In the last two years the cloud has drastically changed the conversation. Organizations recognize the need to incorporate the cloud into their overall strategy. but it’s not an overnight process. As a result, they are trying to build a strategy for both legacy services, as well as future ones, while making the business happy – and for many, it can be hard to find a starting point.
The cloud is no longer just a destination – it’s part of a much larger strategic and operational conversation
There was a time when a business would demand a particular service and the burden of building it would fall on IT, but today that is no longer the only option. As cloud services providers mature and provide a greater array of tools, IT teams can now ask, “Who can this do for us?”
The key to a successful cloud strategy: changing how IT thinks about what it provides
Traditional IT is very good at having a vertical focus – managing a single service, top-to-bottom. Once the cloud enters the conversation, though, things change: the focus shifts to develop new, different processes, not to mention an understanding of how to visualize an end-to-end workflow when it’s not completely contained within the data center. Once IT has accepted that the cloud must be integrated into the larger strategy, what are the steps that teams need to take to actually get there?
1) Engage the business
If IT isn’t at the table, the business will still find a way to meet its needs, but possibly in a way that’s more expensive and doesn’t meet the organization’s security and governance requirements. For IT teams to effectively engage, they must be willing to give up some control and take a different approach. What IT may view as the very best solution is not always what the business needs, especially if it comes at the cost of delayed delivery.
2) Protect the business
Once the business’s needs have been clarified, it’s up to IT to map risks and dependencies, as well as identify the goals for service reliability and availability. A common objection to the cloud is that it’s more expensive but the reality is that, if used correctly, it’s not. Although while it may be less expensive, the cloud is not a replacement for good data governance practice.
3) Reshape IT’s vision
Adopting the mindset that “it’s about the service, not the location,” will help determine the best approach for effectively providing the business with new capabilities. Decisions are made all too often based on existing architecture, rather than making infrastructure choices based on a review of all options and ultimately choosing what best suits the requirements.
The long-term approach isn’t just a cloud strategy
A successfully executed approach is achieved by building a model of “service delivery as a service,” with a focus on providing the right service in the right location on the right platform. The most successful companies have already evaluated their options and have a clear roadmap for adopting cloud-based technologies. How about you?