As businesses continue to migrate their operations to the cloud, a persistent challenge emerges: the growing skills gap in cloud management. This issue, exacerbated by the rapid evolution of cloud technologies, has made it difficult for organizations to find and retain IT professionals with the necessary expertise. While the cloud promises flexibility and cost savings, without the right skills, companies often struggle to realize these benefits fully.
Read on to discover how GNS can help bridge the cloud management skills gap with expert MSP support. Learn how outsourcing critical IT functions ensures optimized, secure, and scalable cloud solutions tailored to your business needs.
The skills gap in IT, particularly in cloud computing, is not new, but it has become more pronounced with the widespread adoption of public cloud environments. As cloud technology evolves daily, IT professionals must continuously update their skill sets to keep up. Unfortunately, many claim to have the necessary expertise, but when put to the test, they fall short of delivering the required results. A study by SoftwareOne revealed that 95% of organizations have been negatively impacted by this cloud skills gap, leading to increased workloads and delays in key projects.
At the same time, cloud management has become increasingly complex. Most organizations now run multi-cloud or hybrid environments, juggling applications across both private and public clouds. The intricacies of managing such systems often require specialized knowledge that internal teams lack. This is where the gap becomes most evident: the demand for skilled professionals far outweighs the supply, making it harder for businesses to achieve their goals.
While the public cloud is a powerful tool, it's not always the best solution for every organization's IT needs. Many decisions to move to the public cloud are driven by C-suite management rather than IT professionals, who may better understand the nuances of different cloud solutions. Management sees the cloud as a way to scale quickly, but without consulting IT teams, businesses often overlook the hidden complexities, such as integration challenges and security risks.
One of the underlying issues is that while the public cloud offers cost savings and scalability, it doesn't always align with every organization's specific requirements. For instance, some workloads are better suited to run on private cloud environments, where businesses can have greater control over security, performance, and compliance. GNS, as a managed service provider, can help businesses evaluate which workloads are better suited for public or private clouds and manage the infrastructure accordingly.
The nature of cloud technology means that there will always be a skills gap. Because the cloud evolves so rapidly, it's nearly impossible for in-house IT teams to stay up to date on every new tool, security protocol, or platform. This is where outsourcing to an MSP like GNS becomes invaluable.
Outsourcing addresses several key challenges:
It's also important to acknowledge that while the public cloud offers flexibility and scalability, it's not a one-size-fits-all solution. Many organizations may benefit more from a private cloud setup, especially those dealing with sensitive data or requiring highly customized environments. The private cloud provides greater control, stronger security measures, and often better performance for certain workloads.
However, managing a private cloud comes with its own set of challenges, which is where GNS's expertise becomes essential. By working with a trusted MSP, businesses can implement a hybrid approach—running specific applications on the public cloud while keeping critical, sensitive operations on a private cloud. This balance not only optimizes performance but also helps control costs.
As businesses continue to navigate the complexities of cloud computing, the skills gap will remain a significant hurdle. But by partnering with MSPs like GNS, businesses can overcome this challenge. GNS not only fills the knowledge gaps but also provides comprehensive solutions tailored to each client's unique needs—whether it's managing multi-cloud environments, securing sensitive data, or optimizing cloud spending through FinOps.
In conclusion, outsourcing cloud management to an MSP like GNS is the key to unlocking the full potential of the cloud while avoiding the pitfalls of the skills gap. With the right expertise, businesses can confidently move forward, knowing their cloud environments are in capable hands—optimized, secure, and ready for whatever the future holds.
Curious to learn more about our cloud management services? Reach out to us directly here.