6 essential questions you need to ask if you're thinking about extending your data integration into the cloud

The majority (93 percent) of organisations are already using cloud services in some form, but not everyone is ready or able to make the transition. For example, it may not always be possible to move critical legacy systems to the cloud, but, businesses still need to remain competitive and agile. As a result, they need to unlock their legacy data to allow for cloud integrations.

This is becoming increasingly more popular, and in 2016, almost 60 percent of businesses adopted a solution incorporating both the cloud and on-premises infrastructure (compared to a 20 percent adoption rate in 2015).

Here are 6 questions to ask if you’re considering extending your data integration into the cloud.

1. Can we expect IT governance to change?

Before you begin to extend your data integrations, you need to consider your current IT governance policies and whether or not they will be affected. With GDPR around the corner and emerging cloud security policies, it’s important to make sure that when you unlock your data to operate using cloud applications, you’re still secure.

By extending your data integrations into the cloud, multiple security and compliance hurdles must be overcome, including:

• Visibility into your systems, including user activity and threat detection.
• The management of application security, access controls and integration.
• Knowledge about what measures need to be taken and who needs to be involved in your security processes.

Once you’re aware of your current IT governance policies, your organisation can begin to plan for a safer, more compliant transition.

2. Will we still have the same level of security?

Although many businesses still harbour concerns over IT security, integrating your data will actually improve your security policies and give you more control over your data.

Here are two approaches that can help you keep your data integration secure:

• Microsoft BizTalk Server brings access control policies and governance controls, leaving you in control of your data and who can access it.
• The use of Azure’s Security Center also contains access and administrative controls, as well as advanced analytics and threat detection to keep your data secure.

3. How does data integration improve our business?

Unlocking your data so that you can operate using cloud applications can speed up your business’s time-to-market. Further, the iterative and agile nature of the cloud means that you can operate on the most up-to-date applications and give your legacy data the turbo charge it needs, increasing your company’s competitive edge.

Here are some key business drivers for data integration:

• Reduce maintenance costs
• Speed up application deployment and time-to-market
• Improve communication and transparency throughout your organisation
• Drive profitability
• Streamline processes with the help of on-premise to cloud integrations

4. Can we configure an integration solution to suit our needs?

Approximately half of businesses are unwilling to place their company financial or customer credit card data in the cloud. Despite the cloud being secure, we understand that some files should be left in your hands. Your data is sacred to your business and, as a result, you need assurance that you’re comfortable unlocking the data that you want to use.

Here at Solidsoft Reply, we’re able to deliver project-based data integration solutions that can help bring your vision to fruition. You decide what processes you want to update, and we’ll drive the data you need to do so.

5. Can your integration partner meet your needs?

When delivering hybrid integration, the key to success is selecting a partner and not just a vendor to help you deliver your vision. The key is to deliver processes and data that drive the success of your business, and that means putting data in a format needed at the place and time it is required.

Once you’re ready to pick your partner, it’s important to make sure they understand your vision, have experience in delivery, are well informed of the road maps of the products being used and can provide you with the right services and resources. Make sure you state your short-term and long-term goals, as well as ask any necessary questions about their integration solution capabilities.

6. Our legacy systems are decades old. Are we too late?

Many legacy systems still operate at the centre of businesses. However, despite their importance, they’re usually outdated, costly to maintain and can restrict a business’s data integration into the cloud. As a result, they don’t make the best investment for a company’s long-term business goals.

Of course, what is important is the data. Data contains information that is the life blood of your business and therefore, it must be leveraged. By deploying integration solutions that extend into the cloud, it is possible to make the data held in these legacy systems available via the cloud, which can then be used by customers and new applications alike.

Attend a Microsoft cloud workshop with Solidsoft

We understand that your data integration decision should be an informed one. That’s why we hold interactive cloud workshops to help you understand what you can achieve with the right cloud technology and applications.

For more information and for registration details, contact us at