Re-host, re-platform or replace: Which public cloud approach is right for your business?

Deciding factors differ from companies due to the nature and strategy of business. Business applications are part of every organization. While migrating from the server to independent cloud many considerations are required.

What are Private, Public, and Hybrid Cloud?

Private Cloud is dedicated for use of single organization. The data centre resources location can be on-premise or vendor’s site operated by resources of third party. Customization of Private cloud is possible as per the requirement.

Public Cloud is a third party service available over the internet. Some of the services are free and others charge for storage or CPU cycles used. Advantageous public clouds are the expense savers of hardware, maintenance, and fastest deployment. Multiple users can access same application at a given time without any geographical boundaries using the internet.

Hybrid Cloud a mix of private and public. It has attributes that provide great amount of flexibility to the organizations. It runs the business applications and servers to on public cloud. IT resources will be required to manage the applications on hybrid cloud.

Private, Public and Hybrid Cloud Comparison:

Sr. No.	Comparatives	Private Cloud	Public Cloud	Hybrid Cloud
1.	Environment	Physical, Dedicated and secure	Outsourced and Insecure	Outsourced but Security implemented
2.	Suitable for	Government agencies and Industries	Software Development and Testing	Big Organizations and MNCs
3.	Investments	Required	Free / Less
4.	Work Load	Average	High Scalability and Flexibility	High and Extendable
5.	User	Specific Number	Specific Number
6.	IT Expertise	Required	Not Required	Required
7.	Pricing	Expensive	Flexible	Expensive
8.	Performance & Efficiency	Average	High	High
9.	Security	High	Normally Average but High if implemented correctly	Better than Public cloud
10.	Control on Infrastructure	High	Low	Partly
11.	Access	Limited access to mobile users	Free for specified logins	Free for specified logins
12.	IT Resources	In-house	Outsourced	In-house
13.	Shared	No	Yes	Partly
14.	Flexibility	More	Average	Greater
15.	Reliability	Low	High	Medium

Benefits of Hybrid Cloud Computing:

1. Advance Communication
2. Improved Productivity
3. Smooth Business Process
4. Easy Backup
5. Speedy and simplified development
6. Set and Dismantle the testing and development environments
7. Insights of Big Data Analysis
8. Enhanced Security

Types of services available on cloud:

1. SaaS: Software as service, which allows user to connect to the cloud based apps. You can access apps and data from anywhere. Service provider manages the requirements of hardware and software. No downloading of applications saves lot of computer space for all users.
2. IaaS: Infrastructure as a service, the instant computing infrastructure provided over the internet. It manages the scalability and budget by making you pay only for what you use. No technical expertise required to buy servers and data centres as the service providers manage them. It can simplify the data storage, backup, and data recovery. It helps to focus on business as it gives higher control over the IT infrastructure configuration in minimal time.
3. PaaS: Platform as a service, here the resources required for a complete development and deployment are available. In all it supports, the complete web application lifecycle. You can manage the build, testing, deployment, updates and management. PaaS includes everything from the server, storage space, sophisticated development tools, and database management and much more at affordable costs. You are free to manage the applications or services you provide and the cloud service provider handles technical front. Attractively it frees your development team from the geographical constraints and empowers to work on projects.
4. Serverless: As its name suggests the serverless, cloud computing is where the cloud provider runs the server, and manages the provided machine resources. The service provider invoices at actual for consumption and pricing.

Pointers for Hybrid Cloud Migration:

• Planning
• Migration Budget
• Identifying Cloud Service Provider
• Developing a Strategy
• Volume of Data
• Critical levels of data
• Deployment
• Cost and Speed of Transfer
• Storage Costs
• Storage Networks
• Data Compliance
• Provision for Adversities
• Execution
• Minimal Disruption
• Data Protection
• Optimization
• Creating Back ups
• Accessibility
• Availability
• Reliability

Though implementing a hybrid cloud solution requires you to pay for hiring cloud service provider and prepare your data for the hybrid solution. It gives you liberty to ascertain where specific information and applications will be stored. Hybrid cloud is certainly industry’s favourite option.

Hybrid cloud gives opportunity to implement, test, and analyse the applications just as you could have done in an on-premise set up.

What is Rehost, Re-Platform and Replace?

Rehost:

This list and shift service is a process of shifting the physical and virtual servers to Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Rehosting is a solution that requires little or no alterations in the architecture enabling swift migration. Manual and automated migration is the choice for the business houses. Risks and efforts involved in moving the data centre to cloud are minimum, which reduces the workload.

Rehosting automatically reduces the IT costs immediately and operational costs in long run. Existing services and applications in part of complete, currently running on data centre will run on the cloud. Use of cloud is as just another data centre. Rehost is most suitable option instead of bettering the corrupted database. It also makes the applications usable quite immediately.

