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Cloud computing is seeing an inexorable rise as organisations worldwide continue to transition more services online.

The trend towards hybrid working, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has resulted in a huge increase in migrating to the cloud. Gartner research and consulting services firm recently forecast worldwide public cloud end-user spending to grow 21.7% to $597.3 billion in 2023.

While cloud adoption has its challenges, it is vital to protect against cybercrime. Experts like Firstserv can guide organisations through the process, ensuring a smooth transition.

At Firstserv, we have enabled many organisations to realise their cloud ambitions using our Cloud Adoption Framework. We springboard workloads safely from legacy on-premises data centres to cutting-edge public, private and hybrid cloud environments.

Using the Cloud Adoption Framework, Firstserv seamlessly navigates the challenges faced by organisations taking the plunge.

Data security and regulatory compliance are major concerns as organisations move to the cloud. Data and applications hosted on the cloud must be secured at the same level as on-premises data centres. Some cloud deployment models are better suited to this than others.

For example, a company shares servers and other infrastructure with other cloud customers in public cloud deployments. Vulnerabilities in the underlying servers or the isolation of the virtual machines (VMs) hosted on these servers could result in data leakage or other security incidents.

Additionally, an organisation may not have visibility into where its data and applications are hosted, which can be problematic for some data privacy laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

In addition to managing these risks, Firstserv will carry out a Cloud Assessment to evaluate redundant workloads that can be merged, ensuring more optimised costs in the future. Migrating to the cloud is more cost-effective than maintaining and managing a legacy on-premises infrastructure.

The most common mistake preventing organisations from fully reaping the benefits of the cloud is the lack of clear business objectives behind the move and/or a good migration plan.

Clients approach us after attempting cloud migration in-house, having already undertaken a great deal of work. In these cases, we often must go back to square one, helping formulate business goals and rebuild migration strategies from scratch.

A solid strategic plan ensures that you can easily navigate the transition and avoid analysis paralysis during later stages. This is especially important given the variety of choices along the way, starting from whether you opt for private, public, or hybrid cloud infrastructure to choosing between Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), or Software as a Service (SaaS) models.

Carefully planning each phase of the migration ensures that companies make the right choices, arrive at their target, and avoid unnecessary spending.

One of the primary challenges of migrating to the cloud is finding people with the skills to manage an effective migration. Despite the many benefits of cloud computing, the projects complexity stops many organisations in their tracks.

Competition for migration experts has intensified. Unfortunately, the demand for cloud experts exceeds the supply, at least for now.

Firstservs team fills an organisations skills gap, enabling a seamless transition to the cloud without having to upskill, increase, and potentially decrease the current headcount.

Cloud migration involves moving data storage and applications from on-premises environments to cloud infrastructure. Often, this is accomplished in stages to ensure that one step is completed entirely successfully before moving on.

If an organisation has a complex IT architecture, developing and executing a cloud migration strategy may be difficult.

Certain systems may need to be collocated, and a complex architecture may make it challenging to identify and document interdependencies and develop a phased strategy for moving specific components or systems to the cloud.

Firstservs experience in providing managed solutions and secure cloud hosting, including disaster recovery, managed backups, and server monitoring, ensures the security of an organisations system during the migration project and beyond.

Regarding cloud adoption, the biggest challenge is not technology but people. We all tend to resist change, and migrating to the cloud brings a lot of change and disruption. Teams need to adapt and change their working processes.

Good people management is extremely important to ensure a successful migration. A properly thought-out change management plan can assist in this transitional journey.

Buy-in from the top level is crucial, heavily influencing employee engagement and adoption. By demonstrating support, excitement, and value for the new project, the leadership team will help disseminate these values to the rest of the team.

Constant communication encourages the workforce to adapt and progress. Investing in a strong onboarding programme and employing experts like Firstserv to train and support employees will ensure employee acceptance faster.

Moving to the cloud is not a challenge but rather an opportunity to make existing business processes more agile and innovative.

Firstly, they can take stock of all the infrastructure components, business processes and in-house expertise at their disposal. Then, build a strategy that encompasses their organisations needs on their cloud migration journey. Firstserv can help develop and execute a cloud migration strategy that makes the most sense from the standpoint of businesses own objectives.

Based on an organisations actual and target digital maturity levels, our experts customise the migration programme for the organisations processes, people, and technologies.

