Digital Transformation has come of age, but analysts agree that the world’s institutions and industries have realized only a small percentage of their digital potential. With digital transformation creating both opportunities and challenges, organizations of all sizes should be asking not only “how” to adopt new technologies and processes… but also “if”, “when” and “why”. In this series, Alex Hilton, CEO of Cloud Industry Forum, explores the complexities and outcomes of digitalization and what they mean for your business.

Join Alex Hilton, CEO of Cloud Industry Forum and guests for episode 42 of Digital Transformation of Action, as they discuss the opportunities - and risks - around AI and the cloud. 

From ChatGPT to AI hyper scalers, this month’s episode will look at:
- What the evolution of AI and the cloud means on a macro level for businesses and employees
- AI use cases
- Security considerations and ethics
- And more

AI + Cloud: Show Me The Opportunity

Join Alex Hilton, CEO of Cloud Industry Forum and guests for episode 41 of Digital Transformation of Action, as they discuss data management in the cloud. 

Topics of discussion will include:

- What cloud data management means in 2023
- The  tools, policies, and procedures that can give organizations control of their business data
- Cloud data management benefits, strategies and risks
- How to effectively manage resources for cloud data management
- And more

Managing Data in the Cloud - Considerations and Advice

Join Alex Hilton, CEO of Cloud Industry Forum and guests for episode 40 of Digital Transformation of Action, as they discuss regional cloud ecosystems and ask - 'Does data sovereignty matter anymore?'

Regional Cloud Ecosystems – Does Data Sovereignty Matter Anymore?

Join Alex Hilton, CEO of Cloud Industry Forum and guests for episode 39 of Digital Transformation of Action, as they share crucial considerations when migrating applications to the cloud.

Topics of discussion will include

- Guidance for whether a business should rehost, refactor, revise, rebuild or replace their applications in the cloud
- The risks and rewards for each strategy
- Best practices for a cloud migration strategy that won’t interfere with business as usual
- And more

Considerations for Migrating Applications to the Cloud

Join Alex Hilton, CEO of Cloud Industry Forum and guests for episode 38 of Digital Transformation of Action, as they ask if change is coming for cloud and sustainability. 

Topics of discussion will include:

- What sustainability means in the context of cloud and IT infrastructure
- How a business can measure their impact on sustainability and what KPIs to measure
- How much consideration should be given to the hardware side of cloud computing
- What public cloud companies are doing to reduce the environmental impact of cloud computing 
- What to look for when partnering with a sustainable cloud MSP
- And more

Sustainability and “Carbon-Intelligent” Cloud – Is Change In The Air?

Join Alex Hilton, CEO of Cloud Industry Forum and guests for episode 37 of Digital Transformation of Action, as they ask 'Legacy IT? Friend or Foe?'.

Topics of discussion will include:

- How businesses can grapple with legacy IT systems in the face of economic challenges, changes in regulation and shifting market conditions 
- If legacy IT can ever be an asset rather than a burden
- Security challenges legacy IT poses and how modernization can put business on the path to a more robust security posture
- The lost business opportunities legacy IT can lead to
- And more

Legacy IT: Friend or Foe?

Cloud computing is quickly evolving from technology enabler to business disruptor. As IT leaders design their cloud strategy, they need to understand their organisation’s business strategy and then look for new and emerging cloud tools that can help to accelerate that strategy. 

As businesses continue to adapt to the digital economy, IT leaders need to be aware of key disruptions in cloud computing, and understand how to leverage those new technologies to help the business achieve its objectives. 

In Episode 36 of Digital Transformation in Action, we’re taking a deep-dive into the future of business, to explore how organisations are leveraging disruptive cloud technologies to optimise their infrastructure, solve real-world challenges and ultimately, drive value to clients. 

Topics for discussion include:

- Hybrid and Multi-Cloud: Overcoming the Data Migration Challenge 
- AI, Machine Learning and Cloud: Towards a Data-Driven Model of Business
- Solving Real-World Business Challenges with Cloud-Based Quantum Computing 
- And more….

