Cloud
Put each workload on the cloud that fits it
Cloud services cover the platforms that run workloads outside your own data center: dedicated hosted private cloud, public cloud such as Azure, AWS and IBM Cloud, and object storage for cold data. Storcom sizes each workload, recommends the platform that fits its performance, cost and control needs, then migrates and supports it.
Last updated
Practice: Cloud and hybrid cloud
- Built for
- IT leaders deciding where workloads should run after a refresh, a renewal or a data center exit
- What you get
- Private cloud, public cloud, object storage
- Azure, AWS and IBM Cloud
- Options priced before you commit
- 24×7×365 support by phone, email, ticket
- Delivered from
- Geneva, Illinois, for Chicagoland and customers across the U.S.
Why one cloud rarely fits every workload
Most environments mix workloads with very different needs. An ERP database that wants steady performance and a fixed CPU core count for licensing behaves nothing like a web app that spikes at month end. Both differ again from ten years of backups nobody reads.
Moving everything to one platform usually means overpaying for some workloads and underserving others. We start with the workload, not the platform, and match each one to where it runs best. Sometimes that answer is to stay on premises, and we’ll say so.
Private cloud, public cloud or object storage: which fits?
How the three options compare on the questions that usually decide it. Public cloud here means Azure, AWS or IBM Cloud.
| Question | Hosted private cloud | Public cloud | Object storage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workload fit | Steady, performance-sensitive VMs, licensed databases and ERP, workloads leaving VMware licensing | Demand that rises and falls, new applications built on platform services, dev and test | Backup copies, archives, tape replacement and cold data you rarely read |
| Cost model | Dedicated capacity sized to your workloads, so the monthly cost is predictable | Metered by usage, so cost moves with demand and needs ongoing governance | Charged for capacity stored, with no servers to run |
| Control | Single-tenant hardware. You set CPU, memory, storage and network design | Shared platform. You configure within each provider’s services and limits | You set retention, versioning and object lock policies |
| Who manages it | The platform is run for you. Your team or Storcom manages the servers on it, by agreement | Microsoft, AWS or IBM runs the platform. Your team or Storcom manages what you build on it | The storage service is run for you. Your backup software writes to it and we set the policies |
Most environments end up hybrid: some systems on premises, some hosted, some in public cloud, with backup copies in object storage.
Is it time to revisit where your workloads run?
Any one of these is a good reason to look again.
- A VMware renewal quote came in far above last term
- Servers or storage are near the end of vendor support
- You run a secondary data center mainly to hold backups or DR copies
- Backups still rotate to tape and a courier
- An Azure or AWS bill keeps growing and nobody owns it
- The person who knows the infrastructure best is stretched across everything else
How Storcom chooses the platform with you
Discover
A discovery call, then an inventory of your workloads, dependencies, licensing and recovery objectives.
Design
A target architecture per workload: where it runs, how it connects back to your sites, how it’s backed up and recovered, and what it costs across your budget cycle.
Implement
Procurement, migration and cutover in planned windows, with a rollback path. Existing applications move without re-platforming.
Manage
Monitoring, patching, cost reviews and 24×7×365 support against an agreed service level, as much or as little as you hand us.
What the cloud practice covers
Hosted private cloud
Single-tenant compute and storage sized to your workloads. A common landing spot for teams leaving VMware licensing.
Public cloud
Azure, AWS and IBM Cloud design, migration and cost governance, with clear ownership of what runs where.
Object storage
S3-compatible off-site storage for backup copies, archives and cold data, with object lock for immutable copies.
Cloud security and compliance
Identity, network, data and logging controls reviewed and mapped to the framework you report against.
Technology we deploy for this
IBM Partner Plus Silver partner for IBM FlashSystem storage: we size, deploy, migrate and support all-flash arrays with built-in ransomware threat detection and Safeguarded Copy snapshots.
Microsoft Azure infrastructure and Microsoft 365, with Storcom managing Azure resources and backing up Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive and Teams.
Amazon Web Services infrastructure for workloads that belong in public cloud, sized, migrated and managed by Storcom.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between private cloud and public cloud?
A private cloud runs your workloads on infrastructure dedicated to your organization, either in your own data center or hosted by a provider. A public cloud such as Azure or AWS runs many customers on shared infrastructure and bills for what you use. Private cloud gives more predictable cost and control, while public cloud gives faster scaling and a broader catalog of services.
Is the cloud cheaper than running our own servers?
Sometimes. Steady workloads that run around the clock can cost less on dedicated capacity, on premises or hosted, than on metered public cloud. Workloads with variable demand, short lives or heavy use of platform services tend to favor public cloud. Storcom models the cost of each option against your actual usage before you commit.
Do we have to re-architect applications to move them to the cloud?
Not for a hosted private cloud, where existing virtual machines move as they are. Public cloud moves can also start as a lift-and-shift. Some workloads cost less once they’re adjusted to use the provider’s native services, and Storcom will tell you which ones are worth the effort.
Can we keep some workloads on premises?
Yes. Most environments Storcom designs are hybrid. Systems with low-latency needs, specialized hardware or recent investment often stay put, while backup copies, archives or variable workloads move. The design covers connectivity and recovery across all of it.
How do we get started with a cloud project?
Start with a discovery call. From there the team in Geneva, Illinois sizes your environment and walks you through the options for each workload, with pricing, before you decide anything.
Related services
- Hosted private cloudDedicated hosted private cloud for steady, performance-sensitive workloads and teams leaving VMware licensing.
- Public cloudAzure, AWS and IBM Cloud design, migration and cost governance for IT teams of every size.
- Object storageS3-compatible object storage for off-site backup copies, archives and cold data, with object lock immutability…
- Cloud securityCloud security and compliance for Azure, AWS and hosted workloads: identity, network, data and logging…
- VMware AlternativesFacing a VMware renewal after Broadcom?
- Discovery call
Start with a discovery call.
Tell us what you run today, what is changing and what worries you. We listen, ask questions and tell you plainly whether and how we can help. No cost, no commitment.