Introduction
Cloud computing is generally used to describe IT services which include IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service), PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service), SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) availed over the Internet by organizations. The primary benefits offered by cloud computing are potential of scalability and pay-as-you-go pricing models. Organizations can achieve operational efficiencies through technology. Cloud computing usage is gaining momentum in India mainly because of service models and pricing plans, and proven best practices such as cloud security followed by cloud service providers and support from the Government.
CIOs in India are planning to adopt cloud computing on top priority. In this short note, the current state of cloud computing adoption and service models and business applications as preferred by the organizations are discussed.
Historical Facts
Cloud Computing Service Models and their adoption
- Cloud IaaS model is helping SMEs to have access to latest infrastructure thus reducing their in-house infrastructure costs.
- PaaS model provides immense advantages for software companies. PaaS supports developers with different development platforms and in turn providing savings to the company from heavy capital expenditure.
- Organizations big and small are having advantages by adopting SaaS model. For example, many Indian organizations opted for applications such as SAP Business, Office 365, Google APPs etc. They tend to benefit greatly from the hassles of maintaining IT applications to result in cost savings.
Cloud Computing Adoption and Business Applications
Indian Organizations are at an early stage of cloud adoption as compared to their global counterparts. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated their cloud adoption rate significantly as organizations moved critical business applications such as email, web hosting, customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP) and human resources (HR) to the cloud, ensuring employees can access them anytime and from anywhere in the world, as long as they have internet access. Software products built on new technologies like cloud computing, social media and value-added services have witnessed a tremendous growth.
However there is a slow pace of cloud adoption in sectors like finance and banking, advertising, health care, etc., and it can be attributed to certain barriers such as inadequate knowledge of cloud technologies, last mile connectivity issues and lack of customer awareness on benefits offered by cloud adoption in terms of ROI. Organizations can succeed in their cloud adoption provided they have a well-thought-out transformation plan and execution excellence. There is a growing acceptance of cloud based solutions, embracing merging technologies like Internet of things (IoT), big data, mobile technologies (3G, 4G) by the organizations and is fuelled by Indian government’s initiatives for a digital India.
Conclusion
The above studies and data indicate that cloud adoption is fast catching up in India and transforming IT services to provide a new direction. NASSCOM’s Perspective 20203 report is highly optimistic about India’s progress in cloud computing, mobility, broadband and internet connectivity over the next two years and beyond. It can be concluded that, cloud computing offers an appropriate IT infrastructure for operating a variety of business applications across all types of organizations in India. Organizations need to unlock and capture both the IT and the business value potential to make a compelling business case for cloud adoption.
Learners’ Opportunity
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Discussion Question
Identify three areas in your organization wherein cloud computing can be adopted. What would be the most tangible result of the adoption (e.g. cost, speed, accuracy etc)? Why?