Innovation Inc: Equifax's transition to Google Cloud

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The transition to the cloud continues to be a major focus for chief information officers — and there's good reason for that.

Among other advantages, cloud adoption can be significant cost-saver and play a key role in spurring innovation. My colleague Dan DeFrancesco got an inside peek into Equifax's cloud journey that illuminates both those benefits and more.

After its 2017 security breach that resulted in a $575 million settlement with the federal government, Equifax pledged to undergo a $1.25 billion tech overhaul. And a key aspect of that is the move to the public cloud.

Now, just two years into its journey to adopt Google Cloud, the company has already decommissioned 10 physical data centers and is cutting costs by as much as $240 million.

It's also accelerating IT projects. Prior to the overhaul, Equifax averaged 90 new products each year. Now, that is expected to increase to over 100, according to chief technology officer Bryson Koehler.

On top of all the benefits the firm experienced, there's also a larger message in Equifax's transformation.

Many companies — particularly those, like financial organizations, with sensitive information — are still hesitant to store all their data on public cloud providers. Given that Equifax underwent one of the most public data breaches in history, the decision to migrate to Google Cloud could signify to others that the security of the platform is robust, DeFrancesco reported.

Below are a few other stories that you may have missed from the last two weeks.

And as always: If you're interested in receiving this biweekly newsletter and other updates from our ongoing Innovation Inc. series, please be sure to sign up here:

• How 100-year-old Dawn Foods went through a digital overhaul in 18 months to build one of the baking industry's first e-commerce sites
• How digital consulting giant Publicis Sapient poached employees from Netflix, Deloitte, and the Wall Street Journal to launch a video service for executives it calls 'the Quibi of business' — in just 22 days
• Real estate giant CBRE has an 'unparalleled' amount of data. Its tech chief lays out how it's putting it to good use.
• Blue Shield of California and startup Cricket Health are teaming up to use AI to help patients with kidney disease — including the 'nine out of 10' people who aren't aware they have it
• The CEO of $535 million AI startup Standard explains how its new deal to power cashierless checkout at Circle K convenience stores shows how it's possible for retailers to take on Amazon Go
• Amazon is giving free AWS training courses to Utah's elementary and high schools — but education specialists say this kind of skills training may not help you get a tech job or even help you learn