The decision-making process for using resources in the Public Cloud can include the following reasons:
- Implementing a modern, instant ready-to-go development environment. Not only is an entire development environment immediately available using the Public Cloud, but so is the underlying technology required to make that application available for public consumption over the Internet. From the perspective of an IT manager, this solves two problems simultaneously.
- An alternative choice for adding a virtual machine. In its simplest sense, an IT manager can look at the Public Cloud as a place to easily turn on new virtual machines instead of going through the potentially time-consuming process of procuring and provisioning new hardware on-premises.
- Avoiding hiring and maintaining IT staff. As consumers of IT services demand access to the latest technologies to gain a competitive edge or solve complex problems, human resources with the necessary skills are required to implement and manage that technology. In a tight labor market or if an organization is modest in size, sometimes it is difficult to hire and retain the talent needed to perform these tasks. Using a Public Cloud service effectively outsources the skills required to manage the infrastructure.
- Avoiding aging or obsolete computing equipment. Instead of embarking on a capital acquisition, specification, design, procurement, competition, and purchase process, IT managers can instead choose to obtain new compute capacity from a Public Cloud provider. All the effort associated with life cycling equipment in the Data Center can be avoided.
- Avoiding the costs of building and maintaining a physical plant. All the costs of maintaining a physical plant can be avoided by engaging with a Public Cloud provider. Instead of putting money into expanding a Data Center to accommodate a new resource-intensive workload, the IT manager can put that workload into the Public Cloud.
- Gain access to new technology solutions with low commitment. Instead of committing to new and potentially costly products without adequately evaluating them in the customer’s environment, IT managers can test the capabilities in the Public Cloud without fully committing. In addition, it allows them to do this type of testing using only a small portion of what might be a large piece of equipment.
- Avoiding underutilized hardware. Instead of buying a piece of equipment which might be more than what is required, the IT manager can choose to use only the portion of the solution necessary using the Public Cloud.
- Avoiding the complexity of dealing with a distributed enterprise. Because the Public Cloud providers span multiple geographies, they have already made the investment in the network infrastructure necessary to support a distributed enterprise application infrastructure. Also, the skills needed on staff to manage such a network can be difficult to hire and retain. These factors allow the IT manager to outsource the effort and responsibility of building and maintaining a complex distributed network.
- Accelerated time-to-value. As the IT manager feels pressure to bring online new compute resources and to deliver new functionality, eliminating the time associated with the hardware and software acquisition, procurement, and implementation processes allows a quicker response to the business.
- Trading CapEx for OpEx dollars. Based on budgeting pressure, it may be easier for an IT manager to access operating funds than capital funds, and if so, choosing a Public Cloud provider may solve a financial problem.