Did COVID-19 Disruption Cause On-Premises Network Extinction?
It’s an open secret that on-premises business networks were already in retreat before the pandemic disrupted commuting to brick-and-mortar facilities. Upwards of 94 percent of organizations already leveraged the Cloud and nearly one-third of managed IT budgets were earmarked for remote infrastructure.
Forthright Technology Partners works with numerous organizations throughout Florida helping them to implement work-from-home and cloud computing strategies.
Even before many companies pivoted to work-from-home productivity, the Cloud service market was expected to exceed the $266-billion threshold by year’s end, according to Gartner. Given that upwards of 83 percent of workloads could be conducted virtually, according to Cloud adoption statistics, does it make sense for industry leaders to revert to onsite networks?
That’s a challenging question that thought leaders are asking themselves given the uncertainty of the pandemic. But perhaps a more expansive question to consider is whether recent remote infrastructure investment makes onsite networks evolutionary dinosaurs.
Did COVID-19 Usher Cause Demise of On-Premises Networks?
There’s little use arguing the benefits of onsite resources given the seamless use of next-generation platforms and software. Right now, organizations already have the necessary tools to successfully work-from-anywhere in an efficient manner. If you are a decision-maker thinking about downsizing or reducing capital expenses, consider the standard technology tools your team uses every day.
- Microsoft Office 365
- QuickBooks
- Salesforce
- Microsoft Teams
- Zoom & Other Video Conferencing Platforms
These and many other commonly used business applications are already accessible in Cloud-based systems. It may surprise business leaders to know that your employees may be leveraging upwards of three dozen Cloud services daily. In essence, about 67 percent of corporate infrastructure is currently Cloud-based and as much as 82 percent of productivity is not necessarily driven by those expensive computer networks that require ongoing maintenance, updating, and replacement every few years.
The point isn’t so much that COVID-19 drove a dagger through the heart of onsite systems. They were already in a death spiral and the pandemic just shined a spotlight on their limited effectiveness. Call it survival of the fittest if you like, but floppy disks didn’t withstand the test of time either.
Are Cloud-Based Systems a Matter of Natural Selection?
When a species can no longer sustain itself in an environment, it goes the way of the Dodo. One might have anticipated that the end of business hard drives would have been caused by a computer virus. Few could have imagined it would be driven by a contagion that passed from bats to humans. That may seem counterintuitive, by the remote workforce shift has placed a laser focus on Cloud-based benefits that include the following.
- Improved Workforce Collaboration & File Sharing
- Improved Productivity & Reduced Downtime
- Reduced Capital Expenses such as Office Leases
- Reduced Investment into Computer Networks
- Enhanced Real-Time Communication
- Increased Access to Talent Outside Commuter Radius
According to a recent study by online employment giant Flex Jobs, working from home also saves employees upwards of $4,000 in commuting and other expenses annually. That financial reality makes remote positions more attractive to experienced and skilled professionals.
How to Complete Your Organization’s Cloud Evolution
Entrepreneurs, CEOs, and other leaders who implemented a more robust Cloud-based system to avoid business extinction are deftly positioned. Remote workforces likely already have the DNA to continue profit-driving endeavors and goal achievement. Critical next steps do not require you to uproot employees or the remote infrastructure they are utilizing.
Rather, consider bringing in a managed IT firm to conduct a full review of existing practices, platforms, cybersecurity, and deficiencies. With an in-depth analysis of your Cloud-based capabilities and areas that require improvement, you won’t fall behind the herd. In fact, the advanced technology, innovation, and streamlined efficiency could very well transform your organization into an industry Alpha.