Book a free one-hour consultation to see how Firstserv can help you migrate to the cloud faster and achieve scale optimisation.

Helping you grow your business, increase efficiency and deliver the future. Formed in 1998, we have over 25 years of experience of the hosting business, and have developed a large body of knowledge, procedures and accreditations. We are UK based, with UK support and UK data centres and our best of breed []

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When you build software, storing, analyzing, and processing data can become challenging as your business scale. Fortunately, introducing cloud computing has helped enterprises and businesses tackle this scaling problem. Especially for IT infrastructure, cloud computing has been pivotal in empowering companies with remote capabilities.

Cloud computing offers internet computing services, allowing companies to access apps and databases remotely from any device. It reduces businesses reliance on the on premise IT infrastructure, which requires high investment and resources.

Further, cloud computing allows businesses to scale on demand and reduce costs by a pay-as-you-go model. Therefore, you do not need to pay for idle resources and spend only on what resources you use. Such benefits have encouraged businesses to invest heavily in cloud computing, boosting the market, which may reach $600 billion by the end of 2023.

However, is it just cost efficiency that is driving cloud-computing adoption?

Cloud computing provides many benefits beyond scalability and cost efficiency, making it a compelling investment for businesses. We will focus on the benefits of cloud computing and discuss how it is revolutionizing the IT infrastructure.

Cloud computing uses remote infrastructure hosted on the Internet to store, manage, and process data. It allows businesses to access data from any location and device using a secure network.

Some key characteristics of cloud computing are

The concept of cloud computing has come a long way since its inception. It presents new possibilities for businesses of every scale and sector. Some advantages of cloud computing are,

Cloud computing is transforming business operations in many ways, such as

Cloud services enable businesses to be flexible regarding resource allocation and data access. For example, an e-commerce business can leverage cloud services to cope with peak traffic during holiday sales. At the same time, cloud services allow these businesses to terminate instances and save costs if their load is lower.

It also allows companies remote data access, improving employees flexibility. Therefore, there are better collaborations, increased productivity, and ROI.

With cloud computing, you do not buy, install, and maintain expensive IT infrastructure. It offers a pricing structure where you pay only for instances you use. This leads to cost optimization and reduces any overhead expense.

Using cloud-computing services, you can optimize resource allocation and improve utilization. Cloud computing services provide access to a vast pool of resources, including higher processing power, storage, and memory. Most cloud services come with automated resource allocation features making it easy for businesses to manage resources.

Cloud computing enables accessible information sharing between employees, improving consistency and collaboration. Especially if specific employees in an organization are, working remotely and others are employed on-site, cloud computing enables remote access to data improving real-time collaborations and productivity.

Businesses can applications from any location with an internet connection thanks to cloud computing. This technology provides flexibility and improves security and reliability with backup, recovery, and encryption services.

For example, you can leverage cloud services and secure your data through encryption. Many certificate authorities offer SSL certificates to secure your data on the cloud like Comodo SSL, Sectigo SSL, GeoTrust SSL certificate. Therefore, you can install an SSL certificate to secure the communication between a cloud server and a web browser to prevent cyber-attacks while accessing information remotely.

Cloud computing is a transformative technology reshaping IT infrastructure for enterprises, small businesses, and startups. By adopting cloud computing, you can reduce costs, improve reliability, enhance security, simplify maintenance, and access cutting-edge technologies.

Cloud computing eliminates the need for buying and maintaining expensive IT infrastructure. Traditional on premise data centers require higher investments in hardware and software to manage resources. Cloud services reduce overhead expenditure through resource management features and a pay-as-you-go model.

Source

According to research, the difference between the costs of operation on cloud versus on premise infrastructure is almost 200%. Therefore, there is no denying that cloud-based infrastructure is cost-efficient compared to on premise infrastructure.

Cloud service providers often deploy their services across several data centers with copies of user data and apps. This redundancy enables faster disaster recovery for businesses and ensures that outage or failure does not affect user experience.

Cloud computing services have automatic failover systems that switch to backup if any primary system fails. Apart from the failover systems and backups, cloud devices also offer service-level agreements ensuring the high availability of resources.

Cloud services offer several security features, including support for encryptions, identity and data access management (IAM). For encryption, you can find SSL certificates at low price from online stores like CheapSSLShop and many others. Further, you can configure IAM and deploy role-based data access (RBAC) policies for enhanced security.

Cloud computing also ensures your systems are secure against key cybersecurity threats like DDOS, XSS, and MITM.

