Guide

The Complete Guide: Enterprise Cloud

What Is Enterprise Cloud?

Enterprise cloud is more than a computing model where your business can access virtual IT services from public or private cloud providers. It’s a strategy for maximizing your cloud services and deployments. And it’s a game-changer for enterprises who need flexibility and scalability.

But moving your enterprise technology to the cloud is one thing. Setting your enterprise up for success is another.

Consider this your ultimate guide to enterprise cloud.

Here, we’ll break down everything you need to know to maximize your enterprise cloud strategy.

 

Overview

Enterprise Cloud Overview

Migrating to the cloud represents a journey for many organizations. To overcome challenges, and potentially steep learning curves, enterprises need to map their cloud strategy to their business strategy.

According to the Gartner cloud strategy, this means figuring out how the cloud will work within an enterprise. This can help address the many challenges enterprises face — cost, security, and more. While aligning an organization it is important to weigh challenges with the benefits of innovation and higher development velocity. With more cloud experience, enterprises can reap even more benefits!

Looking to build your cloud strategy? Learn how your teams could benefit, including...

 

Increase Collaboration

According to the 2022 Game Development Trends & Forecast, 31% of responders struggled to move large files between studios. To deliver feedback to remote workers fast, enterprises start building cloud infrastructure to manage builds, helping to minimize the impact of shifting to remote. This has helped solve collaboration challenges.

 

Widen Test Coverage & Automate More

Cloud-based solutions can help teams boost test coverage and make better data driven decisions. In the 2021 State of Test Automation Report, 23% of test lacked resources for creating test automation. high-performant enterprises using the cloud were able to test more and build a strategy with data-driven coverage as opposed to a risk-based coverage, allowing teams to test more.

 

Maximize Open Source Software

The push to the cloud is fueled by open source software. According to the 2021 Open Source Trends Report, as enterprise cloud strategies become more mature, open source and cloud-native technologies like containers, OpenStack, Kubernetes, and more, have become increasingly important. In the ongoing pursuit for continuous integration and continuous delivery open source software like Jenkins, Ansible, and others continue to enhance DevOps practices and automation of cloud-native software development.

 

Improve Developer Productivity

Enterprise cloud technology can give developers everything they need to get up and running fast. In the 2021 Java Developer Productivity Report, only 24% of respondents were not using a Platform as a Server Provider (PaaS). Of those who did, 39% with went AWS, followed by Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

 

Prepare For the Future

The future of software development will be in cloud. Start-ups now cost 1,000 times less to create than 20 years ago. Teams are not investing in hardware that needs to be updated but instead are deploying as their projects grow. The cloud will provide a way to orchestrate and automatically configure, coordinate, and manage systems.

 

 

Enterprise Cloud Providers

As your team develops or implements its enterprise cloud strategy, there are several major providers to consider.

 

Google Cloud Platform

Google Cloud Platform (GCP) is another well-established leader in the IaaS and PaaS segment. The platform is quickly growing, and “closing meaningful gaps with both AWS and Microsoft Azure,” according to Gartner.

GCP is a particularly popular strategic choice for enterprises who need leading data and analytics solutions.

Learn more about GCP in our blog:  What is Google Cloud Platform? 

 

Deployment Options

Most major enterprise cloud providers will allow some flexibility across deployment options. While private and public cloud deployments are most common, you may also consider a multicloud strategy or hybrid cloud strategy.

It’s also important to weigh the pros and cons of multicloud vs. hybrid cloud strategies.

 

 

Cloud Native Enterprise Technologies

Commercial open source cloud native platforms for the enterprise, like VMWare Tanzu and Red Hat OpenShift, make it easier for organizations to manage their applications, workloads, and business in the cloud. Among the litany of associated cloud-native technologies, open source options like Kubernetes, Prometheus, and Envoy are often used to reduce the vendor lock-in associated with committing to a specific cloud platform, and to reduce the cost of going to cloud.

Of course, there are benefits to working with a given cloud ecosystem — namely a reduction in support complexity and the stability of a mature ecosystem. But working within these commercial cloud ecosystems can come at a cost. Whether that’s a direct cost, like licensing fees, or an indirect cost, like vendor lock-in, many companies are looking for ways to save money and become less beholden to commercial cloud-native platforms and technologies.

