Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers to common questions about our cloud services

• cloudWhat is cloud computing?

  Cloud computing is the delivery of computing services—including servers, storage, databases, networking, software, analytics, and intelligence—over the Internet ("the cloud") to offer faster innovation, flexible resources, and economies of scale. You typically pay only for cloud services you use, helping you lower your operating costs, run your infrastructure more efficiently, and scale as your business needs change.

• compareWhich cloud platform is right for my business?

  The right cloud platform depends on your specific business needs, existing technology stack, and long-term strategy. Each major cloud provider has unique strengths:

  • Microsoft Azure: Excellent for businesses already invested in Microsoft technologies, with strong enterprise integration and hybrid cloud capabilities.
  • Amazon AWS: Offers the broadest range of services and global infrastructure, making it suitable for a wide variety of applications.
  • Google Cloud: Excels in big data, analytics, and machine learning with cutting-edge AI capabilities.

  Many organisations adopt a multi-cloud approach to leverage the best capabilities from each provider. Our consultants can help you assess your needs and recommend the most suitable platform or combination of platforms.

• arrow_forwardHow long does a cloud migration take?

  The duration of a cloud migration depends on several factors:

  • The size and complexity of your current infrastructure
  • The number and complexity of applications being migrated
  • Your migration strategy (lift-and-shift, modernise, or rebuild)
  • Data volume and transfer requirements
  • Your organisation's readiness for change

  Simple migrations might take a few weeks, while complex enterprise migrations can span several months or even years if done in phases. We work with you to create a realistic timeline based on your specific requirements and priorities.

• buildWhat's the difference between "lift-and-shift" and application modernisation?

  Lift-and-shift (rehosting) involves moving applications from on-premises to the cloud with minimal changes. This approach is faster and less risky but may not fully leverage cloud capabilities.

  Application modernisation (refactoring or rearchitecting) involves modifying your applications to take advantage of cloud-native features. While this requires more time and resources upfront, it typically delivers better long-term results in performance, scalability, and cost efficiency.

  We often recommend a phased approach: start with lift-and-shift to quickly move to the cloud, then gradually modernise applications to optimise benefits.

• securityIs the cloud secure?

  Major cloud providers like Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud invest billions in security and employ top security experts, often making their platforms more secure than traditional on-premises environments. However, cloud security follows a shared responsibility model:

  • The cloud provider secures the underlying infrastructure
  • You're responsible for securing your data, applications, access controls, and configurations

  Our cloud security services help ensure your environment is properly configured with appropriate security controls, monitoring, and compliance measures to protect your workloads and data in the cloud.

• policyHow do I ensure compliance in the cloud?

  Ensuring compliance in the cloud involves several key strategies:

  • Selecting the right cloud provider with appropriate compliance certifications (e.g., ISO 27001, GDPR, SOC 2, PCI DSS)
  • Implementing proper access controls and permissions
  • Encrypting sensitive data both at rest and in transit
  • Setting up continuous compliance monitoring and audit logging
  • Establishing regular assessment and reporting processes

  We help organisations implement compliance frameworks specific to their industry requirements and create documentation to support regulatory audits.

• euro_symbolHow much does cloud migration cost?

  Cloud migration costs vary significantly based on:

  • The size and complexity of your environment
  • Your chosen migration strategy
  • Required professional services and training
  • Potential need for new tools or technologies
  • Temporary parallel running of systems

  While there are upfront costs, most organisations achieve positive ROI through reduced capital expenses, optimised operational costs, and improved business agility. We provide detailed cost analyses and ROI projections as part of our migration planning services.

• trending_downHow can I control and optimise cloud costs?

  Key strategies for cloud cost optimisation include:

  • Rightsizing resources: Matching instance types and sizes to workload requirements
  • Reserved instances/commitments: Purchasing capacity in advance for significant discounts
  • Automated scaling: Increasing or decreasing resources based on demand
  • Storage tiering: Moving infrequently accessed data to less expensive storage classes
  • Workload scheduling: Turning off non-production resources when not in use
  • Cost governance: Implementing tagging, budgeting, and alerting

  Our cost optimisation services provide comprehensive analysis and ongoing management to help you maximise your cloud ROI.

• device_hubWhat is a multi-cloud strategy?

  A multi-cloud strategy involves using cloud services from two or more cloud providers. Organisations adopt multi-cloud approaches for several reasons:

  • Avoiding vendor lock-in by distributing workloads across providers
  • Selecting the best services from each provider for specific workloads
  • Improving resilience and business continuity
  • Meeting geographic or compliance requirements
  • Negotiating better pricing by creating competition among providers

  While multi-cloud offers advantages, it also introduces complexity in management, security, and skill requirements. Our multi-cloud consulting helps you navigate these challenges while maximising the benefits.