1. The GCP transformation
Hello and welcome. In this video we will see how cloud services like GCP can transform a business.
2. What can the cloud do?
We have already seen how apps and infrastructure can be modernized by cloud services like GCP. Their usage can lead to improved performance and reduced costs, while also opening up opportunities to utilize advanced technologies like AI and machine learning.
3. The "cloud" transformation
In fact, the “cloud transformation” encompasses several key areas that accelerate an organization’s digital transformation. It brings a multitude of benefits that are essential in today's rapidly evolving digital landscape. These benefits are not just operational but also strategic, helping businesses of all sizes to adapt, compete, and innovate more effectively in their respective markets. Let's take a closer look at the operational first.
4. The GCP promise
From the operational perspective, GCP aims to deliver scalability, flexibility, agility, security, and cost-effectiveness. We have already discussed scalability with cloud services like GCP.
They allow businesses to efficiently scale their resources up or down based on demand. For companies experiencing growth or those with fluctuating workloads, this scalability is invaluable.
5. The GCP promise
Flexibility is the capacity of a business to adapt to change; agility is how quickly this adaptation can happen. If we look back at the plethora of tools and services that GCP offers, we can see how they bring flexibility.
If a business stores its data on GCP, a complex computation can be performed with just a few clicks. Advance tools can be deployed without actually sourcing the needed hardware.
And how agile is this process? Using GCP's online portal a cloud architect can set up a new data pipeline in minutes. GCP's commitment to regular updates means that all its clients have access to the latest technology, regardless of their company's valuation or resources.
6. Dark side of the cloud
One major counterargument to the utility of the cloud has been security. After all, we are letting all our data and applications be hosted by another service. But, security in cloud technology has advanced significantly in recent years. GCP offers robust security measures that often surpass those that businesses could implement independently. Advanced threat detection, regular security updates, and adherence to stringent compliance standards ensure that data stored in the cloud is secure. In the realm of trusted transactions, the cloud provides a secure and transparent environment that is crucial for building trust with customers and partners.
7. The cost benefit
Although GCP shifts capital expenditure towards operational costs, it still represents a more economical choice compared to traditional IT infrastructure. By adopting a cloud-based model, businesses can move away from large capital expenditures on hardware to a more predictable, pay-as-you-go operational expenditure model. This shift not only aids in better financial planning but also frees up capital that can be invested elsewhere in the business.
8. Strategic value of outsourcing
The strategic value GCP offers is closely linked to the fact that businesses that subscribe to GCP services outsource their IT infrastructure. It enables businesses to concentrate on their core competencies and areas of innovation, rather than being encumbered by the management of IT infrastructure. This strategic shift can lead to the development of new business models, enabling companies to leverage data and analytics more effectively.
This also allows them to compete with much larger businesses. For example, a small rideshare app can compete with industry giants like Uber, just because they have the same technology available to them through GCP.
9. Breaking the silo
Another key strategic value offered by GCP is data democratization: this is the breaking down of data silos within an organization, making data more accessible and driving data-driven decision-making. We can easily see how a central repository of data, like Google Cloud Storage, can achieve that. This access to data leads to more informed strategies and better business outcomes. Similarly, GCP enhances collaboration and communication within organizations and with external stakeholders, leading to a more connected and productive workforce.
10. Let's practice!
Let’s head to the final set of exercises and review what we have learned.