Cloud and Connectivity: Driving operational efficiencies and cost savings

This blog has been expertly reviewed by Darren Hogan, Director of Portfolio at Nasstar.

Many pairings just make sense, from fish and chips to salt and pepper. But what about cloud and connectivity? For too long we have viewed these two crucial elements of a technology strategy as separate entities, but the truth is that they are the perfect partners. In fact, they often rely on each other to ensure business success. 

Here, we’ll explore how cloud and connectivity work together to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve business agility.  

Understanding cloud technology 

Cloud technology refers to the delivery of computing services from within first-party or third-party data centres. This often includes storage, processing power, and applications delivered over the internet, enabling users to access and manage resources remotely. The paradigm shift to the cloud that we’ve experienced over the last few years has eliminated the need for on-premise hardware and software, allowing organisations to scale efficiently and cost-effectively.  

By leveraging cloud infrastructure, businesses can deploy applications quickly, collaborate in real time, and benefit from enhanced data security and disaster recovery options. With various service models like Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS), cloud technology provides tailor solutions that meet diverse organisational needs, driving innovation and agility in today’s digital landscape. 

The role of connectivity in business 

Connectivity plays a crucial role in modern business, enabling seamless communication, collaboration, and access to essential resources. Reliable internet connections allow employees to interact in real time, regardless of their location. This connectivity supports various business functions, from daily operations to customer engagement, while empowering teams to work collaboratively across geographies.  

Connectivity is integral to the effective functioning of cloud services. As more organisations migrate to the cloud, they depend on robust internet connections to access stored data and remotely hosted applications. This relationship enables businesses to leverage the scalability and flexibility of cloud solutions, as high-speed connectivity ensures smooth data transfer and real-time collaboration.  

Without reliable connectivity, the potential of cloud services diminishes, making it challenging for organisations to fully realise the benefits of cloud computing, such as reduced costs, improved agility, and enhanced innovation. Strong connectivity isn’t just a support mechanism but a foundational element that empowers businesses to thrive. 

How cloud and connectivity work together 

Cloud and connectivity work in tandem to significantly reduce costs and enhance efficiencies for businesses in several ways. 

But this is not always the case, as Darren Hogan, Director of Portfolio at Nasstar, explains: “Unfortunately, there is often a disconnect between cloud and connectivity, with one side of the business responsible for seeking out cloud technology, and another side looking into connectivity options. This lack of shared discussion could mean that a connectivity fabric is chosen that doesn’t incorporate the business’ objectives for cloud transformation. 

“Before cloud and connectivity can work together, it’s vital that organisations get on the same page and discuss the overall needs of the business to find solutions that are complementary to one another. You must intrinsically understand that for cloud transformation to be successful, connectivity must be in place. Then, you can engineer how users will access what’s in the public cloud and what profile of user you are trying to furnish requirements with.” 

When you’ve found solutions that work together, you can look forward to an array of benefits. Robust connectivity facilitates quick and reliable access to cloud applications and data from any location, meaning employees can collaborate seamlessly, share information, and work remotely to boost productivity and reduce overhead costs. With employees able to connect to cloud services via high-speed internet, businesses can implement more efficient workflows and optimise resource allocation. 

Cloud technology often incorporates automated updates and maintenance too. When coupled with strong connectivity, organisations can quickly deploy new applications and updates, minimising downtime and enhancing operational efficiency. 

How do cloud and connectivity contribute to digital transformation? 

Cloud and connectivity are fundamental enablers of digital transformation. The cloud provides scalable and flexible resources that allow businesses to rapidly adopt new technologies and solutions, while connectivity is essential for realising the full potential of cloud solutions in digital transformation. 

By hosting applications and data in the cloud, organisations can access cutting-edge tools without the need for significant upfront investments in infrastructure. This shift enables faster deployment of services, quicker iterations of products, and enhanced collaboration. Cloud platforms also offer advanced analytics and artificial intelligence capabilities, empowering organisations to leverage data-driven insights for informed decision-making. 

When partnering with an MSP for cloud and connectivity, having the right digital transformation solutions in place is key for visibility and making the most out of your investment too. As users access apps in the cloud, your service partner should be able to see the quality of the connection for user activity and app responsiveness. This is imperative for users working from home as it forms the basis of the entire user experience. However, this is only possible when you’ve selected cloud and connectivity options that work together. 

Together, cloud and connectivity not only support the adoption of digital technologies but also enable organisations to reimagine their processes, enhance customer experiences, and remain competitive. By leveraging these tools, businesses can drive meaningful change and achieve their digital transformation goals. 

The Intelligent Connected Cloud (ICC) 

Nasstar’s Intelligent Connected Cloud (ICC) offering has been developed to provide a dedicated cloud onramp that underpins your cloud workload and migration strategy. It delivers dedicated access into public cloud infrastructure for both cloud workload migration and consumption of cloud data and applications.  

Using ICC, your data can be transferred into all major hyperscalers including Azure, AWS, and GCP. This dedicated and secure connectivity solution between our Intelligent Connected Cloud network and your chosen hyperscaler environment results in centrally provisioned connectivity for a streamlined approach to cloud adoption.  

