In recent times, providers of cloud-computing environments have been actively going the extra mile to curate and tailor infrastructures, platforms, and software offered as a service to suit the unique needs of businesses. Increasingly, organisations and oft-sceptical CIOs have been making the shift away from on-premise IT solutions.

But what is the cost of this? Besides the perceived ambiguity in procurement models and business objectives, data security and the fear of losing control remain the most prominent reasons for mistrust. Although vendors have been building security and feedback loops in each layer, the key to getting the most out of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), or Software as a Service (SaaS) is prioritising risk management without blind trust.

A vast majority of companies across size and sector types have begun their digital transformation. What is driving this revolution? I recall a major corporation adopting a cloud-first approach as early as 2014 to refocus resources on innovation. More than anything, using the cloud for an organisation beneficially lies in understanding business needs. Manufacturers are jumping on the cloud-wagon for agility, cost benefits, and global expansion.

Many startups with neither the need nor time to develop their own applications are rapidly adopting SaaS. Organisations developing multiple customised applications in short-timelines resort to PaaS to cut time spent in coding and easily access more sophisticated tools. And organisations of all sizes and kinds benefit from IaaS models; with smaller businesses saving on time, resources and human capital, and larger ones being able to retain control of their applications through IaaS solutions.

The cloud enables automated workflows for industries with large assets like plants, equipment, machines, and vehicles. By connecting to the IoT, these assets record massive amounts of data. When paired with industrial cloud computing, the data recorded is efficiently captured on applications which helps streamline asset management and operations. In all, this creates an agile and responsive environment for industrial enterprises driving digital transformation as a key component of their growth agenda today.

Ultimately, it boils down to the three C’s – Control, Convenience and Customisation. Identifying priorities amongst these three ensures that the main task is done. What follows is establishing robust risk-management strategies and finding the vendor that puts the business on cloud nine!