaging with people whom you wish to do things differently, and for them to embrace change, is critical if you are to reduce the feeling of change by imposition.
managing change in your practice
Organisations may be migrating to the cloud in droves as part of their digital transformation, but a lack of cloud expertise is costing them 5% of their total global revenue. Cloud technology has changed the way organisations operate for the better, but there is still one key ingredient needed to truly leverage the benefits – human expertise. 42% of IT pros believe there is a lag in their organisation’s ability to deploy cloud platforms due to a lack of skills. But there is a solution, and the solution is called Management. Change Management.
Companies are obliged to better understand the barriers to increasing cloud usage, the impact it has on business innovation and growth, and the skills they require to compete in a technologically-driven world.
Advantages of cloud change management
For most organizations, change management is accomplished by sharing spreadsheets with different teams. Not only does this consume a tremendous amount of time, especially if you are going through an SOC audit, but it also makes managing resources on the cloud more challenging. With a proper change management process, your organization gains the ability to reduce costs and stay secure in the cloud.
Cyber security
Cyber security is a hot topic these days. Recent ransomware attacks such as WannaCry is a reminder that security needs to be a priority in your cloud environment, especially if your business manages customer information and resources (in which case you should be aware of GDPR requirements). An effective change management process leads to an improvement in overall security management and reduces the overall risk exposure when vulnerabilities are introduced across IT, financial, and operational systems.
Increased efficiency
Implementing a change management process gives you better oversight and monitoring of all changes happening across your entire infrastructure. It also makes it easier for you to evaluate the impact of a change, and implement new changes without any adverse effect on the day-to-day operations of your business. More importantly, an effective change management process enables your organization to innovate faster, which leads to an increased return on investment (ROI) in the long run.
Better compliance
Change management plays a major role in organizations working in highly-regulated industries, such as finances and healthcare, where compliance is a mandatory requirement.
Cloud computing is crucial to the future of our societies
Although the cloud is far from a new idea, its true capabilities are only now beginning to be realized. One of the ways in which the cloud will shape businesses over the next decade and beyond:
Building Digital-first infrastructure – data analytics, artificial intelligence and other capabilities will become available as services. Regardless of industry or size, all companies need digital infrastructure to support their business operations.
For more information about change management and GDPR Compliance, contact us and schedule a session with our experts.
The importance of change management
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