The dynamic world of finance demands a balance between flexibility and control. Public cloud services have revolutionized IT infrastructure with their scalability and on-demand resources. However, for some organizations, the inherent variability associated with usage-based pricing models and dependence on external cloud providers can pose challenges.
This case study explores the strategic decision of a publicly traded financial group to transition from public cloud infrastructure to a privately hosted solution. SeaGlass Technology partnered with the firm to navigate this migration, achieving greater operational stability, predictable cost management, and enhanced control over critical IT infrastructure.
Client Profile:
The client is a publicly traded financial group that initially leveraged public cloud services for its scalability and flexibility. However, they later sought a solution offering greater control, predictable costs, and reduced reliance on external cloud providers.
Challenges & Pain Points:
- Unpredictable Costs: Public cloud usage-based pricing models posed challenges for financial forecasting and budget planning.
- Limited Control: The firm desired greater control over data security, compliance adherence, and access management within its IT infrastructure.
- Third-Party Dependence: The client sought to reduce reliance on external cloud providers and their operational decisions.
The SeaGlass Technology Solution:
SeaGlass implemented a structured, multi-phased migration to privately hosted services:
- Assessment & Planning: A comprehensive evaluation of current workloads, dependencies, and cost structures in the public cloud environment. This phase also included planning the migration strategy to minimize disruption and manage within budget constraints.
- Infrastructure Design: SeaGlass architects, in collaboration with a chosen hosting company, designed a scalable and resilient private infrastructure. This involved:
- Selecting virtualization technologies for performance and high availability.
- Building a private Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) for robust remote access and Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR).
- Migration Execution: A staged migration process:
- Beginning with non-critical workloads.
- Progressively transitioning mission-critical applications and data.
- Rigorous testing and validation post-migration.
- Thorough documentation for audit purposes.
Business Impact:
- Predictable OPEX: Fixed monthly costs for private hosting facilitated financial planning and forecasting.
- Enhanced Control & Security: The client gained greater control over data security, compliance, and access management.
- Improved Stability & Reliability: Reduced reliance on public cloud providers mitigated risks associated with outages or service disruptions.
Key Takeaways:
- Private hosting can offer predictable costs and greater control over IT infrastructure for financial institutions.
- A well-planned migration strategy minimizes disruption and optimizes resource utilization.
- Strategic IT infrastructure choices can enhance operational stability and mitigate dependency risks.
Conclusion:
By transitioning to a privately hosted solution, the financial group achieved greater control, cost predictability, and operational stability. This case study highlights the importance of aligning IT infrastructure with business objectives for long-term success.