Rehost strategy is impactful and promises to deliver addressing the downtime issues, which are extremely important for the large enterprises. Availability of applications immediately after migration makes this approach worth. The applications for commercial sale are updateable even if there is high level of difficulty in coding. Rehosting the applications that are easy to optimize is also possible.

 Re-Platform:

Re-platform or refactoring is means to transform a non-cloud application to cloud. This process runs your applications on the infrastructure of selected cloud provider for PaaS service. Conveniently, reusable frameworks and languages save expenses for the enterprise and time of developers. Low risk migration to the cloud would require some modifications in order to reduce the virtual machines, its configuration, and operations. This most beneficial and expensive strategy can improve the business continuation.

Tinker and Shift approach (Re-platform) means taking the application on the cloud without changing the core application architecture. It can save lot of manual efforts on maintaining the database instances in the on-premise set up. PaaS options allow us to focus on the application and eliminating the need to deal with the fundamental Operating system.

Re-platform approach is suitable for the organization’s applications, which if changed slighted would not harm. If the business needs to introduce new features and increase the performance. When the environment does not support moving of an application on the cloud, it is advisable to induce few modifications at minor level. This strategy brings in task automation; improves operations, reduces the on-premise complexities of infrastructure that obstructs the scalability.

This complex approach makes major changes in the configuration and coding in process of migration. It needs to ensure that the changes do not affect the application at external level. Option of partial and complete refactor should be opted as per the need. Big data processing or reproduction of images as these can raise the expenses of being on cloud.

Replace:

Replacing is the safe, fast, and simple method of running or shifting services from on-premise to the cloud. This means replacing the existing applications completely with (SaaS) the software delivered as a service. You can get control over the unmanageable expenses of storage and networking on the public cloud. It provides flexibility in dealing with operations and expenses related to it. This can also minimize the number of services and applications that you need to manage over cloud.

It is a perfect solution for organizations planning an acquisition or merger. The response abilities are extensively, increased with the cloud based infrastructure. Users expect faster and immediate response in case of merger or acquisition. Considering this option is wise when the hardware of data centre has reached its life expectancy.

Major setback to replacing is that the multiple and distinct public cloud will need skilled IT experts to run these cloud platforms. Ultimately, it will suck away the profits of being on cloud as real advantage of the replace model is avoidance of IT costs. Replace option carries the set of obstacles such as data accessibility and its logical display.

Summarizing the re-host, re-platform, or replace on the hybrid cloud would suit the organizations that are cost and performance conscious. It can reduce the cost of setting a data centre to almost half if set on public or hybrid cloud. The Service Level Agreements can help you in proper management of data, without struggle of getting it right and in limit expenses as budgeted for.

Hybrid cloud has strength of dealing with the database and application related challenges. The return on investments made for the architecture and development of data centre needs longevity to bear the load of expenses.
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How to build an army of testers in the cloud – Need for a Virtual Dev/Test Environment

Need for a Virtual Dev/Test Environment – How to build an army of testers in the cloud

In the current business scenario, migrating your business-critical data to the cloud has become more of a necessity than a matter of choice for companies looking to increase traffic to their websites and applications, expanding their geographical boundaries or just aiming at creating a robust infrastructure. There are many of companies who have made the business decision of migration to the cloud and created success stories.

Azure DevTest Labs is a service that Microsoft Azure provides. This service provides functionality for managing environments that contain Azure Virtual Machines. DevTest Labs does not cost any more than the cost of the virtual machines that you are using.

Azure DevTest Labs makes it easy to provide Virtual Machine Images that you can reuse within your team for development and testing.

It also enables you to manage costs by setting things like:

• Maximum number of VMs per lab and per user
• Allowed VM sizes
• VM auto-startup and auto-shutdown times

Benefits of cloud migration offered by Azure Dev/Test Lab to support your application

For over two decades companies of all sizes have relied on the Windows Server and SQL Server to carry their business-critical workload. In the quest for Digital transformation companies choose to migrate their on premises MS SQL Server data and applications to the cloud.

However, migration to the cloud is a crucial decision that poses its own challenges and there must be a proper strategy to successfully implement this business initiative. Companies need to ascertain their environment; their interdependencies and what applications can be relatively difficult to migrate to the cloud.

All said and done, every enterprise poses a few constraints unique to their business environment like budget issues, politics, culture and market pressure that define its decision-making that involves migrating legacy systems/data/applications to the cloud as this will have a long-standing impact on its operations.

Data security is perceived as one of the greatest challenges by business leaders when they are considering moving their legacy systems to the cloud. They are concerned about moving data from a physical server they can touch and feel to the cloud.

Microsoft Azure Dev/Test Lab backed by a strong global team of more than 3,500 cybersecurity experts supported by operational best practices happens to be the cloud platform that offers a technology that assesses potential threats and vulnerabilities provides an around-the-clock consistent hybrid cloud platform.

