Click to learn more about author Derrin Rummelt.

In the technology industry, when you say “agile,” a variety of definitions and instances will come to mind. “Agile” is typically marked by a ready ability to move with quick, easy grace; having a quick resourceful and adaptable character, nimble, having dexterity.

That definition fits the Cloud. With its ability for rapid provisioning of computing resources and scaling those resources to align with changing business needs, it’s the epitome of agility.

The Scalability-Agility Connection

To begin, consider the Cloud’s scalability. Organizations can provision the infrastructure and computing resources they need, when needed and then scale back when they are no longer required. That helps reduce costs as organizations don’t have to pay for and maintain resources that aren’t needed all the time.

The Cloud’s agile nature also helps companies deploy new solutions and products more rapidly and with greater ease. They can quickly test ideas in the marketplace, gather feedback and make necessary changes to meet customer demand. That means they can deliver results sooner and be more responsive to market changes. And if they’re employing public Cloud services, they can operate more cost effectively since there aren’t any capital expenses required with that model.

In addition, the Cloud helps make organizations more agile themselves, and not just in terms of being more responsive to the needs and often-changing preferences of their customers. There’s the increased flexibility and productivity the Cloud’s agile nature offers organizations’ employees. Drawing on Cloud resources, employees can easily work remotely and engage in greater internal and external collaboration. The result: more productivity and efficiency and, quite possibly, happier employees.

There’s a lot of talk about the importance of digital transformation. It’s not going to happen without the Cloud. So why aren’t all companies taking advantage of the Cloud? And why are those who are using it not taking full advantage of it?

An Agility Obstacle

For as much agility as the Cloud has, companies—and the people that comprise them—aren’t quite as flexible. It’s easy to get locked into the mindset of “we’ve always done it this way so why change.” It’s also easy to understand why some in the IT industry think that way.

They’re busy people, faced with constantly changing security threats, new application rollouts, day-to-day operations and more. Taking the time to research the benefits of the Cloud and its agile nature, much less take on a Cloud migration, aren’t top priorities.

Despite evidence to the contrary, many IT professionals also fear that the Cloud will eliminate their jobs. What they don’t realize is that mastering Cloud technologies can make them more marketable and valuable.

So, where’s the tipping point that will help more companies, and their IT staffs, embrace all that the Cloud has to offer? How can YOU become agile enough in your thinking and behavior to take advantage of the Cloud?

CSPs: Your Agility Partners

One solution is to work with a knowledgeable Cloud Services Provider (CSP), particularly one that employs a consultative approach and can customize its Cloud solutions.

CSPs are in the “Cloud” business. They possess the expertise and experience in Cloud technologies that you and your staff may not have. They can explain the options and their advantages and disadvantages. That alone is a time saver. In addition, CSPs that take a consultative approach make it a priority to understand your business, so they can steer you towards solutions best suited to your organization’s needs.

It’s important to partner with a CSP that can customize its Cloud offerings. Some off-the-shelf Cloud products work just fine for some companies. But most organizations have very complex needs, and complicated, disparate infrastructure. One-size-fits-all solutions seldom fit. A CSP that is agile in how it builds it solutions to fit your needs will better serve you.

It’s an Agile World

The IT industry is continuously changing, particularly in terms of Cloud technologies. Staying on top of the changes —and leveraging them—requires the ability to move quickly, to be nimble yet adaptable, and to be resourceful. It requires agility. If you don’t have it, find a trusted CSP that can help you achieve it.