As more organizations migrate work to the cloud, the conversation is moving from infrastructure requirements to the impact of cloud technologies. Organizations can see the benefits. IT teams are being freed up to focus on innovation and high-return projects.
According to Gartner, cloud computing is a must for capitalizing on emerging technologies and trends and is now the go-to platform for IT leaders driving digital transformation. The cloud is a gateway to innovation for things ranging from generative AI to quantum computing. It enables centralized data access, scalable insights and accelerates deployment of AI and machine learning models. This is especially critical for IT leaders supporting teams who need fast, realizable access to analytics without the burden of managing infrastructure.
Many organizations have completed the initial cloud migration, moving existing environments and data to the cloud. However, most still find themselves in the “messy middle,” struggling to unlock the full value of the cloud due to competing priorities, cost and skill shortages. The ever-desired final phase of cloud modernization is where real ROI is realized through scalable analytics and data-driven decision-making.
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Let’s dig into some of the benefits of analytics in the managed cloud.
Greater agility and business flexibility
Cloud-optimized analytics empower organizations to respond quickly to changing market conditions, customer needs and internal priorities. With dynamic scaling and flexible provisioning, teams can experiment, iterate and innovate without infrastructure bottlenecks.
Significant cost savings and efficiency gains
Optimizing analytics in the cloud reduces infrastructure overhead and shifts spending to predictable models. Organizations avoid surprise costs and overspending, which is especially critical given that 83% of companies overshoot cloud budgets due to a lack of cloud cost optimization, governance and misguided upfront spend commitments. According to IDC, cloud-based architectures improve interoperability and integration, allowing systems to work together more efficiently and share data across the enterprise.
Scalability without complexity
Cloud platforms offer seamless scalability, but optimization ensures that growth doesn’t come with operational headaches. Hosted managed services provide built-in support, security and performance guarantees, allowing analytics environments to expand without added burden.
Repurposing talent for high-value work
Cloud optimization removes the need to manage infrastructure, freeing up data and AI talent to focus on strategic initiatives. Instead of troubleshooting systems, teams can drive innovation, build models and deliver insights that move the business forward.
Improved reliability and resilience
Optimized cloud environments are built for uptime and continuity. With guaranteed SLAs and proactive monitoring, organizations can trust their analytics systems to be available when needed, reducing risk and improving confidence in decision-making.
Accelerated time to value
Cloud optimization shortens deployment timelines and speeds up model development. With pre-configured environments and expert support, organizations can go from concept to insight faster, delivering business value without delays.
A practical path forward with hosted managed services
If these benefits sound appealing, but you’re stuck in the “messy middle,” what’s a practical path forward?
Organizations are simplifying their analytics modernizations through hosted managed services like SAS® Viya Essentials, with a 99.5% uptime SLA and turnkey deployment. These offerings provide a secure, scalable environment managed by experts so your teams can focus on delivering insights, not managing infrastructure. Optimize your analytics by using SAS Viya, a cloud-native, end-to-end data and AI platform that makes development easier and boosts productivity. SAS Viya Essentials can empower your IT and analytics teams with time, focus and safety.
