In the constantly evolving landscape of Ukrainian business, the ability to adapt quickly and optimize resources is critical. Instead of capital investments in their own infrastructure, companies are increasingly choosing cloud solutions that offer flexibility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. This allows them to focus on core activities, delegating complex IT infrastructure management tasks to providers.
Cloud migration: strategies and benefits
Moving to the cloud is not just about data relocation; it’s a comprehensive transformation of the IT landscape. Companies can choose different migration strategies depending on their needs and existing infrastructure.
Key cloud migration strategies:
- Rehost (Lift-and-shift): The simplest approach, involving moving applications and data to the cloud without significant changes. It’s fast, but not always optimal in terms of cost and performance.
- Refactor (Rearchitect): Modernizing applications to utilize native cloud services. This requires more time and resources but ensures maximum efficiency and flexibility.
- Replatform: Making minor changes to applications to adapt them to the cloud environment, for example, migrating from an on-premises database to a Managed Database Service in the cloud (AWS RDS, Azure SQL Database).
- Repurchase (Drop-and-shop): Replacing existing applications with cloud-based SaaS solutions (e.g., migrating from on-premises Exchange to Microsoft 365).
- Retain: Keeping some applications in the on-premises environment if migration is not justified or impossible.
- Retire: Decommissioning outdated or unused applications.
Benefits of cloud migration:
- Reduced CAPEX and transition to an OPEX cost model.
- Increased flexibility and scalability of IT infrastructure.
- Improved Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity metrics.
- Access to the latest technologies and services (AI/ML, Serverless).
Cloud cybersecurity: protecting data and infrastructure
With the transition to the cloud, approaches to cybersecurity also change. Responsibility is shared between the cloud provider (protecting “the cloud”) and the client (protecting “in the cloud”). This requires a comprehensive approach and the use of specialized tools.
Key aspects of cloud cybersecurity:
- Identity and Access Management (IAM): Using services like Azure Entra ID for centralized user management and applying MFA.
- Network protection: Implementing NGFW (Cisco Firepower, Fortinet, Palo Alto), VPN, network segmentation, using SD-WAN for secure connections.
- Endpoint protection: EDR solutions (Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, CrowdStrike) for threat detection and response.
- Monitoring and SIEM: Centralized collection and analysis of logs using Microsoft Sentinel or Splunk for timely incident detection.
- Backup and Recovery (Backup/DR): Ensuring RPO and RTO using Veeam, Commvault, Azure Site Recovery.
- Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM): Continuous monitoring of cloud resource configurations for compliance with security standards.
Cost optimization and FinOps
One of the main advantages of the cloud is the ability to optimize costs, but without proper management, they can escalate. FinOps is an operational model that brings together financial, technical, and business teams to make collaborative decisions about cloud spending.
FinOps principles:
- Cost visibility: Accurate tracking and analysis of cloud costs at all levels (resources, departments, projects).
- Resource optimization: Rightsizing virtual machines, using Reserved Instances and Savings Plans, automatic scaling (autoscaling).
- Pricing management: Choosing optimal pricing plans, using spot instances.
- Culture of collaboration: Information sharing and accountability for costs among all stakeholders.
| Parameter | On-premises | Public Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Investments | High CAPEX | Low/no CAPEX, OPEX |
| Scalability | Limited, long lead time | High, on demand |
| Maintenance | Full client responsibility | Partial provider responsibility |
| Security | Full client responsibility | Shared responsibility model |
| Innovations | Slow adoption | Fast access to new services |
How SL Global Service solves this
The SL Global Service team offers a comprehensive approach to implementing and managing cloud technologies, relying on deep expertise and a broad technological stack. SGS engineers help Ukrainian businesses transition to a cloud-first model, ensuring maximum efficiency and security.
Cloud migration and architecture: SL Global Service develops individual cloud migration strategies using platforms such as Microsoft Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud. For hybrid scenarios, Azure Arc and Azure Stack HCI are applied. The SGS team performs migration of existing IT infrastructures (Lift-and-shift, Replatform) and application modernization (Refactor), ensuring minimal downtime and business continuity. SGS architects create fault-tolerant and scalable cloud architectures using services like EC2, EKS, RDS, S3 in AWS; GKE, BigQuery, Cloud Run in Google Cloud; Azure Virtual Desktop, Entra ID in Azure.
Cybersecurity: SGS specialists implement multi-layered protection using solutions from leading vendors. This includes NGFW (Cisco Firepower, Fortinet, Palo Alto), EDR (Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, CrowdStrike), SIEM (Microsoft Sentinel, Splunk), and DLP. For securing remote access and ensuring Zero Trust architecture, Cisco Umbrella, Duo, and ZTNA solutions are used. The team ensures infrastructure compliance with modern security standards and provides SOC-as-a-Service.
Cost optimization and FinOps: SL Global Service provides FinOps services, helping clients control and optimize cloud costs. This includes resource utilization analysis, Rightsizing, implementation of Reserved Instances and Savings Plans, as well as monitoring with Prometheus, Grafana, and Azure Monitor. SGS engineers help reduce TCO and ensure maximum cost transparency.
Managed Cloud 24/7 and DevOps: To ensure uninterrupted operation and rapid deployment of new services, SL Global Service offers 24/7 Managed Cloud services. The DevOps team implements CI/CD pipelines using Terraform, Ansible, GitHub Actions, and Azure DevOps, automating deployment and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) management processes. This accelerates time-to-market and improves product quality.
VDI and Microsoft 365: SGS deploys cloud-based virtual desktops (VDI) using Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, and Citrix DaaS, providing secure and flexible access to corporate resources from anywhere. Comprehensive services for implementing and supporting Microsoft 365, Teams, SharePoint, and Exchange Online are also provided, enhancing productivity and communication efficiency.
Backup/DR: To ensure high availability and disaster resilience, SL Global Service implements data backup and recovery solutions using Veeam, Commvault, Acronis, and Azure Site Recovery. This guarantees rapid recovery after failures and minimizes data loss.
Investing in cloud technologies and collaborating with an experienced integrator is a strategic step for Ukrainian businesses. It not only increases the efficiency and security of IT infrastructure but also provides competitive advantages, adapting to current and future challenges. Evaluate the current state of your IT infrastructure and consider the possibilities of transitioning to the cloud to ensure its resilience and further development.