2020 has brought business shocks by the bushel. Sudden shutdowns, unpredictable demand levels, and overnight switches to remote have sent companies riding a roller coaster of change. But through it all, one thing has become clear: Cloud is key to success.

“We all now understand how critical cloud computing is to all businesses. Regardless of vertical, regardless of industry,” said Todd Carey (pictured), head of the AWS Business Group at Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp.

Carey spoke with Lisa Martin, host of theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio, during AWS re:Invent. They discussed the purpose of Cognizant’s new AWS Business Group and why it’s important for organizations to innovate with cloud technologies. (* Disclosure below.)

Cognizant commits to AWS partnership

Helping companies accelerate their move to the cloud is the goal of information technology consultant Cognizant’s new AWS Business Group. Created during COVID to address the needs faced by businesses during the pandemic, the group is a “stake in the ground” marking Cognizant’s cloud strategy for 2020 and beyond, according to Carey.

“It’s a great statement to the market that we’re taking cloud seriously, that we’re taking AWS seriously,” he said. “AWS is going to be a critical, critical player for us in our go-to-market for 2020 and beyond.”

As companies start the move to cloud, it seems easy, according to Carey. But after the first 10 to 30% of workloads have been moved, there’s a “lightbulb moment” when companies realize “just how hard cloud is,” he said. That’s when they try to move legacy applications that are firmly embedded on-premises. And the simplicity of a pure cloud strategy no longer makes sense.

“Almost 90% of CXOs will tell you they have had to embrace hybrid architecture because of this reason,” Carey said.

2020 has exposed gaps and inefficiencies

Other pain points in the cloud migration process are caused by the exposure of gaps and inefficiencies within company workflows and organizational processes, according to Carey. These center around areas such as worker productivity, security and remote access to information and can occur at all levels.

“Most companies weren’t ready for that,” Carey stated.

AWS and Cognizant work as the enablers to solve these business issues, according to Carey. And, in a switch from the norm, the conversation starts at the C-suite level with a statement of the desired outcome.

“A client can come to us, and come to AWS, ask for an outcome, ask for something, and we can deliver it and it’s not going to be a science project. We can commit to it,” Carey concluded.

Watch the complete video interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of AWS re:Invent. (* Disclosure: Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. sponsored this segment of theCUBE. Neither Cognizant nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE