Cloud infrastructure is undoubtedly a game-changer when it comes to supporting business growth and adaptability. But as requirements change, budgets tighten, and innovation furthers at pace, there comes a time when certain elements of an organisation’s tech estate may no longer serve their intended purpose.
That’s why cloud decommissioning should play a central role in every optimisation strategy. Ronnie Paton, Vapour’s cloud UC engineer and subject specialist, explores what this essential process entails, why it matters, and how a fresh, tech-agnostic perspective can make a significant difference to businesses…
Over time, organisations’ cloud infrastructure may have expanded organically — with increasing demand for scalable and flexible computing resources, cost efficiency compared to traditional on-premises equipment, the rise of data-intensive applications, and the need for global accessibility, high availability, and the rapid deployment of services being key drivers of such growth.
If there’s an astute cloud professional keeping a constant eye on the tech stack, they may have already identified areas that no longer align with business objectives. For those who lack the time or expertise though, this is a complex challenge that, if not continually reviewed, can result in major inefficiencies and spiralling costs across the board.
By continually analysing the performance of the network, wider tech stack, security protocol and usage patterns, firms can ensure the entire cloud estate is ‘rightsized’ to suit their current requirements. And a plan can then be made to decommission and retire any underutilised, obsolete or dissatisfactory elements of your cloud infrastructure, to prevent unnecessary burden to your budget, without compromising your capacity or other operational requirements.
But it often requires a fresh pair of eyes to audit your infrastructure, donning a commercial hat not just a technical one. By bringing in an impartial expert, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of your cloud environment and make informed decisions about what needs to be decommissioned.
As well as feeling time-intensive, the complexities of the cloud can understandably make a potential decommissioning exercise feel like a headache. But the decision to appoint a tech partner shouldn’t be made hastily, as their influence can truly make or break a successful project. Some may advocate for their own platforms while disregarding the broader picture, for example — creating confusion and making it difficult to identify the best course of action. That’s why true impartiality is essential.
It’s also important to remember that the process shouldn’t necessarily mean a complete overhaul of the entire existing tech stack. Rather, it involves carefully evaluating current and future business requirements, before creating a deconstructed picture of the cloud estate to begin to understand what should be retained, what can be optimised, what is redundant and where new technologies, apps or licences may be beneficial.
With this, organisations can strike the right balance between preserving familiar systems and embracing innovations — enhancing rather than disrupting their operations — to guarantee maximum bang for their buck. The goal is not to make the process unnecessarily complex, but rather to ensure your cloud estate aligns seamlessly with your business goals and remove the onus from internal teams.
At Vapour, our job is to create the cloud architecture your company really needs — not simply what we’d prefer to sell. If you’re seeking a truly impartial tech partner to audit your current setup, please don’t hesitate to get in touch — we’d love to continue the conversation.