But working with open source cloud-native technologies presents new challenges. Chief among those challenges is technical support. Finding a dependable, third party support vendor that provides support backed by guaranteed SLAs (like OpenLogic by Perforce) can make working with the best open source cloud-native technologies a breeze.

Planning Your Cloud-Native Infrastructure?

Try OpenLogic’s Open Source Stack Builder for examples and recommendations on which technologies will work best for your stack

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Want to learn more about cloud-native enterprise technologies? Explore the options below.

 

Enterprise Kubernetes

Learn more about considerations for Kubernetes in the enterprise:

 

Other Enterprise Cloud-Native Technologies

There are other cloud native technologies beyond Kubernetes. Learn more about applying these technologies in the enterprise.

Orchestration
Learn more about enterprise cloud orchestration:

Ansible
Learn more about Ansible in the enterprise:

APIs
Learn more about cloud native APIs and cloud native service mesh.

 

 

Best Practices For Your Enterprise Cloud Strategy

Adapting the enterprise to a cloud-native world can be tricky. Luckily, there are multiple best practices available to make the shift to enterprise cloud a smoother process.

There are four areas to consider when creating your enterprise cloud strategy:

  1. Setup
  2. Security
  3. Testing
  4. Documentation & Diagramming

You can also get tips to improve your next cloud infrastructure plan & delivery in this: Cloud Infrastructure Webinar 

 

Setup

The first area to consider when creating an enterprise cloud strategy is choosing how to set up your cloud environment to meet your organization’s demands.

There are various ways to set up your enterprise cloud, from leveraging a composable architecture to using an API architecture for creating ecosystems of applications that are modular and reusable. You also need to consider a cloud version control tool that can meet the demands that come with scale.

It is also critical to bring every element of your technology stack into the cloud to allow for greater agility and scale. Mainframe digital transformation is one way to accomplish this, by connecting legacy mainframe technologies to DevOps processes, cloud APIs, cloud computing resources, and emerging innovative technologies.

Perforce Cloud options provide a great way to deploy everything you need with the infrastructure required to support large projects, big files, and all your team members. From cloud game development to semiconductors, Perforce offers multiple cloud solutions that help simplify workflows and improve build speeds.

Learn what software you need for your:   Virtual Production Pipeline 

 

Security

Security also plays a major role in a comprehensive enterprise cloud strategy. There are many software vulnerabilities to look out for when getting started, from sensitive data exposure to broken authentication.

The first way to avoid vulnerabilities in the enterprise cloud is by choosing a strong cloud identity access management (IAM) provider, also known as an IdP. There are various best practices to follow in terms of IAM, such as using multi-factor authentication (MFA) or auditing resources, users, and applications regularly.

There are also opportunities to ramp up enterprise cloud security while enabling team members to work together. Using cloud-based chip design and cloud-fortified apps, teams can rest assured that both the software and hardware going into the cloud meet enterprise-grade reliability, support, and security standards.

 

Testing

Another important consideration for a sound enterprise cloud strategy is moving your testing to the cloud. Testing in the cloud offers many benefits, from built-in support for various network configurations and authentications to overall cost-effectiveness.

Cloud testing also enables your team to scale in an unlimited way. The capacity of a test cloud is virtually unlimited, It’s a much better choice than an on-premises or DIY solution, which requires a lot of maintenance to scale in the same way.

Discover additional benefits of this type of testing in our:  Cloud Testing Webinar 

To make the shift to cloud testing, many teams turn towards a device cloud, also known as a device farm. It houses a wide range of mobile devices and browser VMs that teams can test on remotely. Device farms typically have both modern devices and older versions.

There are two ways to test in the cloud: with a public cloud or a private cloud. While public clouds are an excellent entry point for teams looking to get started with cloud-based testing, private clouds are more secure and customizable.

Many enterprises opt for a privately hosted testing cloud where they can perform cloud test automation. These automated tests are performed on dedicated devices in a real device cloud. Enterprises that want to speed up their testing even more also ensure that their testing clouds allow for testing on virtual devices as well.