With cloud computing, you can easily access the latest versions of your favorite software and applications without the hassle of manual installations or updates. They take care of everything for you, so you always have the latest and safest software available. It saves you time! Therefore, you can focus on what you do the best, without worrying about the technical details.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can benefit from cloud computing with access to a high-level IT infrastructure without the hefty price tag.

Cloud computing allows SMEs to access sophisticated software and services which is otherwise too expensive for such companies. SMEs automate several business tasks using cloud-based tools and software, which include CRM, ERP, and more.

Similarly, SMEs can leverage cloud services to quickly scale their operations without spending a fortune on IT infrastructure.

SMEs often have limited budgets, so the economics of scale is essential for them. This is where cloud computing services help SMEs overcome budget constraints by providing access to advanced tools and resource optimizations.

Apart from the resource optimizations, the cost of operations is also lower because SMEs need to pay only for the cloud infrastructure and resources they use.

Cloud computing services offer access to advanced technologies inaccessible for SMEs on their budget. Especially innovations like artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, and machine learning algorithms are not easy to access for SMEs.

However, cloud services have made it possible for SMEs to not only access such innovations but also integrate them into their existing systems.

Like every other technology, cloud computing has challenges and concerns. Right from concerns of security to vendor lock-ins and reliability issues, you need to consider multiple factors to overcome them.

Confidentiality of user data and privacy issues are common even in cloud-based applications. Businesses must comply with critical data protection regulations like General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and others.

Therefore, choosing a cloud service provider needs security features and policies that help your business comply with critical data regulations. Cloud computing services must ensure user data is secure and no data leaks.

Many cloud computing services like AWS, GCP, and others come with several in-built features, which are operational only in specific environments.

Further, these tools and features may not be compatible with other third-party services, and this is where vendor lock-ins only tie businesses to specific services. Therefore, choosing cloud-computing services that offer higher interoperability with third-party services and tools is crucial.

Cloud computing services do ensure high availability, but they are not foolproof. For example, on June 13, 2023, AWS systems faced a massive failure due to issues in the subsystem responsible for capacity management for AWS Lambda.

Similarly, any cloud computing system can face failure, so it is crucial to ensure that you choose a service that offers SLAs for higher availability.

Impact of cloud computing has been massive on different industries and businesses across domains. Here are some of the essential examples of how companies use cloud computing.

SimScale is a simulation tool for engineers created by five co-founders who were students with a small budget. They launched it on Amazon Web Services and were the first simulation product. AWS helped them save money on hardware, personnel, and IT maintenance. Despite limited resources, technology can help people and businesses achieve their goals.

DriveTime, a used car and finance company in Tempe, Arizona, improved customer experience and reduced downtime by moving its legacy systems to Microsoft Azure. The cloud platforms services, including Azure SQL Database and Azure DevOps, helped cut infrastructure expenses by 50%, improve application performance by 40%, and enhance security and compliance measures.

Many industries have been adopting cloud-computing services, and the impact has been significant. For example, Minna Bank, Japans first fully cloud-based digital bank, uses the AWS cloud platform for services like EC2, S3, RDS, DynamoDB, Kinesis, and SageMaker.

AWS enabled Minna Bank to launch fast, adjust to demand, and offer advanced features like biometric authentication and voice banking.

Similarly, educational institutions and media companies are also using cloud-based infrastructure. For example, Sanoma, a European education and media company, adopted a multi-cloud approach integrating AWS and GCP to boost innovation and expansion.

Machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies improved efficiency, reliability, and performance.

Cloud computing eliminates the need for startups to invest high amounts of money in hardware and IT infrastructure. Startups can use cloud computing to launch their products faster and securely across platforms.

It also ensures that startups deliver enhanced user experience by providing higher availability of systems. One of the most famous examples of a startup using cloud computing successfully is Amperity.

A Seattle-based startup leverages artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, and cloud computing to create comprehensive 360-degree customer profiles. Companies can use this data for their business operations to enhance sales and CRM.

Cloud computings future will emphasize edge computing, IoT integration, AI, and machine learning for better decision-making and automation. Hybrid and multi-cloud environments, serverless computing, and containerization will provide greater flexibility and scalability. Exciting times are ahead for cloud computings evolution.

Edge computing helps process data close to the source like IoT devices. This can reduce the latency of data transmission, improve real-time processing and enhance the entire experience of using IoT systems.

