Microsoft Future Decoded 2019: Five Things We Learned

Five Things We Learned at Microsoft Future Decoded

This year’s Microsoft Future Decoded event covered both the day-to-day practicalities of operating in a world that’s moving further and further into the cloud, and the art of the possible: where cloud computing could take us in the future. Here are five things we learned over the two days of the event:

• There is massive potential in cloud computing that we are only starting to tap into. During an inspiring keynote session, Microsoft UK COO Clare Barclay spoke to British astronauts Major Tim Peake CMG and Helen Sharman CMG OBE about their experiences in space. The two extolled the virtues of teamwork and camaraderie, but also spoke passionately about the massive potential of cloud computing to positively impact so many aspects of our lives. As a global society, we are only at the beginning of understanding the implications of cloud.
• Organisations are at very different stages in their cloud adoption journeys. Their goals may be similar, but during our discussions with organisations one thing that stood out to us was that everyone is at a different stage in their cloud adoption journey. This isn’t a bad thing – all organisations need to balance their cloud ambitions with budgets and risk appetites, and as long as best practices are followed, every organisation can undertake the cloud adoption journey that’s right for them.
• Cybersecurity and governance are key concerns for organisations looking to adopt cloud computing. There may have been a misconception in the past that cybersecurity and governance were inherent in cloud solutions. This is no longer the case – the organisations we spoke to were well aware of the additional threat vectors that cloud adoption introduces, along with the increased governance requirements that come with agreeing responsibilities between multiple vendors and partners.
• Skills and staffing are proving to be roadblocks in organisations’ cloud adoption journeys. There’s no getting around it – hybrid cloud solutions require a whole new set of skills to support and maintain. With public cloud offerings continually evolving and taking on new functionality, it’s hard for organisations to assemble the appropriate skills in-house to ensure that cloud ROI is maximised. This is where an experienced cloud partner like Six Degrees can bring considerable benefits to organisations.
• We need to balance agile working with considerations towards mental wellbeing. Mental wellbeing in the workplace is something we should all take a step back and reflect upon. The latest agile working technology offers us a myriad of possibilities to communicate and collaborate. However, the ‘always-on’ working culture that today’s technology facilitates can have a detrimental effect on our ability to focus and take time to look after our mental wellbeing. Fortunately, there are steps we can all take to improve our mental health in the fast-paced workplace of today.

Your Cloud Journey

Wherever you are on your cloud journey, whether it’s using Microsoft Azure, hybrid cloud, multi-cloud or private cloud, Six Degrees will lead your transformation to drive competitive advantage for your organisation. With a unique Cloud-aligned, UK onshore Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC) to safeguard you from the latest cyber threats, Six Degrees is best placed to secure your cloud future.