eBook

OPTIMIZING YOUR CLOUD WITH MANAGED SERVICES

TABLE OF CONTENTSSection 1: Cloud Solutions as a Commodity ����������������������������������������������������������3

Section 2: Pivoting to the Cloud ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������4

Considerations Before Moving to a Cloud Service Model ������������������������������������������������� 6

Resource and Organization Implications �������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7

Section 3: The Business of Managed Cloud Services �����������������������������������������8

Section 4: Aras Managed Cloud Services ���������������������������������������������������������������9

Key Differentiators of Aras’ Managed Services �������������������������������������������������������������������� 9

Value of Aras’ Managed Services ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������10

Section 5: Conclusion ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������11

2 Optimizing Your Cloud with Managed Services

The rapid growth of the public cloud is a great example of how technology can disrupt an industry when the right conditions

are in the right place at the right time� While it would be accurate to say that early cloud-like solutions have been available

for several decades, it would also be fair to say the evolution of cloud strategies reached a significant maturity level in the

mid-2000’s when businesses realized that these solutions offered significant value, even in light of any perceived risks�

This was the point at which companies started to adopt the concept en masse� With continued improvements to supporting

technologies that managed, moved, and processed data at unprecedented speed and volumes, it was a natural extension

that the technology would be utilized to create a new paradigm for hosting business applications� As the model for cloud

computing has matured, it has reached the point of a commercial commodity� As a commodity, new business models have

been developed to optimize the hosting of business applications more efficiently and cost-effectively than companies can

provide on their own�

SECTION 1: CLOUD SOLUTIONS AS A COMMODITY

According to Gartner, worldwide public cloud revenue is forecasted to grow 17% in 2020 to $266.4 billion.1

Optimizing Your Cloud with Managed Services3

At any given time, companies routinely balance the opportunities of new

technology with the risks of living on the cutting edge� With the recent

global pandemic and the associated impacts on the global economy,

companies are more willing to move forward and aggressively pursue

new concepts to streamline their operations, decrease overhead, and

reduce their dependency on specialized resources to manage their

organization� As cloud strategies have matured and been repeatedly put

to the test, they have proven to be in the right place at the right time�

There has been a pivot from “if” a company plans to adopt new cloud

strategies to “when” and “how quickly”� While there are several different

types of opportunities within the cloud offerings catalog for companies to

improve their infrastructure and operations (I&O) efficiency, the challenge

for each organization is to determine how to implement a new technology

model while balancing the impacts on the business, resource implications,

and risks to the organization� A good place to start is understanding the

three common models of cloud services as compared to a traditional on-

premise implementation�

SECTION 2: PIVOTING TO THE CLOUD

4 Optimizing Your Cloud with Managed Services

1. On Premise (Non-cloud) Traditionally, companies have implemented systems utilizing their own data centers� Almost every physical element of the system resides within their own walls� Everything from the application code, data, platform software, and operating system to the servers, storage, networking, and so on, are housed, maintained, and monitored by the organization’s internal staff�

2. Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) An IaaS partner provides the necessary infrastructure for a system delivered from their data centers, through the cloud� Typically included in this virtualization technology are servers, networks, operating systems, and storage�

3. Platform as a Service (PaaS) A PaaS partner provides the necessary platform software for an organization to create and manage their own software development� In addition to the areas covered in the IaaS service, the PaaS service includes the delivery of the platform software and operating system (O/S)�

4. Software as a Service (SaaS) When utilizing a SaaS, the partner hosts and manages the application software and its data from the cloud�

Common Models of Cloud Services

SaaS

Data centerphysical facility

Servers andstorage

Operatingsystems

Development tools,database management

Applications& data

Networkingfirewalls/security

IaaS

PaaS

Virtualization

Optimizing Your Cloud with Managed Services5

Considerations Before Moving to a Cloud Service ModelAny significant change in long established IT strategies will come with apprehension�

With the use of the cloud, loss of control over technology environments and data is

enough to drive anxiety through any organization� The concerns most commonly cited

are related to strategic vision, data security, and vendor lock-in�

▪ Strategic Vision While every company feels they have unique requirements that are critical to their success, the objective of a managed service agreement is to implement best practices using the Managed Service Provider’s (MSP) standard model� There needs to be a balance between an organization and the MSP to ensure that their standard model can adapt to a company’s strategic vision over time�

▪ Data Security Data theft can have immeasurable impact on an organization� This can come in the form of stolen Intellectual Property (IP), customer data, or financial data� We have seen these situations play out regularly in the media with the resulting damage to a company’s brand taking years to recover�

▪ Vendor Lock-In Once a company’s data is in the hands of a cloud partner, there has been a long-standing concern that it may be difficult to get the information back quickly or cost effectively� The vendor may leverage their own stack of technology and perhaps their own set of standards, making it difficult to easily integrate data or move to another vendor at a later point in time�

Other common factors to be considered about moving to a Cloud Service Model include

the ability to integrate to other systems, performance issues, and adhering to regulatory

requirements� Simply stated, it’s about losing the direct control of your business

processes by losing control of the system environments�

Optimizing Your Cloud with Managed Services6

Resource and Organization ImplicationsJust as important as the environmental and process challenges, a move to the cloud will require

IT organizations to address the need for new, critical skills, and resources� With the global growth

of the cloud, competition for these scarce resources has driven the demand and cost of qualified

individuals higher� Companies will need to decide if they are willing to re-train existing resources or

simply recruit new people to define and manage new cloud-focused processes� Regardless of how

the resources are obtained, ongoing training initiatives are required to ensure the long-term health

of the operational environment�

Ultimately, IT departments will need to determine how to manage these challenges and determine

how to resource the new cloud operations and infrastructure organization in a cost-efficient and

effective manner� With the overhead and complexity of operating all the facets of the process,

companies are increasingly looking outside their own organization to execute some, or all of these

processes to MSPs�

7 Optimizing Your Cloud with Managed Services

The growth and commoditization of cloud strategies like IaaS or PaaS,

along with the limited resources available to manage these environments,

is driving IT organizations to outsource the management of these

associated business operations� The projected growth of Managed Public

Cloud Services from 2019 to 2023 is 7,061�6 ($M) while the growth of

Managed Private Cloud Services over the same period is 4,586�0 ($M)1�

By partnering with an MSP, IT organizations can reduce internal work

and eliminate overhead�

A Managed Cloud Service agreement offers a company the opportunity

to move everyday operational tasks of their cloud environment from

their internal organization to an MSP� By offloading these responsibilities

to the MSP, IT organizations are relieved of the recruiting, training, and

retaining burdens for hard to find technical professionals� Since typical

operations of cloud environments have been commoditized, there is little

competitive advantage for a company to run these activities themselves�

The MSP optimizes the analytical and administrative processes executed

behind the scenes and delivers up-to-date expertise that IT organizations

struggle to maintain over time due to their own capacity limitations�

SECTION 3: THE BUSINESS OF MANAGED CLOUD SERVICES

“Forty-two percent of North American and European enterprise infrastructure decision makers consider adopting managed cloud services to be a high or critical priority in 2020.” 2

Typical activities included in a Managed Cloud Services Agreement are:

▪ Architecture guidance and design

▪ Creation of system environments

▪ System administration and operations (Ops)

▪ System monitoring, alerting, and reporting

▪ Performance testing and tuning

▪ Proactive communications and 24x7 support

▪ Application of system patches

▪ Monitoring application health, manage data backup, and restore activities

▪ Database administration

▪ System/platform upgrades

Optimizing Your Cloud with Managed Services8

When a company utilizes Aras Managed Cloud Services for their Aras Innovator Platform, they receive unique benefits that are

not available from any other MSP�

Key Differentiators of Aras’ Managed ServicesAras’ Strategic Vision Aras best understands the unique environment

of the Aras Platform and how to obtain the quickest time to value

when implementing the environment on the cloud� You will get expert

knowledge of the whole Aras environment, from the cloud through the

Aras Platform, and into your business applications—ensuring optimal

results� Aras can also provide an assortment of professional services

outside the Managed Service Agreement to help your business design,

build, or execute your specific business requirements—cost effectively�

With Aras, your innovation will never be limited�

Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (CI/CD) Aras’ standard infrastructure is built to realize a full CI/CD pipeline�

The Managed Services Team establishes multiple environments with necessary applications all connected for seamless

development, integration, and delivery processes to let your organization work without roadblocks�

SECTION 4: ARAS MANAGED CLOUD SERVICES

“…due to limits on hiring and the need to master significant technical challenges, most technology teams have little choice but to rely on service providers as they embark upon

their cloud journeys and ongoing digital transformations.” 3

PLAN

COD

E DEPLOY

RELE

ASE MEASURE OPERATE

BUILD T

EST

CI CD

Optimizing Your Cloud with Managed Services9

No Data Lock-In One of Aras’ essential design philosophies is absolute data transparency� For the Aras Innovator Platform,

this concept ensures Aras Innovator subscribers always have full access to their data in a unified, self-documenting model�

Aras has extended this approach to their managed services agreements by ensuring there is no proprietary software limiting

access to your data� Additionally, with Aras’ open environment, our open source software is always available for you to

leverage in case you need it� You will never be “locked-in” to the environment or “locked-out” of future technology innovations�

Predictive Costs For twenty years, Aras has built its reputation on providing customers platform pricing without surprises�

With Aras Managed Services, this tradition continues with a simple costing model and a clear understanding of what is

included so you will not face unexpected costs that can affect your financial plan�

Value of Aras’ Managed ServicesIn an industry where successful margins are built on providing standard solutions and environment consistency, Aras’ value

as a platform provider focuses on delivering solutions that are resilient and built for change� The Aras Innovator platform not

only supports customizations, but encourages them�

Without the ability to build customized solutions, it is difficult to create competitive advantages and exploit the strengths

of your company� Aras Managed Services understands the value of providing personalized solutions to help companies

take advantage of their strengths as an organization� Working on a dedicated environment allows Aras to create unique

environments leveraging the strengths of each organization as well as supporting areas that require improvement� As

specialists in the platform and applications, Aras resources provide technical insights across the cloud, platform, and

applications that ensure your environment is always positioned to grow or pivot to the newest innovations without hesitation�

Optimizing Your Cloud with Managed Services10

While cloud computing is not necessarily a new technology, it is one that has evolved over time to its current state� Early trepidation about performance

and security have decreased over time and cloud strategies have taken their rightful place among other mature IT strategies�

With the technology, companies utilizing managed services for their cloud environments are also growing� Companies are benefiting from the expertise

of these third-party partners to manage the day-to-day operations of their infrastructures and platforms at a level that they may struggle to maintain on

their own�

If you are considering using a cloud environment for your Aras Innovator implementation, ask yourself the following questions:

▪ Do you have cloud-knowledgeable resources ready to design, implement and manage the infrastructure and operations of a cloud environment? Do you have the funding to hire them?

▪ Do you have specific requirements that can’t be fulfilled by the Managed Service Provider you are considering? Will you have the need for unique requirements in the future?

▪ Will you require additional professional services to provide technical guidance, data migration or development for you Aras Innovator Platform now or in the future? Will your Managed Service Provider be able to assist?

▪ Will your Managed Service Provider be able to make recommendations and provide tuning on your cloud environment specific for your Aras applications or new applications you build with Aras?

▪ Do you have concerns about the availability of your data in case you decide to move to a new MSP? Are you sure your data will not be stored in someone else’s proprietary software?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, your first step should be to contact Aras to discuss how our Managed Cloud Services ensure that you will

never be left behind as you innovate forward� For more information on Aras Managed Services, contact info@aras�com�

SECTION 5: CONCLUSION

1 IDC, 2019 Worldwide Whole Cloud Forecast, 2019-20232 Forrester, 2020, Top 10 Facts About Managed Public Cloud Services3 Forrester, 2020, Embrace These Five Sourcing Trends For Managed Services And Cloud In 2020

Optimizing Your Cloud with Managed Services11

Aras provides a resilient platform for digital industrial applications� Only Aras offers open, low-code technology that

enables the rapid delivery of flexible, upgradeable solutions for the engineering, manufacturing, and maintenance

of complex products� Aras’ platform and product lifecycle management applications connect users in all disciplines

and functions to critical product data and processes across the lifecycle and throughout the extended supply

chain� Headquartered in Andover, MA with major offices throughout the world, Aras supports more than 350

global multinational customers and over 250,000 users� The Aras Innovator platform is freely downloadable�

All applications are available at a single subscription rate, which includes all upgrades performed by Aras� Aras

customers include Airbus, Audi, Denso, GE, GM, Honda, Kawasaki, Microsoft, and Nissan�

www.aras.com

© 2020 Aras. All rights reserved. This document is for informational purposes only. Aras and Aras Innovator are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Aras Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners. REQ-1500-2008