Advancements in edge computing architectures will enable IoT systems with advanced autonomous decision-making functionalities.

Cloud services provide higher computational power required for AI and ML deployments. With further advancements in cloud computing power, scaling AI-based applications and use cases will be easier.

A recent example is Open AIs ChatGPT, which uses Microsoft Azure services for its generative capabilities. Similarly, in the future, cloud-based infrastructure will be key for AI-based applications.

Hybrid cloud combines public and private cloud services to offer enhanced flexibility. In the future, businesses will use multiple cloud providers for better risk management. There will be tools to manage applications across different cloud environments, improving businesses scalability.

Multi-cloud environments will boost cloud computing use cases as it offers businesses an opportunity to leverage multiple features at the same time.

Serverless computing, also known as Function-as-a-Service (FaaS), allows organizations to write code without worrying about the underlying infrastructure. In the future, serverless architectures will empower companies to scale their offerings on-demand without spending more on infrastructure.

Containerization will continue to be a key trend in cloud computing. Containers are a lightweight and portable approach to package applications. It makes deployment and application management consistent across platforms. Containerization also offers process isolation, which makes error detection easier.

Cloud computing has become synonymous with flexibility, reduced costs, and higher processing capabilities. However, like any other technology, it has challenges and concerns you must consider before moving to the cloud.

However, there is no denying that future trends in cloud computing services, like the use of containers, IoT, AI, and ML, will dominate how businesses will operate. One aspect of cloud computing which is most significant is its customizations. You can customize it according to your project requirements and improve customer experience.

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Register Now to Discover the Benefits of Hybrid Cloud Observability

Organizations worldwide are increasingly adopting hybrid cloud environments to capitalize on the advantages offered by public and private clouds. However, effectively managing and optimizing these complex infrastructures can present unique challenges without comprehensive visibility and control. Thats where hybrid cloud observability comes into play, providing businesses with invaluable insights for seamless operations and scalability.

A not-to-be-missed webinar, titled Unlocking The Power Of Hybrid Cloud Observability, is scheduled for July 6th, 2023. This highly anticipated event will shed light on the evolution of cloud computing and the pressing need for hybrid cloud observability, a solution that delivers visibility, intelligence, and automation across diverse platforms and environments.

To register for the webinar and secure a spot, interested participants can click here.

During the webinar, attendees will gain insights into leveraging AI-powered analytics and automation to proactively detect and resolve issues in hybrid IT environments. Additionally, flexible deployment and licensing options for hybrid cloud observability will be explored, empowering businesses to optimize their operations effectively.

By the conclusion of the webinar, participants will be equipped to:

This webinar is tailored to cater to a diverse audience, including:

Dont miss out on this remarkable opportunity to unlock the power of hybrid cloud observability and gain a competitive advantage. Register now for the webinar on July 6th, 2023, by clicking here.

Join industry experts and thought leaders for an engaging session filled with valuable insights and practical knowledge that will revolutionize the way you manage and optimize your hybrid cloud environment.

//Staff writer

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GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC Delves into the Pioneering Realm of Cloud Computing with SKYY ETF Investment

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In a stunning maneuver that showcases an acute awareness of emerging technological trends, GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC has recently acquired a significant stake in the First Trust Cloud Computing ETF (NASDAQ:SKYY). According to the firms latest 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), this forward-thinking move saw them obtain 7,169 shares of SKYY, which are currently valued at an impressive $480,000.

As we navigate a digital age dominated by cutting-edge technologies and constant innovation, cloud computing stands out as one of the most transformative tools of our time. Indeed, it has revolutionized the entire IT landscape for individuals and businesses alike. The decision made by GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC to invest in SKYY demonstrates their recognition of the far-reaching potential within this sector.

The First Trust Cloud Computing ETF (SKYY) provides investors with exposure to companies at the forefront of cloud computing solutions globally. With its unique strategy that targets both large-cap incumbents and smaller up-and-coming innovators, this ETF allows investors to tap into a diversified portfolio focused on this dynamic industry.

By acquiring a considerable number of shares in SKYY, GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC positions itself to capture growth opportunities driven by an ever-expanding demand for efficient and secure data storage. As more organizations migrate their operations to cloud-based platforms, these investments promise substantial returns given the widespread adoption and expected continued growth in cloud computing services.