How Disruptive Cloud Technologies are Shaping the Future of Business

In organisations across markets, the drive for cloud adoption has well and truly taken off. As this push continues, companies are quickly understanding that without the right tools, collecting vast amounts of data is more hassle than it’s worth. 

With AI tools increasingly being made accessible in the public cloud, there is a major opportunity for organisations to harness their data to optimise operations, improve the customer experience and ultimately, drive value. McKinsey estimates that, across markets, the use of AI tools could create $3.5 trillion and $5.8 trillion per year in value. However, in the context of a serious IT talent shortage, adapting the IT infrastructure sufficiently to be able to leverage those AI tools is becoming increasingly difficult. 

Watch Episode 35 of Digital Transformation in Action, to discuss the potential of AI to revolutionise the role and impact of data in business and explore best practices for integrating AI tools into your IT stack.

Topics for discussion include:  

- The impact of AI on the future of business 
- How AI impacts business intelligence
- Is AI right for you? How to assess the ROI of integrating AI into your IT stack 
- And more…

Maximising the Value of Data with AI

With businesses across industries leveraging cloud technologies to optimise their operations and processes, cloud services have never been in such high demand. As more of the organisation leverages the cloud, IT spends are skyrocketing and organisations are quickly realising the enormous burden that managing and maintaining the infrastructure places on internal developers. 

In response, cloud providers are adapting their service offerings, moving away from the conventional subscription-based model to offer more custom services, tailored to organisations’ individual needs. 

In Episode 34 of Digital Transformation in Action, we're exploring how the cloud industry is adapting its offerings to empower IT teams to accelerate innovation in the multi-cloud world.

Topics for discussion include:

- The cost of digitisation: how IT needs are shifting as company-wide digital transformation initiatives take force
- From subscription to service model: how cloud providers are adapting their offerings to help IT teams accelerate innovation
- Adapting to IT evolution: what does the uptick of as-a-service offerings tell us about the future of business?
- And more…

Adapting Cloud Services to Keep Up with Business Innovation

According to Statista, ‘the total installed base of Internet of Things (IoT) connected devices worldwide is projected to amount to 30.9 billion units by 2025, a sharp jump from the 13.8 billion units that are expected in 2021.’ The amount of data that these devices produce that needs to be processed is almost hard to fathom, and cloud alone cannot cope with the sheer number of data sets. Which is where Edge computing comes in.

Edge computing sees the deployment of computing and storage at the location where data is produced, be that a supermarket, a factory or a university. With Edge vs Cloud being a hotly debated topic in recent years, it’s time to address their definitions and how they can strengthen each other - and the businesses that utilize them.

Join Alex Hilton, CEO of Cloud Industry Forum, and guests in this live panel where they do just this and more - including:

- Use cases for cloud and Edge computing in 2022 and beyond
- How cloud and Edge computing can not just peacefully co-exist, but work in synergy 
- Why Edge is no longer just for devices anymore, and what this means for cloud
- How Edge and cloud can work together to help businesses thrive in the AI and 5G era
- And more

Better Together: Exploring Cloud and Edge Computing Synergies

It’s not just enterprises that have transformed their businesses with cloud. Despite the fact that many SMBs aren’t as ready to migrate all their storage, processing and computing needs to the cloud, they’re increasingly getting in on the action - no doubt fuelled in part by the pandemic. 

Analysys Mason's SMB Technology Forecaster predicts that SMB spending on cloud solutions will outpace that on on-premises options by 2024, and as we are now 15 years into what McKinsey terms ‘the cloud revolution’, it’s time to assess how SMBs are taking advantage of cloud transformation.  

In this episode of Digital Transformation in Action, Alex Hilton, CEO of Cloud Industry Forum is joined by experts to share essential strategies for SMB IT leaders who are utilizing the power of the cloud.

