How Cloud Services Can Help You Save Business Costs in Singapore

From email to video streaming, many of us use cloud services daily for work and personal use. Some common cloud services you may know are like Dropbox, Apple iCloud and Google Cloud Platform. Then, there are also commercial cloud services that integrate business processes with the cloud, such as Microsoft Azure or Amazon Web Services (AWS) to help maximise business efficiency.

The road to the cloud as we know it today was one that spanned several decades. 

What is Cloud Computing?

Several milestones in networking, virtualisation and operating systems were met before the emergence of widely available cloud services for the general public. Some of them include the formation of the internet’s predecessor, APRANET in 1969, to the sending and receiving of the world’s first email in 1976; and finally to the birth of the World Wide Web in 1991. 

Today, millions of people around the globe access services they need through the internet without downloading additional software. These services are sometimes collectively referred to as cloud platforms or cloud services; and are powered by cloud computing.

This is enabled through centralised infrastructure in data centres which contain vast compute and storage resources.

Benefits Of Implement A Cloud-First Strategy

Modern cloud services, as we know it, began with the launch of Amazon Web Services in 2002. The launch of Google Cloud Platform in 2008 brought cloud services even closer to the masses.

Since then, cloud services have evolved from simply providing firepower by way of superior data storage capacity and computing power, to providing services that anybody with an internet connection can tap on.

These services, which are termed “as-a-Service” solutions, include:

• Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) - Users who require storage, compute and networking resources can tap on IAAS. Google Compute Engine is a good example of an IAAS.
• Platforms-as-a-Service (PaaS) - Users, typically software developers, are provided with a cloud platform that applications can run on and the infrastructure that allows for the platform’s operation. 
• Function-as-a-Service (FaaS) - Users are able to build, run and manage application packages without any infrastructure maintenance needed.
• Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) - Users are given a cloud application and its accompanying platform and infrastructure.

By using IT environments that can pool scalable resources across a network, users gain access to multiple benefits, such as:

1. Easy Access 

Anyone with an internet connection can get access to cloud services, which grants them the tools for instant, seamless cross-border collaboration. 

2. Flexibility 

Some cloud services grant users the ability to reconfigure and reconsolidate software according to their needs. Consider OpenStack, which can be used to create and manage public and private clouds. 

3. On-Demand Scalability 

One of the biggest advantages cloud services offer are its scalability, which allows for the easy allocation or de-allocation of IT resources for ever-changing demand. 

How Cloud Services Drive Down Business Costs

way to minimise costs generated by traditional IT approaches. In a 2011 International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) report titled The Power Of Cloud, 72% of business and technology leaders indicated that their companies had either piloted, adopted or had substantially implemented cloud technology. A 2012 study conducted by Nanyang Technological University in Singapore revealed that the ability to “pay as you go” for cloud services was cited as a major benefit by business decision makers, since it either offset or significantly reduced fixed IT expenditure. 

By 2020, 83% of Singapore SMEs polled by Vodien revealed that they have either fully adopted or were in the process of adopting cloud solutions.

How does the adoption of a cloud-first strategy help organisations defray business costs?

1. Outsourced Maintenance

The benefits of outsourcing IT maintenance to your cloud services provider is twofold. Firstly, it eliminates the need for the engagement of any on-site specialists for recurring ad hoc maintenance of costly legacy hardware. Secondly, it allows for the company to focus on business optimisation and ROI versus routine maintenance and security audits. 

2. Reduced Need For An In-House IT Team

Instead, security audits, backup protocols and routine server maintenance can also be done by the cloud services provider. This permits companies to downsize their in-house IT team and redirect their budget to other areas of concern.

3. No Upfront Investment On Compute Resources

Businesses are choosing to swap expensive hardware that may require specialists or specialised training to operate, for cloud platforms. Others are opting for cloud integration, which is the consolidation of on-premise infrastructure with multiple cloud systems. 

This cost-effective strategy means you only pay for what you need. As-a-Service solutions mean that companies typically pay on a per-user basis, which means there is no risk of wastage stemming from inefficient and complicated hardware nobody can operate.

SAP S/4 HANA Cloud Service

For cloud integration services and SAP cloud platform integration solutions that help you grow your business, look no further than the experts at delaware. 

 Our SAP S/4 HANA Cloud service is constantly being updated with new and improved functionalities via quarterly updates. It’s also packed with advanced new features, such as the SAP CoPilot, an AI-powered digital assistant, as well as the latest in machine learning and predictive analytics to empower you to differentiate your company’s products and services.

 As a long time SAP partner, we have helped many businesses deploy SAP cloud solutions and completed many SAP cloud integration exercises in a cost-efficient and timely manner. We have more than 15 years of experience in implementing SAP-powered solutions, like SAP HANA clouds or SAP HANA cloud integration.