Opting for ICC Cloud Connect, either alone or as part of our ICC portfolio, means businesses have greater flexibility in choosing a hyperscaler. This freedom of choice is vital for determining and choosing the best public cloud environment for both data and wider business needs.

Cloud and connectivity in action 

Cloud and connectivity are already working together to improve experiences for users, businesses, and customers alike. Connectivity in particular is readily and often overlooked, but it is actually the centre point for everything. Here are some examples of how cloud and connectivity need to work together so you can see an ROI and drive success in your business.  

Connectivity and AI  

Robust connectivity and cloud solutions are key for the implementation of AI. Let’s say you have invested in Microsoft Copilot to speed up productivity. Without robust connectivity, the opposite may happen, and you could become less productive. For example, if your connection is loose and voices are not heard properly, Copilot will not be able to accurately transcribe your meeting.  

Data telemetry and IOT 

Connectivity is also key for using data telemetry and IOT solutions, as without proper connectivity in place, you will not make the most of your investment. For example, if you have a piece of telemetry information that doesn’t get through to the data warehouse for prediction and analytics routings and systems to run analytics profiles, then you will no longer see a prediction in the future. This is because there is a key piece of telemetry missing. If you’ve invested in telemetry/analytics technology, putting the right connectivity in place is king for future predictions, optimising processes, and monitoring machines.   

4G/5G sim 

4G and 5G sims are great but they rely on third party connectivity to work, so it’s important to have back-up solutions in place. Let’s say you run a logistics company and have hundreds of drivers making deliveries every day. If a driver relies on a sim and hits a black spot, and you have no back-up connectivity in place, you’ll have no idea where the van is. This means a delivery route cannot be planned so the driver may not know where they are going, but it also means delivery timescales cannot be accurate which could impact the customer experience. 

Future trends in cloud and connectivity 

Future trends in cloud and connectivity are poised to reshape the digital landscape, driving innovation and efficiency across various sectors.  

5G integration 

The rollout of 5G technology is set to enhance connectivity dramatically, offering higher speeds, lower latency, and greater reliability. This advancement will enable cloud services to operate more efficiently, supporting real-time applications and services, such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).  

Businesses will be able to harness 5G to connect IoT devices seamlessly to the cloud, allowing for quicker data processing and analysis, which is crucial for applications in industries like manufacturing and healthcare. 

AI and Machine Learning in the cloud 

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are increasingly being integrated into cloud services, enabling businesses to process vast amounts of data more effectively. Cloud platforms can also provide AI tools that can analyse data in real time, delivering actionable insights.  

The combination of cloud and connectivity allows organisations to deploy AI applications across their networks, facilitating smarter decision-making and automation, which can enhance customer experiences and operational efficiency. 

Edge computing 

As IoT devices proliferate, the need for edge computing is growing. Edge computing brings computation and data storage closer to where it’s needed, reducing latency and bandwidth use.  

When combined with cloud services, edge computing allows for real-time data processing while still leveraging the cloud for heavy computational tasks and storage. This synergy is essential for applications such as smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and industrial automation, where instant data processing is critical. 

Hybrid and multi-cloud environments 

Businesses are increasingly adopting hybrid and multi-cloud strategies to leverage the best services from different providers while ensuring flexibility and resilience. This is supported by advanced connectivity solutions that enable seamless integration between various cloud environments. Businesses can optimise workloads, enhance disaster recovery, and avoid vendor lock-in for greater agility and cost efficiency. 

Enhanced security and compliance solutions 

With the growing reliance on cloud services and connectivity, there is a heightened focus on security and compliance. Future trends will see the development of more robust security solutions that integrate seamlessly with cloud infrastructures and connectivity networks. This includes AI-driven security measures that can identify threats in real time, ensuring organisations can protect their data and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements. 

The benefits of accelerated transformation with Nasstar 

Today, accelerating digital transformation effectively means moving workloads into the public cloud more quickly. At Nasstar, and with our ICC offering, we can turn on cloud connectivity with the click of a button. It’s instantly available and easy for us to deploy, which means we can help you scale at speed.  

Our teams can also optimise and transform your existing connectivity (e.g., PSTN, copper, FTTC etc.) with next generation solutions that are quicker, more agile, and provide a solid foundation for running an overlay service like SD-WAN to further improve your connectivity fabric.  

By accelerating digital transformation with Nasstar, you can look forward to benefits including increased efficiency and productivity, greater innovation, enhanced customer experience, data-driven decision making, and cost savings. 

Embracing accelerated digital transformation with a partner who understands the benefits of unifying cloud and connectivity means you can position yourself for success in a rapidly evolving marketplace, enhancing the ability to innovate, compete, and meet the needs of your customers. 

Driving operational efficiencies and cost savings with cloud and connectivity is a real possibility when you have the right partner and solutions in place. The key thing to remember is that technology solutions should not be considered as separate entities - they are all interwoven with connectivity at the heart and must be robust for every type of technological investment you make.  

If you’d like to speak to one of our experts about accelerating your cloud journey or improving connectivity in your business, book a meeting today.