2017 infor roadmap to the cloud final

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This Infor Roadmap to the Cloud will: Suggest the right time to move Infor to the cloud based on 5 business milestones and events. Walk you through the steps and a projected timeline for 3 different cloud move scenarios. Provide reasons to consider using a 3rd party provider during your cloud move. 2017 Infor Roadmap to the Cloud Velocity Technology Solutions

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Page 1: 2017 infor roadmap to the cloud final

This Infor Roadmap to the Cloud will:

• Suggest the right time to move Infor to the cloud based on 5 business milestones and events.

• Walk you through the steps and a projected timeline for 3 different cloud move scenarios.

• Provide reasons to consider using a 3rd party provider during your cloud move.

2017 Infor Roadmap to the CloudVelocity Technology Solutions

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The 2017 Infor Roadmap to the Cloud VelocityCloud.com 3The 2017 Infor Roadmap to the Cloud2

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The Big 4 34 questions you will have when considering moving your Infor applications to the cloud.

Best Times to Move to the Cloud: 4M&A? Migrating to Infor? Evaluate these and other milestone events as the best times to move.

3 Scenarios Walk-Through: 6Moving from an on-premise solution? Switching providers? Or implementing Infor in the cloud? We’ll show you the way.

What Next? 9Thinking about moving to the cloud without help? A partner might be the best answer.

Move to the Cloud with Velocity: 10We’re certified in Infor hosting and can host your Infor applications in any cloud.

Most Infor users are not questioning if they should move to the cloud, but rather when and how.

Today, the flexibility, cost savings and performance of a cloud model are well known.Still, businesses planning to implement a cloud model have 4 questions in mind:

1. How do we choose between private, public or hybrid cloud? 2. How long will it take to get there? 3. What are the steps and considerations along the way? 4. When is the best time to move to the cloud?

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Public, Private or Hybrid? Understanding Your Cloud OptionsWhether you are planning a merger, acquisition or divestiture, an infrastructure refresh, a new product release, or purchase of additional storage, choosing the right cloud methodology and landscape is critical.

Infor customers considering a move to the cloud can choose from one of three options:

1. PRIVATE CLOUD For Infor customers concerned

with controlling both access to their data as well as where it is stored, a private cloud is usually a more attractive option. Also, for those governed by heavy regulation, or the truly security conscious, private cloud may be the ideal option for handling sensitive data. Private cloud offers greater control over infrastructure, performance, availability and security. To that end, for some companies, costs may be higher in a private cloud versus a public cloud. Benefits of a private cloud model may include the ability to host multiple applications, in addition to Infor, with one cloud services provider, offering the ease and support of one vs. multiple vendors.

2. PUBLIC CLOUD Public cloud is the most well-known type of cloud computing thanks to its ease of use and scalability. Most SaaS offerings use a public cloud delivery model to provide the content. Benefits of the public cloud model include cost savings, agility, and innovation as organizations look to establish a more modern IT environment. However inhibitors of public cloud adoption such as security and/or privacy concerns, lack of flexibility, and scope of support, lead organizations to consider a managed cloud services provider with a cloud management platform for full visibility, optimization and one-click management of the cloud infrastructure. Public cloud providers generally support systems up to the hypervisor, whereas managed cloud service providers also provide support for the entire platform. SaaS providers generally support organizations in a multi-tenant, ‘vanilla’ installation of the software, and the scope of support is generally limited to technical support. Managed cloud providers include a full range of services, including functional support and support for customizations.

3. HYBRID CLOUD Hybrid cloud models are among the fastest growing cloud adoption models for Infor customers because they allow companies to pick and choose various elements from either the public cloud or private cloud – or a combination — that most closely fit their own computing needs. For example, a company could host its financial applications on a private cloud, while also hosting less sensitive applications and data (such as public-facing collateral) on the public cloud. For most customers, a hybrid cloud offers a balance of convenience, flexibility and security.

When Upgrading InforUpgrading to a new Infor release is a great opportunity to migrate to a cloud model.

Why?Often, an Infor upgrade will require refreshing existing hardware to support the additional processing capabilities needed for the upgraded Infor applications.

The BenefitMove to the cloud on an OpEx cost basis, avoiding a large CapEx spend on hardware.

At Current Landscape End of LifeAn increasingly popular decision for organizations facing a hardware upgrade is to use the opportunity to move to the cloud.

Why?Upgrading or replacing hardware is a costly fix that may work in the short term, but does not provide the performance boost most companies require.

The BenefitA move to the cloud gives Infor users greater business agility, reduced cycle times and guaranteed availability. In addition, a move to the cloud provides the opportunity for businesses to match their costs to the value they receive, making them on-demand consumers of capacity and its corresponding cost.