Need for a virtual Dev/Test environment

In the process of developing scalable, robust applications organizations need to offer different kind of environments to its developers and testers to deliver a sustainable and pervasive software application. While this is one of the crucial steps in application development it can cost organizations a great deal in terms of the cost, time and resource. This has led to the need for a customizable solution that helps create a wide array of virtual application development and testing environments. The Azure DevTest Labs is a service offered  by Microsoft AZURE which allows simulating  environments that comprises of  Azure Virtual Machines.

Companies can subscribe to this service and help its developers and testers to quickly create environments in Azure, while reducing waste and regulating costs. The inbuilt artefacts in Azure Dev/Test Labs can be quickly deployed and configured to develop applications. It allows developers to use custom images and formulas and save virtual machines (VMs) as templates and just share across their teams. Additionally, the several configurable policies offered by DevTest Labs helps administrators to minimize wastage of time and effort.

With a variety of configurable security options providing the agility to customize security that meets the meet the specific requirements of your companies applications Microsoft Azure Dev/Test Labs can best serve as the best option if your company is considering cloud migration.

The Use of Azure Dev/Test Lab for Training

By subscribing to the Azure Dev/Test lab you can create an effective virtual lab to offer hands on training to each new resource in your team. You can control the training environment by predefining policies so that the training environments (VM) are identical for each trainee, it can be shared amongst the training group and is available to them just when they need it.  The Azure dev/Test lab offers features that allow you to automate lab creation, include custom settings, create a Resource Manager template allowing you to reuse identical labs again and again.

Leveraging the Azure Dev/Test Lab benefit for Test Environment

The implementation of various possible scenarios is the key to the creation of a virtual testing environment. The Azure Dev/Test Labs can be successfully used to host machines to testers allowing them to test the latest version of the application by provisioning multiple testing agents and several possible scenarios. At the same time, as stated earlier, administrators can control costs by allocating just enough number of VMs needed for the testers.

Again, Azure DevTest Labs Enables developers to quickly provision their development machines on demand. They can do so under Windows or Linux environments by making use of the built in, reusable templates and artefacts provided by Azure Dev/Test Labs. The Dev/Test Lab also allows developers to readily customize their development machines if need arises. In this case too, the administrators have the full control to allot just enough (VMs) machines that are needed by the developers and shut down those that are not in need thus regulating the cost of development of the product.

Azure Dev/Test Labs: The Security aspect

Data security and privacy are of paramount importance when dealing with crucial business information. Microsoft Azure protects business and personal information by defining user identities and credentials plus control access. You may choose to offer  role-based access control (RBAC) to assign permissions to users, groups, and applications at a certain scope. There is a wide array of best practices that govern the security aspect in Microsoft Azure and companies may choose to stick to any one or a combination of those available depending on their desired level of data security.

To Conclude

Azure DevTest Lab is very useful for developers and testers.Azure DevTest Labs is an Azure service that allows business the agility to rapidly create virtual environments /scenarios in Azure while minimizing waste and controlling costs. DevTest Labs is   a user friendly highly customizable service which can be deployed at an instance whenever there is a need for dev or test environments, which can be replicated quickly, and managed by pre-defined cost-saving policies.IT operations can use it to enable a self-service environment where developers and testers can create their own environment quickly, with minimal restrictions, whilst being cost-effective. It can even be used to automate test processes.

Thus, DevTest Labs can be an organization’s Go-To service to create, configure, and manage developer and test environments in the cloud. It removes a lot of friction in the overall software development process.To know more contact us at info@anarsolutions.com

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Accelerate Digital Transformation using Azure DevOps

Digital Transformation is modernization of business using latest technology. Business can expect improved processes, customer acquisition and management, business reach, and communication at enhanced levels. Achieving the digital transformation for any business is a strategic challenge. Accelerated Digital Transformation is possible pressure free with adoption of Azure DevOps.

Acceleration of business, demand, products, profits, and digital transformation depends on various factors. Below listed factors, not only have vital importance but also are the pillars of success strategy. Azure DevOps helps us to be customer –centric by expansion of capabilities, taking technological support. Adjusting to the new realities of market, inviting ideas, dare to be different, work flexibly to solve the challenges. The opportunity to stand for contingencies, minimize disconnect of user and technical teams can create wonders.

