We rely on our brains to keep us organised and regulated. That’s why we go to school — to develop our executive functions, our working memories, our mental flexibility, and our self-control.

An enterprise works the same way; it needs to be regulated, organised, and in control of its functions. If it isn’t, well, it’s not going to be successful. You’re going to have people doing things in a chaotic way — or unable to do things because they can’t find the right data or apps. It’s just a mess. And, like people, if a business is a mess it’s not going to succeed, let alone grow.

One way a business can replicate these executive functions is with a cloud function that is organised and, more importantly, accessed in an intelligent way. Moving to the cloud only delivers benefits when it increases users’ access to app, data, and tools, replicating the way our brains carry out their functions.

Businesses can’t assume that the move is easy. You need to get the processes right, overcome operational challenges, and think about risk management, too. Many organisations already use cloud across multiple vendors for niche processes and, of course, have a lot of their work and data on premises. It’s not easy.

That’s why it’s important to get the right help. You have to be able to ensure that your users get a smooth, seamless experience so they don’t even know that the functions they’re using are in the cloud. They just work, like a well-ordered and mature brain — the mind of your business, instantly accessible and totally flexible.

Application Delivery Controller: The Central Cortex

An advanced Application Delivery Controller (ADC) is the central cortex of that mind and it enables all the disparate parts of your business to access functions and data in an ordered, intelligent, and responsive way. It empowers your people rather than hinders them with bureaucracy. Simply put, it stops your business from over-thinking its technology.

It does so by becoming the focus point for the organisation of what is out in your cloud. The user doesn’t have to know where all the apps or the databases reside. They just have to be able to use any device that’s at hand (or preferred) and get simple access. And they also don’t want to have to log in and out of apps constantly, remembering multiple passwords. How can you achieve the “flow” that’s so important in a truly intelligent workspace? It’s impossible.

Empowering Your People

The ADC does all that for you. You get one log in, and your brain is connected to the cloud via your devices, wherever you are. Simple. It empowers your people rather than hinders them.

The ADC understands what you’re doing and where you are, and then controls the bandwidth so that you’re always accessing the right servers to achieve optimum functionality. The ADC finds the fastest access routes and the most effective data centres without you even knowing. If the user had to do it, then they’d never be able to concentrate on their work. And, besides, it’s almost impossible for an individual to keep track of where the best routes and servers are. The ADC does it automatically and intelligently. That’s how you ensure that your journey to the cloud pays dividends in terms of an excellent user experience and greater productivity.

Of course, an organisation could do this for itself, without signing up for Citrix ADC. But it’s a big responsibility to ensure that it will be global, will be able to fully control traffic in an intelligent way, and will offer true single sign-on so your people can focus on their work.

As organisations move steadily toward greater cloud functionality, the ADC is mission critical. Why should you, as a business, need to worry about buying and managing servers or any kind of technology like that? Cloud is a utility. The point is to make the most of it and focus on what you do best, not on running the cloud. We do that best, for you.