blog 2022 5 min read
Six things you should consider when moving your workflow to the cloud
Cloud computing is revolutionising the way we work. According to predictions from Gartner, global spending on cloud services is expected to reach over $482 billion in 2022, up from $313 billion in 2020. New or upcoming ultra-fast networks like 5G and Wi-Fi 6E don't just mean more data will be streamed from the cloud; they mean new types of data can be streamed.
The media and entertainment (M&E) industry is already fast adopting cloud services, but full adoption of cloud computing is a big move for any business, and there are a number of things you’ll want to consider before making the shift. These include the following:
1. Consolidating workflows
The M&E industry is already overburdened with tools that can be used to share and review files. In many cases, these tools are unique to a single aspect of a production and only useful for sharing files in that one particular area. This setup is impractical in a number of ways. Creating lengthy and complex workflows that shift from one programme or provider to the other builds barriers to accessibility. With multiple logins and permissions, your workflow becomes confusing and connections can be hard to make. This approach can also get expensive, with different applications requiring lots of different costly subscriptions that are challenging to keep track of.
Consolidating your workflow is key to making the most of cloud computing. Find providers that can connect multiple strands of work readily or - better still - be your end-to-end solution for a wealth of production needs. The more you can streamline your processes, the more impactful a shift to cloud computing will be for your business.
Disguise’s newest Cloud solution, disguise Drive has a streamlined workflow that is dedicated for the media and entertainment industry. With the ability to accommodate multiple file types, including 3D file support, users no longer have to switch between different applications or cloud providers.
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2. Plan for scalability
Scalability is always an important consideration for businesses looking into cloud computing. How will your data storage needs grow in the next few years? Have you built this growth into your plans? Typically, M&E projects are built around the delivery of dozens of large files with complex production workflows and multiple stakeholders. When deciding which providers can best accommodate your work, it’s important to think about the speed and storage space they can offer, and whether they’ll be able to store and share the high resolution video files that the M&E industry is well-known for working on.
disguise Drive offers different pricing plans to suit every user, so you can scale your cloud capacity as your needs grow.
3. Ensure your files remain secure
Storing sensitive data in the cloud does expose businesses to a certain element of risk, with security breaches leading to the potential loss or exposure of sensitive work materials. It’s therefore advised to regularly check and monitor who has access to your data, and to make sure that you are taking advantage of additional security measures such as Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). If your software has activity logs it’s also worthwhile reviewing this data regularly in order to ensure that only those who have been granted access can view, change and download the files.
When it comes to every day sharing, users need to be able to easily control who has permission to view files. disguise Drive allows you to easily control permission sets from its interface so sensitive materials make it to only those who are the intended viewers.
Having a disaster recovery plan in place is vital, too. You need to know that if your cloud computing system goes down at an inopportune moment, or faces a bigger disaster, you have a backup strategy ready. Work towards having a recovery point objective (RPO) in place, allowing you to define how much data you are willing to lose so you can plan to avoid putting anything more at risk.
4. Understand pricing
Cloud computing comes at a cost, and while this may be relatively small for businesses using it solely to store and edit simple documents, those in the M&E industry will find that, with multiple users storing increasing numbers of files and sharing to multiple stakeholders, the best solutions can quickly get expensive. Typically storage space and speed are the biggest contributors to costs, but it’s worth shopping around and finding the solution that gets the right balance between service and cost.
disguise Drive starts with a free plan, so you can explore the platform without incurring costs.
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5. Accommodate legacy tools
Though there are many aspects of production that already have excellent options for cloud computing, the M&E landscape is complex and filled with niche programs that fill specific, but vital, roles. In some cases you’ll need to stick with legacy tools that serve a specific purpose within your production workflow. Seek these out, and ensure you have plans around how you will fit these into your new approach.
6. Find the solution that works for you
Cloud migration often means a change in the way your company approaches its business, so it’s important to recognise potential skill gaps amongst your employees, and help them to adapt to these changes.
The best thing to consider is how a platform will complement a user’s existing workflow. New systems take time to get accustomed to, so working with a platform that seamlessly integrates with your existing workflow will ensure greater success and adoption amongst your team.”
disguise’s Head of Cloud Solutions Niall Thomson,
Ultimately, cloud computing needs to serve your specific business needs. The best way to ensure that you get the most out of your move to cloud computing is to understand how it stands to benefit you, and build your solution with your specific needs in mind.
Discover more about what cloud computing offers the M&E industry.
