Moving from an on-premise IT system to cloud-based services can be a daunting task. This transformation can result in security challenges and other problems. However, businesses have to embrace this new technology for the benefits that come with it.

Adopting cloud-based IT infrastructure without proper cloud governance in an impromptu manner may lead to more drawbacks than benefits. Cloud grants agility and new speed to innovation like never before by making it easier for teams to deploy assets or provision infrastructures at a press of a button. But these benefits of the cloud come at the cost of new risks that cloud governance can help to diminish. As cloud services can burn a hole in your pocket, it is imperative to set up well-organized cloud governance that considers security and compliance, data management, company assets, configurations, applications performance, budget, operations and much more to enable optimal use of the cloud for an organization in a dependable and secured way. That is why a business must consider cloud governance.

Proper implementation of cloud governance helps in risk management, cost optimization, productivity improvement, and enhanced data security. Read on to understand what cloud governance is and why your business needs it.

‍

What is Cloud Governance?

Cloud governance consists of rules and protocols devised by organizations and businesses to help improve data security and risk management. These rules ensure all operations run smoothly and allow employees to use and deploy new cloud systems more conveniently.

Cloud governance also makes the transformation from on-premise IT infrastructure to cloud flawless by considering all factors. All employees also have seamless access to cloud infrastructure and systems. The approach additionally encourages collaboration where necessary. That’s why it is paramount to include cloud governance in your business.

‍

7 Reasons your Business needs Cloud Governance

You may need extra time to design and implement the best cloud governance. But if you put in the required efforts, you can get many benefits. These are the reasons why your business needs cloud governance. Let’s explore just a few of them.

1. Cloud Governance Helps Regulate Accessibility

IT cloud infrastructure is remotely accessible to all employees in an organization. Uncontrolled access to data can cause data integrity and security issues. Security can be a concern for cloud-based IT systems without rules and protocols. That is why cloud governance is a necessity to restrict accessibility.

Cloud governance allows employees to only access the section of the system they are permitted to, which also applies to cloud applications. That way, dishonest and rogue applications can never interfere with sensitive architecture. Cloud governance makes it possible to decide who has access to what and how the data acquired is used.

Additionally, you can regulate data and monitor activities in real-time. So, any data breach is timely reported to the system administrator, and necessary actions are taken on time.

2. Enhances System Security

Data security is another concern when migrating to the cloud. It can increase some risks to the system and operations, such as data storage, system maintenance, and others. Cloud governance is here to help minimize these risks and make the cloud system more secure.

Putting protocols in place ensures proper data management in the cloud. Data integrity and confidentiality can be maintained with well-laid out rules. It also enhances visibility and control over who accesses what information and outlines how that information is used.

3. Slashes Operational Costs

You no longer have to hire IT specialists to track accounts, check compliance, and analyze operational costs the traditional way. Cloud computing has made it possible to automate everything, including controlled access and policies.

You can reduce operational costs by preventing non-compliant activities with proper cloud governance. Additionally, you can keep shadow IT in check, eliminate unnecessary expenses in infrastructure. It is the best way to keep any project under budget and only carry out the ones vital for the operation of your business. Setting the right cloud governance enables organizations to a kind of creating automated guardrails that will take care of all cloud aspects from budgets to policies management. You get automated responses for any cloud activity that happens, this lessens the load of pulling analytics for each and every cloud action, which in turn adds to your company’s cost saving by reducing the need of workforce.

4. Reduces Compliance Risks

Security compliance audits and assessments have become mandatory for all businesses. Your business operations and security system can be out of order if you don't have cloud governance. Moreover, not many organizations are unaware even data and security compliance exist.

Cloud governance helps businesses to make a long list of security compliances. That will ensure you always comply and avoid hefty fines that regulators impose on noncompliance. It will also help you audit your data policies and usage from time to time. Your employees will always know how to access and use data collected from your clients.

5. Easier Resource Management with Cloud Governance

The main reason for using cloud governance for your business is to better manage the cloud resources. It helps to seamlessly offer accurate control without breaching any security protocols.

With proper cloud governance, your business or organization can manage accounts and grant access to users accordingly. This approach enhances data security and helps to organize and maintain cloud resource allocations. You can group them into departments, projects, cost centres, and other categories relevant to your business.

Proper cloud resource management aids in better cost tracking and addresses most security concerns. There is also controlled access to those cloud resources.

6. Promotes Teamwork

Cloud governance avails resources to team members, making them feel motivated to handle the tasks. Besides, most of these processes are automated. So, employees will have more time to do what they like doing the most. The result is improved productivity in the team and organization overall.

7. Diminishes Shadow IT

Shadow IT systems involve any IT resources not defined within the IT departments. It becomes difficult to track them and determine their costs because they are often not captured in the reports. Shadow IT can happen to any business or organization regardless of its structure.

If your employees cannot access the cloud resources or don’t know how to find them, the chances and risks of shadow IT become high. That can increase security risks and inflate management costs. Cloud governance offers the best approach to prevent that from occurring. It details protocols to be followed to request and access resources without compromising other system operations.

‍

Conclusion

Cloud governance is helpful to businesses of all sizes. It can curb shadow IT, reduce risks, enhance data security, improve cloud resource management, and provide access control. You should consider implementing cloud governance if you don’t have it yet.

However, you must understand you will never find a universal solution for cloud governance. The implementation process and management depend on your organization’s needs and structure. Also, you need to continually adjust your cloud governance to ensure policies and new rules are updated.

Till date, we have helped many organizations in creating a comprehensive cloud governance mechanism and achieve improved data security, secured data accessibility, better resource management and more cost savings. If you have cloud governance on mind, talk to Minfy’s cloud experts.

Book 1-hour free consultation with pricing details

‍