When Implementing Infor SolutionsIf a client is considering migrating existing Infor applications, implementing Infor or establishing new analytics applications in an Infor environment, it is the perfect time to transition to the cloud.

Why? Many organizations use a move to the cloud as a way to justify or accelerate their journey to Infor software solutions. A hosted environment allows a client to leverage Infor much more quickly and cost effectively than managing it on-premise.

The BenefitHosting your Infor applications with a certified third-party provider positions you to take advantage of:

• Infor-Specific Expertise - Hosting partners offer access to skilled Infor resources who can help you build a roadmap and minimize business downtime during the Infor migration.

• Lower Capital Expenditure - Avoid the capital costs associated with the purchase of hardware for your Infor applications.

• Fewer IT Resources - Cloud hosting greatly reduces the need to dedicate in-house technical resources to support and maintain the new Infor environment.

Best Time to Move to the Cloud5 MAJOR MILESTONES

During a Merger or Acquisition Setting up a new Infor landscape for either a new implementation or a carve out from an existing Infor landscape when going through a merger or acquisition is much quicker, cheaper, and faster in the cloud.

Utilizing a cloud-based Infor landscape will also eliminate the need to buy hardware, go through a procurement and installation process, and spend capital funds during the M&A.

Why? The on-demand and scalable access of a cloud Infor environment provides flexibility and a foundation for rapid absorption and integration during mergers and acquisitions.

The Benefit If support is ending on one company system, businesses involved in mergers and acquisitions can benefit from a managed cloud infrastructure. The cloud - whether public, private or hybrid - can also be the single environment for legacy Infor systems and others that have been upgraded. Additionally, moving to the cloud can fast track the carve out or implementation of a new Infor environment for a new company and allow for a decreased Temporary Support Agreement (TSA) and costs during the cutover.

Faced With Constrained IT Support Moving Infor to the cloud is ideal for organizations with IT resources that are stretched thin.

Why? Infor can be a complex environment and can be difficult to support effectively with limited IT resources. From monitoring and management of the application and system, to providing functional support for super users, a hosted Infor environment may be the best option.

The Benefit A managed cloud environment provides cost-effective access to specialized Infor skillsets whenever they are needed. Cloud vendors are able to apply learned best practices, bringing value beyond access to additional resources. Application managed services will alleviate the functional support strain on in-house IT staff and offer the opportunity to repurpose IT staff toward business critical initiatives while rapidly achieving full functionality of an upgraded system, or the optimization of an existing one.

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SITUATION 1: On-Premise Moving to the Cloud

PHASE 1: THE MIGRATIONThe timeline of migrating applications from an on-premise model to a cloud hosting environment typically ranges between 3-5 months, but can be as short as 8 weeks, depending upon the number of applications to be migrated and the number of application instances. During this portion of the project, businesses can decide what to do with existing Infor FTE resources whose skills are now offered by the cloud provider and what to do with their existing technology assets and their remaining leave payments, or depreciation expenses, if any.

PHASE 2: STEADY STATE Once the migration is complete, your business will begin reaping the benefits of cloud hosting. You will begin to see reduced cycle times, greater performance and will be better able to make data-backed business decisions. Your realized cost savings will be based on several considerations: Many cloud service providers offer end-to-end services, including technical, functional, and end-user support. Cost savings are achieved through the automated and consistent service levels of a managed cloud environment. Additional benefits include reduced risk involved in over or under-provisioning resources. During this portion of the life cycle, you may evaluate the opportunity to create additional savings on the merits and business case of outsourcing its Infor functional support as well.

PHASE 1: THE MIGRATION The migration time when switching cloud providers is similar to an on-premise model, which varies based on the number of Infor applications and application instances in scope

Once the migration from the current provider to the new provider is complete, the client may expect to enjoy the following benefits:

• Better service in terms of response times to requests for support• Reduced or eliminated service outages• Disaster recovery that is proven and ensures required RTOs and RPOs• Reduced direct and in-direct costs

PHASE 2: STEADY STATE Once the migration is complete, it is time to decide if there are ways to achieve additional cost savings. Your new cloud service provider may offer services that were not available to you before, including functional, end-user, lifecycle management and upgrade support. You can begin to evaluate the business impact of maintaining or outsourcing IT functional application support once steady state is achieved.

SITUATION 2: Switching Cloud Service Providers

As cloud environments mature and new platforms emerge, many IT leaders are rethinking their cloud provider partnerships. After gaining experience running applications in the cloud, companies may switch cloud vendors to better align with their business needs or fulfill a need that is not currently being met.

