During acquisitions, managing a sudden data influx is challenging. The solution lies in embracing a hybrid cloud strategy for comprehensive data integration. It empowers organizations to harness emerging tech for insights across all data, old and new, says Phil Buckellew, president of infrastructure modernization at Rocket Software
Businesses of all sizes know that innovation is the name of the game for continued growth IT teams hold a lot of that power in their hands, as effective use of emerging technologies remains the standard for informed decision making and the key to maintaining agility amongst competitors.
However, these cutting edge technologies like cloud based tools and generative AI—are useless without accurate data. The tools taking over media headlines as the driver of business growth, like predictive analytics, will fall flat if not run on up to date, representative data sets.
The answer lies in effective data integration and embracing a hybrid IT environment that allows businesses to quickly access and leverage all their data whether stored in on premises mainframes or in the cloud. But how does a company approach this when in the throes of a merger or acquisition, where there is an influx of new data to integrate and manage?
Organizations may need to consolidate some of this new data to manage better and glean straightforward insights, but this is different. A hybrid cloud approach means data storage is scalable and accessible, so more data is an asset—not a detriment. The ability to store, manage, control, and replicate data between the mainframe, on premise, and public cloud platforms in real time is what will allow businesses to tap into innovation, no matter how large the data set or how quickly it needs to be integrated.
A Hybrid cloud Approach Is Paramount in Achieving Data Synergy
Let’s set the scene: you just acquired a company and are facing an influx of data on top of your already ever growing data sets. For many navigating the acquisition process, this can be overwhelming and must be properly managed, or else run the risk of unorganized and displaced data.
Organizations need to integrate on premises systems, like mainframes, with cloud platforms to manage influxes of data best and stay ahead of the curve amongst competitors. With a wide range of varying data, leveraging the mainframe’s reliability, integrity, and scalability with the accessibility and collaborative benefits of the cloud is the best solution for overall data visibility and control. For this to be possible, data integration tools must also allow access to/replicate data from intricate mainframes, preserving the value of historical data.
Implementing hybrid cloud solutions also dismantles data silos that have plagued businesses for years. Connecting mainframe data with the broader organization provides total visibility into data across the enterprise. This connectivity empowers more employees to harness valuable insights, fostering a culture of data driven decision making in the throes of new business beginnings.
Utilizing both the cloud and mainframes also optimizes workloads. It reduces costs, liberating businesses from relying solely on mainframes for data storage and allowing them to move data to the cloud efficiently. This transition lowers the cost of maintaining mainframe systems and enhances their agility, ensuring mission critical storage isn’t compromised.