Join them to learn:
- The challenges unique to SMBs when it comes to cloud adoption
- Why a hybrid approach may be the best bet for SMBs
- How to tie cloud adoption into better experiences for your customers and employees
- What kind of workloads make sense for private cloud, and which are suitable for public
- How to manage cloud costs and how to incorporate FinOps into your cloud management strategy
- And more

Cloud for SMB: Building Better Customer Experiences

Cloud infrastructures offer seemingly endless opportunities, but this lack of physical boundaries can create problems if organizations aren’t careful. Today’s market is full of cloud providers and solutions, to the extent that IBM estimates that 85% of companies are operating a multi-cloud environment. If left unchecked, this growing network of cloud tools could become a sticky web that drains resources and compromises compliance.
 
For many organizations, cloud networks remain the most efficient way to handle digital operations. Yet this relies on having clear oversight over all activity, as well as a company-wide strategy for cloud management. Learning how to limit cloud sprawl and maximize existing cloud tools is the only way to ensure a positive return on investment, without falling behind the latest developments.
 
Join this episode of Digital Transformation in Action to hear more about cloud sprawl and how to rein it in. 

Our panel will take a closer look at:
- The most common scenarios for cloud sprawl and how to spot it
- How to balance valuable integrations and partnerships, without overextending your network
- Building a cloud management strategy that protects you in the long-term
- And much more!

Building Boundaries: How to Rein in Cloud Sprawl

An increasing number of organizations are deciding to move their digital operations into the cloud, but this is only the first step in a long migration process. Today’s companies are presented with several options on how to get to the cloud and this choice carries seriously high stakes. Get it right and the business will see cost savings and improved performance. Get it wrong and join McKinsey’s estimated 70% of companies whose digital transformation efforts failed.
 
For some, the right choice is to embrace the simplest switchover method, known as “lift and shift.” This maps existing applications directly onto a cloud structure, removing the need to modify the applications themselves and shortening the migration process. Others will prefer a comprehensive cloud native-strategy that requires a lot more development and retraining, but may be a smarter long-term approach.
 
Tune into this episode of Digital Transformation in Action to work out what is the right choice for your organization. 

Specifically, we’ll look at:
- The migration options on the table, whether IaaS, PaaS or SaaS
- The limits, opportunities and best company fits of each approach
- Some of the more common pitfalls that organizations fall into
- And more

Managing Cloud Migration: Lift & Shift or Going Cloud Native?

As nearly all industries start to embrace digitization, businesses are facing the challenge of supporting this higher volume of online activity. One of the most commonly proposed solutions to this problem is deploying a cloud network. Yet undertaking a cloud migration can be a draining process, from both a financial and operational perspective — and it may not be worth it for your organization. In fact, Gartner estimates that in many cases “cloud services can initially be more expensive than running on-premises data centers.”

In order to know whether cloud is the right answer for your business, it’s critical to first understand the true cost of cloud computing. Between initial investment costs, the retraining of employees, and the long off-ramp for on-premise servers, the answer might surprise you. 

Join this latest episode of Digital Transformation in Action to discover:
- How to avoid quantifying cloud costs in the same way as data-server strategies
- What a true cloud migration looks like, in both best and worst case scenarios
- How to identify cloud optimization opportunities, to make your investment worth it
- And much more!

FinOps: Managing The True Cost of Cloud

It used to be that cloud services were the domain of IT departments alone, but the new emphasis on digital-first strategies has all departments engaging with the technology. Not only does this mean more potential customers looking for cloud solutions, but they’re not just utilizing one provider for all their cloud needs; new data from the Flexera 2021 State of the Cloud report shows that 92% of enterprises are now deploying a multi-cloud strategy.

This is a big opportunity for cloud partners, as it’s no longer about offering as many services as possible, but about focusing on tailored solutions that add value as part of a larger framework. The challenge is differentiating your product in an increasingly competitive market. 

In this month’s episode of Digital Transformation in Action, we explore how to sell cloud services in this evolving landscape. Join host Alex Hilton and guests for expert advice on navigating these multi-cloud waters, including:

- How to leverage existing cloud products in a new, relevant way
- How to appeal to business teams outside of the traditional IT department
- The importance of integration and “mix and match” programs
- And more

Adapting to Selling Cloud Services in a Multi-Cloud World

The proliferation of data has enabled businesses to gain deeper insight into their operations and increase their bottom line, but it has also created new security and privacy risks. Companies today need to understand what they’re liable for and learn what their protections are when engaging a new cloud service provider, otherwise they risk falling out of compliance — or even losing important customer data.

