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lab_2
lab_2
● Main Activity
● IT Infrastructure
● Data Analysis
● Business Model
● Recommendation
4. Cost Analysis
● Graph Illustration
5. Conclusion
● Long-Term Benefits
I wanted the base my proposal on the real company ABC(American Broadcasting Company)
which in a first superficial research i assumed to be a radio company(later i found it is much
more) so the project is oriented on this basis of radio company
ABC Inc. primarily operates in the radio broadcasting industry. The company
manages a network of antennas and telecommunications infrastructure to
deliver radio content to its audience.
IT Infrastructure:
Data Analysis:
Business Model:
The primary revenue stream for ABC Inc. is through advertising. By delivering
targeted advertisements to its listeners, the company capitalizes on its audience
reach and engagement to attract advertisers.
2.Technological Renewal Cycle
As the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of ABC Inc., we are at a pivotal moment where a
critical decision must be made regarding our technological renewal cycle. The options before
us are to either renovate our current on-premises infrastructure with more modern features
(TechRefresh) or to move our entire architecture to the cloud in Platform as a Service (PaaS)
mode. After careful consideration of our current situation and future projections, it is my
recommendation that we should move our infrastructure to the cloud. Here’s a detailed
argumentation for why this strategy is the most beneficial for ABC Inc.
The radio sector is not expected to experience significant growth in the coming years. Given
this projection, investing heavily in new on-premises infrastructure may not be the most
prudent use of our resources. On the contrary, moving to the cloud allows us to be more
agile and responsive to changing market conditions without committing to large, upfront
capital expenditures. This flexibility is crucial in an industry where the growth trajectory is
uncertain.
image extracted from Radio/TV station annual outlook 2022 | S&P Global Market Intelligence
(spglobal.com)
Current System Utilization
One of our primary objectives should be to maintain the same level of service but in a more
efficient manner. Cloud infrastructure offers numerous efficiencies over traditional
on-premises setups:
In a scenario where demand for our services slows down, the ability to scale down our
operations quickly and efficiently is vital. On-premises infrastructure lacks this flexibility, as
we would still be burdened with the costs associated with maintaining and operating
hardware regardless of usage levels. In contrast, a cloud-based infrastructure allows us to
adjust our capacity dynamically, ensuring that we are not over-investing during periods of
lower demand.
Technology is evolving rapidly, and the cloud offers a pathway to keep our technology stack
current without the need for constant, large-scale capital investments. Cloud providers
continually update their offerings with the latest technologies, security features, and
compliance standards. By leveraging these advancements, we ensure that our infrastructure
remains up-to-date and competitive without the continuous cycle of expensive upgrades that
an on-premises solution would require.
Cloud service providers invest heavily in security and compliance. They employ robust
security measures and are often better equipped to handle the complex and evolving threat
landscape than individual companies. By moving to the cloud, we can leverage these
advanced security protocols and ensure that our data and operations remain secure and
compliant with industry regulations.
Improved Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
Cloud solutions typically offer superior disaster recovery and business continuity options
compared to on-premises systems. With data replication across multiple geographic
locations, cloud services provide a higher level of resilience against data loss and downtime.
This is crucial for maintaining our operations and ensuring that our services remain
uninterrupted in the event of a disaster.
4. Cost analysis
This graph illustrates the cost comparison between on-premises infrastructure and Microsoft
Azure cloud services over five years, showing a steeper increase in on-premises costs,
which exceed 2 million dollars, compared to Azure costs, which remain under 1.5 million
dollars. Despite initial setup costs being similar, on-premises expenses escalate due to
factors like hardware depreciation, maintenance, energy consumption, and IT staffing needs.
In contrast, Azure's slower cost growth reflects the efficiency of cloud services, with
maintenance, upgrades, and support managed by the provider. Ignoring the cloud's flexibility
and scalability, the cost savings alone, as depicted in the graph, justify the financial
prudence of migrating to Azure, offering substantial long-term economic benefits.
5. Conclusion
Transitioning to a cloud-based PaaS model presents numerous advantages for ABC Inc. It
aligns with our strategic goal of maintaining high service levels in a more efficient manner,
provides the flexibility to adapt to market conditions, and positions us for future technological
advancements. Given the current underutilization of our infrastructure and the uncertain
growth in the radio sector, moving to the cloud is a prudent and forward-thinking decision
that will benefit our company in the long term.
By embracing the cloud, we not only ensure that we are operating efficiently today but also
set the stage for future innovation and agility. This move will enable us to focus on our core
competencies, reduce costs, enhance security, and improve our overall operational
resilience. Therefore, it is my recommendation that ABC Inc. moves forward with
transitioning our infrastructure to the cloud.