Accelerate Digital Transformation using Azure DevOps:

• Approach: Your approach will enrich the path of innovative thinking. The desire to excel may help you exceed the customer expectations. However, your approach to every aspect of the software, towards the customer and transformation that the digital world awaits, will define your journey in long run. Your role in this process however small or big, what difference you make and competitiveness creates the policy for your success in the market. Tools like Azure DevOps are your support structures from designing till execution.
• Meet the Demand: You love challenges when you dare to innovate. Azure DevOps helps in planning and tracking, which is unavoidable even in case of digital transformation. Tracking the work gives clear insights to the development team as well as the stakeholders, to utilize the development capacity and prioritise the tasks.
• Uninterrupted Delivery: Your determination towards business transformation motivates delivery. The codes can be checked along with the versions that can be referred easily. Identification of bugs at early stage saves efforts of development. The developer’s task submission, approval, and merge it to the application build creates a continuous loop ensuring the uninterrupted delivery.
• Customer Satisfaction: You serve better if you are equipped better. Code checking, proper testing prior to launch of an automated process brings in ease of use and customer satisfaction.
• Faster Delivery: You delivery faster; when you respect time. Continuous integration (CI) enables continuous delivery with reduced production time and costs. Bug fixing is easy and immediate providing better solutions when addressed early saving developers time to start afresh. The actively tested products and features can be deployed for customer’s access faster than ever.
• Availability: Your software being available is more important that adding new products. Companies that strategize digital transformation, by default need the software to be available 24×7. System and data connectivity, request processing, historical view of all sorts of data whether transactional or logs etc. The performance monitoring ensures the successful service in specific time for each query. The accuracy of addressing queries and display of results depends on the availability and connectivity.
• Enhanced Quality: You create suitable and relevant quality when quality inspires you. The tools needed to administer the software development cycle affects the quality directly. The ability Azure DevOps gives to manage the process enhances the quality and eliminates the deficiencies. The defects of programming or not meeting the expectation both if solved can improve quality of the software. The unattended requests, irrelevant errors, time taken for processing request or completion of action etc. are in reality quality issues.
• Cost Effective: Your timeliness helps cost management. Every step and stage that requires attention is highlighted for you to take action. Time bound processes are progressive method of work and it saves time and effort required to fix the issues. The most pressing issues and the ones that are major for the customer can be prioritized. The issues documented at initial stage are rectified in the consequent updates released.
• System Diagnosis: Your awareness of system health will not require any prescription. The automated software’s built for digital transformation needs the system to work efficiently. The availability of system, in order to run the software at various access points, even during variable volumes of users. The usage can be monitored and trends can be recognized in order to tag the functional issue. Trace the operational issues that needs rectification, if there are any system related other issues those also can be solved.
• Automation Ease: Your software exposes your hold on the creation. For the teams to deliver the flawless software they should be automating with ease. Azure DevOps provides the platform of real-time testing, immediate application of changes, comparative study, over and above new feature release in live environment using live data.
• Actionable Insights: Your actions and its outcomes are related, the predictability of future sets your actionable items. The data interpretations not only enlighten you on the missed requirements, unnecessary features, unexpected delays instead force you to focus on the purpose of software “Digital Transformation.” The consumption of memory, pop up message, errors and many things that each software consists or is programmed, sends the pointers that can be your actionable items. With Azure DevOps the clarity and details, we find help in planning and execution both.
• Effective Communication: Your ease to communicate with the internal team and stakeholders is improved due to effective software solutions. Team can discuss the issues based on data, with intention to provide precise solutions need not hesitate to communicate. Passing information is different that mind blogging discussion in creation of unique solution. Participation of parties to the software whether they are developers, testers, or end users have different perspectives, nevertheless the requirement document can guide to build the software of customer’s choice.
• Software Security: Your system needs to value the user’s data to protect it from theft. The privacy and security of business data is of utmost importance no matter what sector you are dealing with. The loopholes in data structuring, programming, software integration does impact the data security. How well the system can deal with the external threats like viruses, data copiers, and hackers likewise defines the software security.
• Interdependency: Your system cannot survive as if it is standalone. Software that business enterprises design has specific purpose yet it should handshake with other software to perform definite actions. A time-in time-out punching machine is not just an attendance software its reports and data both should be usable for the payroll system.
• Acceptability: Your application’s acceptance is a usability certificate. People who use the software may or may not be technically sound, certainly they have definite tasks which they need and wish to perform in minimum time to achieve accurate results. This is possible no doubt, if the software is created by examining pressing needs of the users.

Modernizing the processes can be time consuming unless right technology is applied to bring stability. You can go for competitive advantage and the size of your company does not matter.

Digital Transformation is a boon for business when the human element is considered while creating solutions. Ultimately, the technology based solutions for any business are created by the people, for the people hence should create value for people. Its value is when software is accepted, dependable, secure, affordable, and effective, meets the demand, delivers in time, and is easy to use.

Digitalization speeds up business and its processes while Azure DevOps helps, in building solutions that brings sustainability to business. Clubbing the best technology, processes, people and solution providers bring in reliability.

Digital Transformation is a road map to success online creating impact offline.
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