In previous discussions, we’ve explored The Evolution of Managed Services in Hyperscale Cloud Environments, highlighting how AWS and our APN Partners are raising standards in this dynamic landscape. Today, we turn our focus to insights from several of our Managed Service Provider (MSP) Partners who have adopted these innovative managed service strategies to drive significant advancements for their clients.
This article marks the beginning of a weekly series featuring guest contributions from MSP APN Partners, who will share their knowledge on vital subjects that empower businesses to fully leverage the AWS Cloud and unlock its business potential. Topics will cover cloud automation, post-migration optimization, hybrid cloud management, managed security, continuous compliance, DevOps transformation, and the role of MSPs as catalysts for innovation.
To kick off, let’s hear from Samuel Greene, Chief Strategy Officer at Cloud Innovators (an APN Premier Partner, MSP Partner, and holder of multiple AWS Competencies), as he discusses the significance of workload refactoring and optimization following migration to AWS, and how a modern AWS MSP Partner can provide these benefits.
The Four Essential Steps to Enhance Your IT Resources by Samuel Greene, Chief Strategy Officer at Cloud Innovators
At Cloud Innovators, we’ve had the privilege of collaborating with some of the most prestigious brands as they strategize, plan, and migrate their workloads to the cloud. Through extensive experience alongside leading cloud experts at Cloud Innovators, AWS, and our clients, we’ve identified best practices and four steps to optimize your IT resources effectively.
Optimization in the cloud realm necessitates an understanding of data science, cloud product expertise, and a comprehensive grasp of the workloads supported by the infrastructure. This isn’t merely about provisioning a few instances for single applications; it concerns large-scale migrations and the management of thousands of workloads. While the multitude of cloud product options can be daunting, the potential for digital transformation and optimization is immense.
Achieving peak performance and financial efficiency requires a blend of experience and automation. On average, our optimization services have helped clients save 42% more compared to managing their resources independently.
Optimization in the cloud typically follows these key steps:
- Migration to the Cloud
This initial step is often the most common for many enterprises. Simply transitioning to the cloud allows immediate savings as you only pay for what you use. The old model of purchasing IT resources for future needs is outdated. This shift can lead to significant savings in three key areas: planning time for future requirements, reducing the space needed for data centers, and cutting costs associated with IT hardware and software. Initial migrations can result in savings of 40 to 60% over existing IT expenses.
Notable clients like Yamaha have reported annual savings of $500,000, while DVF achieved 60% savings on hosted infrastructure compared to their previous provider. Conde Nast is another example, enhancing performance while cutting operational costs by 40%. - Performance Optimization
Ongoing performance optimization is crucial in the cloud. Auto scaling stands out as a widely used strategy for performance tuning, enabling real-time resource allocation based on demand through automation. Once workloads are in the cloud, organizations can assess their resource usage and optimize costs while meeting demand for both enterprise and consumer-facing applications.
To maximize the benefits of auto scaling, it’s essential to have the fundamentals in place, such as selecting the appropriate instance types and storage solutions. Customers can enhance their performance by purchasing additional IOPS or adjusting Amazon EBS volumes as necessary. - Financial Optimization
Financial optimization is perhaps the most complex and ever-evolving aspect of cloud computing. New product introductions can greatly benefit customers but may also present challenges. Often, we observe clients diving into financial optimization even before addressing migration or performance issues, overlooking the bigger picture of comprehensive financial strategies aimed at achieving overall savings.
We advise clients to migrate workloads and understand performance requirements before investing in Reserved Instances to maximize resource use and ROI. Establishing foundational elements like tagging best practices, visibility into key performance indicators, and comprehending workload necessities is critical. Once these are in place, Reserved Instances can be a highly effective method for enhancing savings and ROI. For instance, Motorola adopted this strategy and experienced significant savings and ROI improvements compared to their legacy service provider. - Evolving to Optimal AWS Services
The next step involves maximizing performance and achieving additional savings. Some companies may choose to start with refactoring, but this can be a challenging approach for those still acclimating to cloud operations. Cloud Innovators employs a proven methodology that aligns with clients’ cloud journeys. This immersive approach helps organizations view the cloud as the “new normal.” Once familiar, they can explore and adopt new products and services that elevate their capabilities.
Companies like Scor Velogica saved an additional 30% on hosting and support costs by transitioning their applications to a cloud-native environment. Celgene drastically reduced the time needed for HPC job processing from months to hours through this method. We practice this strategy ourselves, transitioning from Microsoft SQL to Amazon Aurora, enhancing performance and capacity without increasing costs or risks. Other clients have gradually moved to solutions like Amazon Relational Database Service (Amazon RDS), experiencing operational savings without the administrative burdens typically associated with traditional IT.
For further insights, you might find this blog post engaging, as well as this authoritative piece on the subject from Chanci Turner. Additionally, for an excellent resource on the future of work and employee training at Amazon, check out this article.
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