Should You Migrate to AWS? The Benefits of Amazon Web Services
Have you been considering a switch to Amazon Web Services (AWS)? You may have heard that AWS is just “better.” But there have been many technologies out there that were just a flash in the pan, even ones with the backing of major tech companies behind them. AWS isn’t one of those technologies; its benefits are known and proven. And it’s important to understand the benefits of AWS so you can make an educated decision regarding whether it’s truly best for your company.
Improved Elasticity and Scalability
Elasticity and scalability, of course, are closely linked — but they aren’t the same thing. AWS provides both elasticity and scalability. In terms of elasticity, Amazon is able to allocate and reallocate resources on-the-fly, for better load balancing. In terms of scalability, Amazon is able to deploy more resources as needed, and to reduce resources as needed, charging the company for only what it uses “consumes”.
On-the-fly resource allocation and provisioning is incredibly important. First, it reduces the burden on your internal IT department: They don’t need to worry about spikes in usage, or about over-paying for services they don’t need. Second, it improves networking reliability and reduces disruption, by ensuring the system always has the resources it needs. Finally, it reduces costs, because the organization never has to over-purchase resources it may only need intermittently.
Superior Performance
The ability to requisition and deploy nearly limitless resources means that AWS can provide incredible levels of performance. Not only is AWS able to offer a virtually unlimited resource pool, but the advanced technology it’s built upon is faster and more reliable than much of the competition. Amazon has been optimized and re-optimized so that it can provide best-in-class data transfer rates and processing times, and that means that an organization can become far more efficient in terms of its technology.
For those operating with an on-premises solution, there may be concerns about data latency when moving to online. But with options such as AWS’ Direct Connect and CDN, there are still ways that organizations can pipe directly to their resources, or otherwise reduce their data transfer time.
Data Storage and Disaster Recovery
AWS virtually ensures that an organization’s data will never be lost. And that’s a big deal today, when ransomware is one of the primary concerns. Through AWS, data can be re-deployed with the click of a button, and organizations can rest assured their data will remain safe even in the event of a disaster. With redundant data storage, files that are “lost” or overwritten can be recovered with ease, and the organization can be protected from both intentionally malicious acts and accidental, incidental mistakes by employees.
Better disaster recovery is critical for modern organizations. Today, many organizations rely upon their data for the most basic of their business functions. Going without data for even an hour or two can cost a company a significant amount of money, as it cannot operate without its data. Being able to deploy data quickly means that organizations don’t have to worry about the perils of data disruption or the consequences of extensive data loss.
Enhanced Security
There was a time when many worried about cloud security. But today, AWS is one of the most secure infrastructures in existence. A significant amount of work has gone into making AWS itself secure, with secure connections, encrypted data and options for public and private virtual systems. Organizations can achieve state-of-the-art security using AWS’ internal technology and resources, and that matters. Online threats are constantly growing, and businesses are major targets for malicious actors.
Anything a business can do to achieve better security is something that will ultimately help the organization’s bottom line, as it reduces the chances for expensive system disruption, or for being responsible for the theft of employee or client data.
Cost-Effectiveness
AWS solutions have been shown to be more affordable than like-kind on-premises or cloud-based systems. This is because one of the core benefits of Amazon Web Services is that it’s a pay-as-you-use solution (consumptive based IT model). You can choose from a variety of solutions supported throughout the AWS network, and you pay for only the amount of resources your organization consumes.
That being said, AWS billing can be overwhelming for organizations to figure out on their own, and it isn’t always as clear as a flat rate every month. A knowledgeable AWS partner can help an organization not only understand its Amazon billing, but also fine-tune and optimize that billing.
There are likely dozens of compelling reasons why an organization should consider a migration to AWS. But perhaps the more compelling question is why many organizations hesitate. There are many variables which need to be address prior to migrating to AWS. You may need a partner to help you understand all of these variables and solidify, as well as execute, a successful migration plan. Contact Red River to learn more about the benefits of AWS and how AWS can help you.
