Cloud technology can be a scary topic, not only for the end-users but also for managed service providers (MSP) who have spent years working in the data center. As the cloud removes the needs to host IT infrastructure locally, many might wonder what they would do on a day-to-day basis if not patching, updating and managing on-premises servers.
The truth is virtual infrastructure, networking, applications, and development platforms also need to be managed. Although there will be many differences in the management and monitoring of virtual networks, the cloud promises a better, more scalable job for MSPs.
A Changing Role for MSPs in the Cloud
Good news for IT pros is that most of their time-consuming operations, such as server maintenance, upgrading, and patching, are now automated at an enterprise-level standard in the cloud. The hardware is always up to date with 99.95% availability, in the case with Microsoft Azure – a very high level of uptime that you would not have unless spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on your servers.
There will also be 24/7 support by the cloud providers to troubleshoot and resolve any unexpected problems. You will be taken care of by experts in the field rather than juggling through many possibilities that may have caused the issues.
Although part of your job gets easier thanks to automation, the cloud is not a magic wand that can suddenly make computers easy to use for everyone. In many cases, cloud apps will be managed as if they were on-premises. Moving a workspace to Microsoft Azure doesn’t mean that Microsoft knows how to handle your customized, complex applications, and deliver the right solutions for your client.
The new role of IT in the cloud is more management and monitoring – ensuring end-users have enough storage and memory to use, stable access to their required applications, and receive the highest level of security and industry compliance. There will also be new responsibilities such as cloud migration, cloud consultation, and user training along with the transition.
In the cloud, you will no longer spend hours on the servers every day but focus entirely on the customers – strategically planning and engineering how they access their applications and data. Your job will be more impactful to the bottom line, driving your customers’ productivity and efficiency.
An Opportunity to Grow Without Adding More Staff
In the past, many MSPs hesitate to take on bigger clients or those outside their geographic region since their hands are tied with requests to manage both hardware and software for current customers. In the cloud, you can manage your team more efficiently and scale your business without adding more people.
Instead of losing jobs, your IT admins and developers can leverage their on-premises knowledge to deploy and manage virtual deployments in the cloud. After getting rid of actual server maintenance tasks, they now have more time to service and onboard new customers.
Your customer base will also no longer tie to your physical location where your data center used to reside. Going to a new state, servicing across the country or even overseas, you are free to scale up your business without expanding your infrastructure or adding new staff.
Are You Ready to Embrace the Cloud?
There will be changes in job demand in the cloud, but there’s no need to worry about job losses. Cloud computing replaces a lot of tasks most would rather not do, like manual work on hardware and installations. This will free you to focus more on integration, service management, and growing your own business.
Change is a constant in the world of IT. Rather than worrying about the cloud, let’s embrace it. Start embracing the cloud today, it is as simple as partnering with MyCloudIT to deliver remote desktops and remote applications for your customers.
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