Windows Workload Optimization on AWS

Do you run mission-critical Windows workloads or applications in an on-premises data center? If so, you may be missing out on benefits. Windows workloads aren’t just for on-premises environments. In fact, running Windows workloads on Amazon Web Services (AWS) is often more cost-efficient than running them on-premises. Here are the many reasons why companies surveyed in an IDC study prefer running Windows workloads in the AWS cloud, and how doing so maximizes Windows workload optimization.

AWS Customers Report Greater Windows Workload Optimization

AWS runs almost twice as many Windows Server instances than its competing cloud provider and has over ten years of experience with Windows workloads. If your firm needs to increase windows workload optimization, migrating your Windows workloads to the AWS cloud could be the solution you’ve been looking for. 

But the efficacy of AWS runs deeper than popularity alone; it’s also supported by research. The IDC interviewed several organizations that ran Windows workloads in the AWS cloud and published their findings in the whitepaper titled "The Business Value of Efficiently Running High-Performing Windows Workloads in the AWS Cloud." The organizations reported receiving a variety of benefits, including greater performance, efficiency, and security. On average, each organization reported seeing a value-add of $157,300 per 100 users over five years ($6.59 million per organization). Other frequently-mentioned benefits included: a lower total cost of ownership, container-based, microservices efficiency, improved security, and the ability to focus on business goals rather than infrastructure management. 

IDC extensively interviewed 12 organizations across a variety of industries. Here are the most commonly reported advantages of AWS:

• Reduced IT infrastructure costs: By moving their infrastructure to the AWS cloud, respondents saw an average savings of $11,100 per 100 users per year ($46 million per organization).
• Greater IT staff productivity: IT staff members were able to more effectively use their time when relieved of the burden of day-to-day activities such as database or application management, help desk services, or security tasks. IDC estimated the value of the time these IT teams saved to be about $43,100 per 100 users per year per organization ($1.8 million per organization).
• Heightened risk mitigation: Respondents said the AWS cloud reduced their risk and unplanned application outages, worth an average of $18,400 per 100 users per year ($77 million per organization).
• Increased business productivity: Organizations’ workforces were able to increase their productivity using high-performance applications and features that were highly-available. IDC calculates these productivity gains to be worth about $84,700 per 100 users yearly ($3.46 million per organization).
  

It’s no surprise these clients were highly satisfied with their investment. After all, AWS has provided cloud services longer than any other provider. 

How AWS Delivers Increased Windows Workload Optimization

But how did the organizations surveyed use AWS to gain all of these benefits? By fully-leveraging AWS to gain the robust, secure environment needed to run mission-critical Windows workloads, such as .NET solutions, SQL Server, or Active Directory.

Running Windows workloads on AWS yields greater windows workload optimization by:

• Reducing infrastructure costs. Moving infrastructure off-premises and onto the AWS cloud eliminates all the pain points in-house infrastructures face. This optimizes costs in many ways, including: more efficiently using application licenses; reducing electricity and cooling costs; removing equipment replacement and upgrade costs; and increasing reliability and uptime.
• Enabling more effective development. Businesses are able to grow and support more profitable models, as running Windows workloads on the AWS cloud gives them greater IT agility.
• Optimizing security. The AWS cloud is highly-secure and efficient at lowering the effect of unplanned outages on operations and other security risks.
• Producing better business outcomes. Having a more efficient way to run Windows workloads offers better-functioning applications to the workforce and enables employees to create better business outcomes.
  
  

If you’re ready to migrate to the AWS cloud, you’ll need to prepare accordingly. You’ll need meticulous planning, a working knowledge of your legacy environment, and a way to ensure that your new environment will support your future growth. To create the comprehensive business case you’ll need, consider getting advice from an experienced AWS Premier Consulting Partner.

Getting Started

Don’t migrate your workload off of your on-premise data center alone. The best way to increase windows workload optimization while reducing IT spend is to work with an AWS Premier Consulting Partner, who can develop an AWS migration strategy and find many other ways you can save. So choose an experienced AWS Premier Consulting Partner—like Mission. 

Mission helped MicroSearch Corporation migrate their Windows workloads to AWS. Now, this digital library services company is able to develop the fourth generation of its search engine application and offer their clients new functionality. So don’t undertake migration alone, and don’t settle for anything less than the full benefits AWS can offer for your Windows workloads. Let an experienced Mission consultant streamline your workloads and maximize your cost savings.