In our previous article, we asked Péter Stein, AWS Business Development Manager for the CEE region, about the AWS cloud service and the benefits of using it. Since Péter has considerable experience in various cloud services, this time we talked to him about the potential of cloud services and multicloud, with particular emphasis on AWS’s cloud service, of course. 

The cloud has defined your professional career for nearly a decade. What do you think the public cloud has brought to the IT market?

I was interested in cloud services even before I started dealing with them in my work. Especially because, in my opinion, with the advent of the cloud, there has been a kind of democratization in the IT market. Many businesses couldn’t have been launched if there hadn’t been the kind of flexible access to resources that only large companies would have been able to finance in the past. But the cloud has created an unprecedented opportunity for talented entrepreneurs to showcase their ideas in the global marketplace. I know many businesses in the region that were made possible by the cloud, which were then able to grow continuously in the cloud and became truly successful companies at a global level.  

Many companies are still afraid of the cloud. What aspects should these companies consider?

The first and most important step worth taking is to examine and review their business processes and applications. What are the business-critical processes, what resources can be used to operate them, whether they’re sustainable in the long term, or whether it would be worth examining another solution now or in the future. If, during this appraisal of processes and applications, the company concludes that it would be worthwhile to assign some or all of them to a third-party service provider then they should definitely consult with third-party providers. I often find that companies don’t contact us because of the costs, even though the consultation, and often even the testing and pilot phase, is free of charge. What’s needed from the company is time, so that we can learn as much as possible about its operations to find the most tailored and cost-effective solution. With AWS services, for example, we can really go a long way without any costs, as it’s also in the service provider’s interest that the client will be satisfied and aware of the costs that will occur. For example, we can provide the client with a detailed budget plan of the monthly costs they must assume once the service starts. So companies considering cloud services have nothing to fear, as exploring the opportunities does not cost them much. 

Although Noventiq is known for Microsoft services, it also provides Google Cloud and AWS services to clients. Doesn’t that confuse clients?

Actually, this isn’t a problem for clients at all; in fact, they rather see it as an opportunity, as they can choose from a bigger and broader range of service options. In many cases, it turns out in the course of talking with clients that, although they’re working with Noventiq on a Microsoft solution, they are already using several AWS solutions as well. Often AWS is even more strongly present in their solution and application portfolio, so when it becomes apparent that, in addition to Microsoft Azure, we can offer expert support for AWS as well, they respond positively, and they’re curious about the services we provide. The use of multicloud is increasingly common in large enterprises, so Noventiq’s professional knowledge and track record in this field is valuable for many companies. 

What kind of companies should consider multicloud? 

There are many aspects to consider. A startup should, for example, try all kinds of platforms, as all the providers support startups. If we look at the issue from a technological point of view, in many cases it is not worth experimenting. For example, if a company wants to migrate their Microsoft-based email servers to the cloud, the most obvious step is to use Office 365, which users are already familiar with. For a smaller company, it is always worth looking at the pros and cons of multicloud when using a particular cloud service. If they are already familiar with that particular cloud, and they are satisfied with it, it is important to consider what is the right solution in terms of resources and costs. It’s worth contacting Noventiq in such cases as well, because we can help them evaluate the options. In my experience, however, at the enterprise level, multicloud is the standard practice. For enterprises, multicloud is already important from a business perspective as well, because this way they aren’t dependent on a single provider and, on a technological basis, they usually focus on different resources with each provider. 

What experience does Noventiq have in multicloud?

Noventiq’s expertise in multicloud is outstanding even at the global level. We are an AWS Premier Consulting Partner, which is AWS’s highest level of recognition. Noventiq is also a Microsoft Gold Partner and has a number of so-called Advanced competencies related to various Microsoft technologies. What’s more, the company’s Google Cloud experience is becoming stronger and stronger. There are few companies in the world that have a significant team of experts and knowledge base in all three areas, especially in this region. I think the Azure and AWS knowledge that Noventiq provides to its clients is unique in the region. All our colleagues work closely together to find the best solution for our clients. For international projects, we’re often now asked to manage Azure and AWS infrastructure together, for which we provide the client with Azure and AWS solution experts at the same time. 

Looking at the evolution of the IT industry, what opportunities do you see for a company in terms of multicloud or AWS, depending on their size? 

The way I see it, cost effectiveness, the optimal use of resources, operating critical business applications in a sustainable way, and adapting them to future plans are essential for successful operation. By examining and, if necessary, transforming and developing the application portfolio, costs can be reduced significantly in line with business goals. Successful companies have accurate figures on the revenue they can earn compared to the costs of a particular cloud service, and these numbers are constantly monitored. Nowadays, GDPR doesn’t present a problem either, as all cloud providers invest very significant resources in complying with the European regulations. In my experience, within the IT organization, professionals in all professions and industries already see the place and legitimacy of the cloud, regardless of the size of the organization.