- IT departments of all sizes and industries are feeling pressure to be more cloud-like, but the Cloud itself is still a work in progress and success is not yet widespread.
- A cloud management solution (CMS) does not magically create a Cloud, but it can be the final capstone in building an infrastructure service based on a firm foundation of consolidation, standardization, and virtualization.
Our Advice
Critical Insight
- Don’t rush into the Cloud. Instead, ensure the foundational infrastructure is firm before trying to become the business’ own private Amazon.
- Start standardizing service tier deliverables to internal clients and building IT skill sets for better success in cloud building.
- Communicate your cloud position to the business.
Impact and Result
- Maximize your success and credibility with a proposal that emphasizes the areas relevant to your situation.
- Prepare for key objections by leveraging the experiences and insights of industry peers that have been through this process.
- Cloud management is a capstone that enables orchestration, automation, and end-user self-service.
- Increased virtualization leads to greater benefits, but you should only start focusing on cloud management when the virtual infrastructure is advanced and management capabilities are mature.
- Some cloud features are already established. The baseline must-haves include performance monitoring, role-based access, self-service, and cost accountability.