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Cloud computing has transformed the technology and business landscape to such an extent that organizations are now paying closer attention to cloud economics as a business discipline in its own right – one that explores the principles that underpin the costs and benefits of cloud.

By understanding factors such as return on investment (ROI), total cost of ownership and, importantly, the opportunity cost of cloud, organizations can go beyond pure cost savings to realize the value of cloud in broader terms.

Beyond its technical capabilities, the cloud brings a powerful economic advantage that enables businesses to optimize costs, increase efficiency and foster innovation. This economic advantage is fueled by two key drivers: the cost efficiencies gained from leveraging the scale and advanced technologies of a trusted cloud provider, and the ability to pay only for the resources used.

Lower infrastructure and operational costs free up budget for reinvestment

One significant benefit of cloud adoption is the consequent reduction in infrastructure costs. Traditionally, businesses had to make substantial investments in physical infrastructure such as servers and data centers. This often resulted in hefty upfront costs and ongoing maintenance expenses.

By shifting workloads to the cloud, our clients have experienced annual IT budget savings of up to 25%. These savings can be reinvested in growth initiatives or returned to the business, providing a significant financial boost.

Moreover, cloud adoption reduces operational spending. Cloud providers take on various operational tasks, including hardware maintenance, software updates, security patches and backups.

Cloud services also offer built-in management tools and automation capabilities, which help to streamline operations and reduce manual labor. This alleviates the burden on businesses, reducing the need for dedicated IT staff and associated costs.

Cost-efficient scaling enables innovation

Cloud service providers offer scalable infrastructure resources on a pay-as-you-go basis. This eliminates the need for upfront investments in physical infrastructure and reduces ongoing expenses such as power, cooling and maintenance.

It also enables organizations to scale their operations rapidly to accommodate fluctuating workloads and market demands. By leveraging this scalability, organizations can pursue innovation initiatives without being obstructed by technical limitations or infrastructure constraints.

Business and IT benefits go beyond costs

The benefits of cloud extend beyond cost savings. Cloud adoption empowers organizations to focus on their core competencies: by offloading infrastructure management to cloud providers, they free up valuable time, resources and talent to concentrate on developing new products and services.

In addition, cloud service providers offer access to cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data analytics – all without the need for expensive infrastructure or specialized talent. This opens new possibilities for data analysis, automation and personalized customer experiences, ultimately improving business outcomes.

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FinOps advisory and managed services deliver tangible benefits

If cloud economics is the research discipline that seeks to understand how all these drivers work together for cloud-cost optimization, FinOps (finance + DevOps) is the methodology and framework that enables organizations to get maximum business value from the cloud. FinOps focuses on the collaboration of several areas of the business in making data-driven spending decisions.

At the core, FinOps is the catalyst that amplifies growth and innovation. FinOps is where your business, technology and finance teams meet to share responsibility for everything cloud: cost controls, operations, governance and oversight, and resource allocation. To be successful, it needs to be part of your organization’s culture – and this could take some effort to achieve, particularly if you’re dealing with complex cloud environments or lack the skills or tools to facilitate the adoption of FinOps.

NTT’s FinOps Cloud Advisory service: a deflationary force in an inflationary economy

A managed service provider like NTT that understands all the mechanics of cloud economics and offers comprehensive solutions across the technology stack can help you get from theory to practice faster.

Our FinOps Cloud Advisory service analyzes your cloud environments, identifies areas for cost savings and minimizing risks, and develops customized strategies to streamline financial operations.

By integrating this service with our Managed Cloud Services, we can ensure maximum optimization and scalability for our clients. In fact, our case studies have shown an ROI of between 400% and 1,000% from integrating our cloud advisory and innovation solutions, demonstrating the tangible value our solutions bring to businesses.

Through the adoption of cloud services, organizations can optimize expenses, focus on core competencies and leverage cutting-edge technologies. The cloud’s scalability, agility and collaborative capabilities create an innovation-friendly atmosphere that facilitates rapid growth.

With cloud economics as their guide, organizations can confidently navigate the digital landscape, driving innovation, maintaining competitiveness and flourishing in an ever-changing business environment.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

Request a Cloud Economics Workshop and get a kickstart on cloud cost optimization.