The stakes are high: the Facebook/Cambridge Analytica data breach resulted in an approximate $5billion fine, which most companies would struggle to weather. However, with the right preparation, businesses can protect themselves and ensure that their cloud service relationships work for both parties.

In this month’s episode of Digital Transformation in Action, join host Alex Hilton and guests for expert advice on the legal considerations of buying and using cloud services, such as:

- Identifying the local regulations that apply to your cloud service partnership
- Understanding what safety measures are deployed by the provider and what’s on your company to ensure
- Building a regular, reliable auditing system for ongoing legal compliance
- And more

From Licensing to Liability: Inside the Legal Angle of Cloud Service Engagement

According to IDC, worldwide Digital Transformation technology investment is set to reach at least $7.4 trillion over the next four years and will be the first time that DX will account for the majority of IT spending – predicted to be a huge 53% of budgets. 

Therefore, it is more important than ever to ensure Digital Transformation investments are informed and yield the best ROI for your business - particularly with McKinsey estimating that around 70% of Digital Transformation projects fail. 
         
In this month's episode of Digital Transformation in Action, we look ahead to 2022 and the trends that can help a business develop a more customer-centric approach. 

Join host Alex Hilton and guests to learn:

- The most important and notable trends in DX in 2022
- How to identify which trends/solutions will bring the most significant benefit to your company
- What post-pandemic Digital Transformation investment may look like 
- Lessons from those who have gone before in how to ensure DX success
- And more

Digital Transformation in 2022: Trends, Predictions and Insights

Today, companies are aware that adopting cloud is not a binary choice. Hybrid cloud strategy continues to be the most popular strategy for Digital Transformation and ESG estimates that 89% of organisations still expect to have a meaningful on-premises footprint in three years.  In this month's episode of Digital Transformation in Action, we discuss how emerging and established development processes can support traditional architectures so that IT leaders can meet business demand, and stay within budget.  Join host Alex Hilton and guests for expert advice on managing the hybrid cloud, including:  - How to manage a hybrid cloud architecture that can flexibly support the workloads businesses need to succeed - How to ensure your existing and legacy technology can support applications being built today and in the future - How to handle costs confidently - And more

Handling the Hybrid Cloud Challenge

20th Episode Special: Celebrating the Power of Digital Transformation

The Cloud-Powered Hybrid Workspace

Securing Digital Transformation

Reimagining Retail: Digital Transformation and the Customer Experience

Advancing Digital Transformation in Healthcare

Driving Digital Transformation in Financial Services

The Multi-Cloud Maze: Making the Right Cloud Choice

When Digital Transformation Projects Fail: What Next?

Collaboration in Digital Transformation: From Boardroom to Stakeholder Buy-In

Is Digital Transformation Changing the Role of the IT Department?

Is Digital Transformation Only for the Enterprise?

Does Digital Transformation Only Work in the Cloud?

Your Stories of Digital Transformation

Building Your Digital Transformation Team

ORIGINALS: Digital Transformation in Action

As the idea of digital transformation becomes ubiquitous it’s easy for IT leaders to assume that we have moved past questions of “why” and “if” to “when” and “how”. But has the term become so broadly-used that no one knows what it means? Are business leaders bought into the idea of becoming increasingly digital, but unclear on what steps to take or what impact it can have?

In this episode we will focus on how you can educate your organization and leadership in the opportunities and expectations of digital transformation projects, from getting initial buy-in to demonstrating real success.

Continue the conversation in our LinkedIn Groups:
Microsoft Azure and Microsoft Cloud Group : https://www.linkedin.com/groups/1120997/
The Virtualization and Cloud Computing Group https://www.linkedin.com/groups/57400/

Introducing your Organization to Digital Transformation

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