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Journal of International Technology and Information Management

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Background and Purpose

Both academic and industry institutions have increasingly migrated essential services to public cloud providers (e.g., Microsoft, AWS, Google) with mixed outcomes. Some industry leaders attempted to fully replace their on-premises data centers with public cloud services, a move not advised without thorough performance and cost analyses (Potel, 2023). Despite some organizations pulling back from the “Cloud First” strategy, the public cloud services market continued to grow, with revenue increasing by approximately 20% year-over-year since 2020 and surpassing half a trillion dollars in 2022 (IDC Worldwide Semiannual Public Cloud Services Tracker, 2H 2022). Cloud technologists suggested that hybrid cloud—combining public and private cloud services—offered a more balanced path towards operational efficiency, enhanced security, faster application development, improved business insights, and increased resilience (Raynovich, 2023). This research aimed to explore the evolving landscape of public cloud services, identify emerging trends, and assess the shifting dynamics between public and private cloud environments.

Problem Statement and Research Questions

Adopting cloud computing required a well-defined IT strategy (Tripathi, 2022), one informed by a clear understanding of which services were best suited for public cloud versus those better kept in private cloud environments. The primary research question sought to guide organizations in navigating these complex decisions, ensuring that IT strategies included the necessary criteria for successfully placing services in the most suitable environments. Key considerations included:

  • Security: Leveraging Platform as a Service (PaaS) offerings could shift the responsibility for patching operating systems to cloud providers, enhancing security.
  • Network: Assessing current internet connectivity, client locations, and dependencies on private cloud services was crucial for a successful cloud strategy.
  • IT Skills: Evaluating the skill set of existing IT staff was essential for determining whether management tasks should be retained in-house or outsourced to cloud providers.
  • Continuous Delivery: Reviewing current Development/Security and Operations (DevSecOps) practices and exploring Agile/Scrum methodologies could improve development and operational efficiencies.

A secondary research question investigated the concerns and hesitations of IT decision-makers when migrating critical services to public cloud providers, including the factors that prevented certain private cloud services from being migrated.

Methodology

The study utilized a descriptive research design, targeting IT professionals in decision-making roles. Data were collected through an online survey administered via the Qualtrics XM platform. The survey addressed primary and secondary research questions to capture insights into the current cloud computing landscape. Statistical tests were conducted to ensure the significance of the findings.

Expected Outcomes

This research aimed to identify the critical factors influencing the placement of services in public versus private cloud environments. It explored which services thrived in public or private clouds and the critical considerations for planning successful service migrations.

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