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ORE AND MORE SMEs are
M adopting cloud technology , such as multi-cloud networks , for business benefits . As such , they can maximise efficiency and streamline production , getting ahead and tackling the competition straight on . As the cloud has grown in popularity , it has meant that businesses can be more flexible and scaling up for SMEs is easier than ever .
Intelligent SME . tech spoke to three industry experts about how SMEs can take a strategic approach to cloud management . They offer their thoughts below . . . .
GEOFF BARLOW , TECHNOLOGY PRACTICE LEAD – STRATEGY AT NODE4
Nowadays you will be hard pressed to find an organisation that isn ’ t embracing a multi or hybrid cloud model – large or small . As environments have evolved , so has the diversity of hosting infrastructure , be that private cloud , public cloud , Platform-as-a- Service ( PaaS ) or Software-as-a-Service ( SaaS ). Hosting decisions are also being based on many more factors than in the past , including location , service responsibility or alternative cost models . There are clear benefits to this approach but one of the major downsides is huge complexity when it comes to monitoring , governance , compliance and cost management across these sprawling estates , or simply having the breadth of skills required to support multiple platforms ( especially in today ’ s labour market ).
The major cloud providers have been aware of this challenge for some time and are fighting over control of ‘ the Edge ’, where their services can extend beyond the traditional geographic bound regions . This has led to more integrated solutions being brought to market for managing workloads anywhere using existing tooling . This is an area SMEs can take huge advantage of when it comes to cloud management moving forward .
Offerings , such as Azure Stack HCI and Azure Arc , can provide centralised management of workloads not only in the public cloud but in any location . Likewise , they offer the ability to
Geoff Barlow , Technology Practice Lead – Strategy at Node4
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87 % OF MID- MARKET ORGANISATIONS IN THE UK INTEND TO SPEND MORE ON MANAGED SERVICES THIS YEAR .
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