 

Documentation & Diagramming

To keep your cloud enterprise strategy clear and organized, it is crucial to document your cloud computing services with cloud architecture diagrams.

Your team can use more simplified diagram frameworks like a C4 model to describe multiple systems. Such systems can include integrations such as the Jira Cloud or an open-source technology stack. or use other models to diagram individual frameworks, such as:

  • AWS: These AWS architecture diagram examples cover everything from multi-tier AWS architectures to setting up Oracle’s E-Business Suite (EBS) with AWS.
  • Azure: Keeping an updated Azure architecture diagram on hand can help you plan for and execute changes in order to stay ahead of your organization’s technical needs.
  • Google Cloud: Solutions like Gliffy make diagramming systems like a GCP architecture and others a simple and efficient process.

 

 

Enterprise Cloud Success Stories

To be successful with enterprise cloud, you need the right tools and support. That’s why over 75% of Fortune 100 companies choose Perforce solutions.

 

Maximize Performance by Shifting to Cloud

For Game Studio, a developer of consumer games, arcade games, and smartphone apps for a range of devices, COVID-19 changed the way they needed to work. Specifically, an on-premises development environment simply wouldn’t cut it in the new normal.

They needed to switch to cloud. Perforce Helix Core was a key tool to cloudify their development environment — and maximize performance.

Find out how:  Read the Game Studio Case Study 

 

Accelerate Testing in Cloud-Based Labs

Switching to a cloud-based lab enables teams to accelerate testing and deliver high-quality user experiences. With a cloud-based lab, you can test continuously at scale.

That’s why world leader’s choose Perfecto’s cloud-based lab for continuous testing.

Here are just a few of their success stories:

 

Remove the Silos Between Cloud & On-Premises

Monitoring data from cloud and on-premises instances can be siloed. This limits your ability to make accurate, data-driven decisions.

For example, using Apache Kafka-based solutions — backed by OpenLogic support — helps global leaders remove the siloes and bring their data together.

Find out how one banking company did it:  Read the Full Case Study 

 

Leverage Cloud APIs

Cloud APIs are essential in digital business today. But to leverage cloud APIs in the enterprise, you need a secure API gateway. That’s why Fortune 500 leaders choose Akana.

Akana helps enterprise ensure security and PCI compliance — and so much more. Check out just a few of their success stories:

 

 

Enterprise Cloud Solutions

Perforce provides a suite of enterprise DevOps solutions that help teams deliver better and higher quality products in the cloud.

 

Go From Idea to Innovation

Visualize your cloud environment with a  software engineering diagram tool. Gliffy allows you to map your cloud architecture and tweak it as your projects and teams grow. Collaborate and share as your build your cloud solution.   Start your free trial >>

 

Template For Speed & Scale

The Azure Linux images from OpenLogic are award-winning for a reason. They give enterprises a fully supported and Linux distribution to develop and deploy apps in the Azure cloud. Trusted by the Global 500 and beyond, these images are always up-to-date and help streamline cloud deployment.  Talk to an expert >>

 

Transform With Cloud Native API Technology

Enhance your approach to building and running applications with a cloud native solution for APIs. With Akana, you get the same platform and gateways as on-premises, plus support for native cloud and other managed servers. Deploy your way on your cloud of choice and give your teams the flexibility they need.   Renovate Your Enterprise 

 

Turnkey Enterprise Cloud Solution

For teams looking to deploy in the cloud — without the headache — hit the easy button. The Perforce Enhanced Studio Pack contains the tools teams need to manage large projects, big files, and remote team members (plus you can try them free). Available on Azure and AWS, enterprises can customize and deploy in just a few clicks.  Deploy Your Free Tools 

 

PHP Application Deployment

For those looking to deploy PHP applications in the cloud, learn how cloud images from Zend make it simply and consistent by removing the differences between how different operating systems and web servers work so that you can focus on getting your application deployed.  Start your free trial >>

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To succeed with enterprise cloud, you need the right solutions — and the right partner. Find out how the power of Perforce can help you accelerate innovation today.

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