This strategic move highlights GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLCs dedication to investment diversification while capitalizing on disruptive technologies that reshape and redefine traditional industries. Recognizing that staying ahead requires visionary strategies honed by thorough analysis and research, they have carefully positioned themselves not just as an investor but as an active participant in shaping industries primed for exponential expansion.

Intriguingly, cloud computing is not limited to specific sectors or industries but rather transcends boundaries, positively impacting companies across various domains. By investing in SKYY, GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC opens the doors to potential gains from stocks representing a wide range of sub-industries related to cloud computing such as infrastructure platforms, software providers, and data analytics specialists.

With technology becoming an increasingly fundamental aspect of our daily lives and essential for business success, it is pivotal for investment firms like GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC to identify innovative opportunities that promise high rewards while mitigating risks. Their investment in the First Trust Cloud Computing ETF positions them to benefit from the increasing ubiquity and indispensability of cloud computing solutions across all sectors and industries.

By embracing this burgeoning industry through their strategic stake in SKYY, GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC underscores its commitment to meeting investors needs by capitalizing on next-generation technologies. This calculated move represents their unwavering resolve to deliver value and returns while staying at the forefront of market developments.

As we progress further into this digitally-driven era, where data increasingly takes center stage as the backbone of organizations worldwide, GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLCs decision to invest in SKYY serves as a testament to their keen understanding of the transformative potential within the realm of cloud computing.

In conclusion, the acquisition of 7,169 shares in First Trust Cloud Computing ETF (NASDAQ:SKYY) by GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC reflects their forward-thinking approach towards harnessing the immense possibilities offered by cloud computing technologies. As more businesses embrace this paradigm shift toward integrated cloud-based solutions, investments such as these position firms like GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC on an innovative trajectory for future success in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

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First Trust Cloud Computing ETF (NASDAQ:SKYY) has been attracting the attention of several hedge funds and institutional investors recently. Reports indicate that SignalPoint Asset Management LLC, Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC, National Bank of Canada FI, Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC, and Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC have all bought and sold shares of SKYY.

One notable move came from SignalPoint Asset Management LLC, which raised its position in First Trust Cloud Computing ETF by 22.9% during the first quarter. This increased their ownership to 15,780 shares of the companys stock worth $1,056,000. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC also acquired a new stake in First Trust Cloud Computing ETF during the first quarter for approximately $385,000.

National Bank of Canada FI saw growth in its stake as well. During the first quarter, the banks holdings increased by 9.5% to 72,445 shares valued at $4,850,000. Similarly, Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC jumped on board with a new stake worth about $217,000. Lastly, Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC acquired a significant stake worth approximately $6,051,000.

These moves signify the growing interest in First Trust Cloud Computing ETF among investors looking to capitalize on the expanding cloud computing industry. With an increasing number of businesses transitioning to cloud-based solutions for their operational needs and data storage requirements, this investment seems like a strategic move.

First Trust Cloud Computing ETF opened at $74.42 on Wednesday and has been experiencing steady movement in recent months. The companys 50-day moving average is $70.07 and its 200-day moving average is slightly lower at $65.93. Despite some fluctuations along the way, First Trust Cloud Computing ETF has demonstrated resilience throughout this period.

The stocks performance over the last year showcases both its potential growth and stability as an investment option. First Trust Cloud Computing ETF has reached a 1-year high of $79.44, indicating positive market sentiment and investor confidence in its prospects. On the other end, its 1-year low of $54.50 serves as a benchmark, showcasing the potential for investors to capitalize on buying opportunities.

Overall, with a market capitalization of $2.85 billion and a P/E ratio of 20.90, First Trust Cloud Computing ETF exhibits promising financials that align with the industrys growth trajectory. Furthermore, having a beta of 1.06 indicates that the stock is moderately correlated with the broader market movements.

However, before making any investment decisions regarding First Trust Cloud Computing ETF, it is crucial to conduct thorough due diligence and consider all relevant factors affecting its performance. Investors are encouraged to review HoldingsChannel.com for the latest 13F filings and insider trades relating to SKYY.

In conclusion, with hedge funds and institutional investors actively buying and selling shares of First Trust Cloud Computing ETF (NASDAQ:SKYY), this investment opportunity is worth exploring for those interested in capitalizing on the growing cloud computing industry. With strong market performance over the last year and increasing adoption rates across various sectors, this ETF presents an intriguing prospect for investors seeking exposure to this burgeoning field.

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