Companies Change Infor Hosting / Cloud Providers for the following reasons::

1. Vendor is not proactive in monitoring cloud environment

2. Business has experienced service outages

3. Insufficient disaster recovery services

4. Cost is not competitive

Changing Infor Cloud Hosting Providers:

TOTAL TIME 3-5 Months

Infor Migration - On-Premise to the Cloud:

TOTAL TIME 3-5 Months

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*Based on complexity and breadth of modules being implemented

PHASE 1 - BLUEPRINTING TIME: Weeks to Months, Varying by ScopeThe purpose of this phase is to provide initial planning and preparation for the Infor implementation. In this phase, the business will spend time with the implementation partner and develop a roadmap for the scope of the project. The blueprint will drive the timeline for the initial investment.

PHASE 2 - REALIZATION TIME: Weeks to Month, Varying by ScopeThe realization phase is when the configuration work is done. Shortly before this starts, the underlying infrastructure and support staff need to be in place.

PHASE 3 - PREP FOR GO-LIVE TIME: One Month

During the prep for go-live phase, a quality environment must be in place, typically a month in advance of go-live. Load testing is conducted in order to promote the environment to production.

PHASE 4 - GO-LIVE TIME: Long Weekend

The go-live phase takes place over a weekend, typically lasting two days. Once the cut-over occurs, disaster recovery and the costs that come along with it will begin.

SITUATION 3: Implementing Infor

If you are implementing Infor for the first time, one of the biggest decisions you will make is whether to host your Infor applications in the cloud.

The alternative would be to spend capital dollars on infrastructure and hardware in order to run Infor on-premise. Implementing Infor in the cloud can be done faster and at a lower price. There are multiple cost factors to consider:

1. Cost to buy the software

2. Implementation services

3. Infrastructure and technical support

The timeline for implementing a new Infor environment can vary widely. Companies who buy a suite of products may only have the resources to implement a subset of what was purchased. For example, the implementation of a financial module only may take 8 weeks, while implementing a full Infor ERP portfolio could take up to two years.

Infor Implementation:

TOTAL TIME 8 Weeks to 2 Years

This roadmap serves as a guide to help you begin decide whether hosting Infor is the right move for your company. For many organizations, that will mean consideration of a third party to partner for a successful move to the cloud, or to provide application managed services on top of a SaaS model.

Reasons to Consider a Third Party:1. Lack of in-house resources to build an infrastructure

2. Lack of Infor technical know-how to maximize application benefits

3. Inability to meet cloud transition timeline with existing resources

4. The need for in-house IT to focus on core business

Benefits of Third Party Infor Cloud Service Providers: 1. Facilitate rapid deployment and speed of time to value

2. Access to specialized Infor skillsets including implementation and configuration

3. Reduce infrastructure and migration complexities

4. Flexible and scalable resources for each phase of migration

What Next?

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The 2017 Infor Roadmap to the Cloud VelocityCloud.com 10

Proven ExpertiseInfor-certified provider of hosting services and application management

Largest independent provider of managed services for Infor M3 and Infor Lawson (S3)

100 Infor certificates for product installation and consulting

Comprehensive Support - Complete functional, technical and lifecycle support for Infor solutions such as Lawson S3 and M3, application upgrades to both version 10 and Xi

Tremendous Scale - Over 150 Infor events per second in the Velocity Virtual Private Cloud

Screaming Fast- Average transaction speeds of 0.21 seconds

Completely Transparent - 100% enabled with Velocity Zoom® analytics

Secure - SOC 2 Type II Certified Operating Controls

Global Staff - Over 100 Infor professionals investing over 100 hours a year in professional training

Velocity and the Velocity logo are registered trademarks of Velocity Technology Solutions, Inc. © 2017 Velocity Technology Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 01112017

Velocity Technology Solutions1901 Roxborough Road, 4th FloorCharlotte, NC 28211

Phone: 888.430.9252

VelocityCloud.com

Project CompassAssess your business needs, build a business case and receive a full project plan for an Infor cloud implementation

Ready to move your Infor applications to the cloud? Contact us, or call 1.888.430.9252 to learn more about our end-to-end Infor services.

Velocity Technology Solutions (www.VelocityCloud.com), a global enterprise application cloud services leader since 2003, delivers secure, fully managed environments spanning virtual private, public and hybrid clouds. The company’s portfolio includes application-focused cloud managed services, professional services, with data analytics and optimization solutions. Velocity’s expertise in managing leading ERP applications, leveraging the patent pending Velocity Cloud Application Management Platform, gives customers required availability, security, visibility and control at a reduced total cost of ownership. Velocity is headquartered in Charlotte, NC, with facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. Velocity is a portfolio company of Silver Lake Sumeru, a global leader with private equity investments in leading, growth-oriented technology companies. For additional information on the firm and its entire portfolio, visit www.silverlake.com.