Cloudification: Bringing cloud computing to the masses
October 14, 2011
Cloud computing – everyone’s talking about it, a good number of organizations want to adopt it, but how do you get there? We are on the cusp of "cloudification" — cloud computing for the masses — but to get to that state there are many things to consider, such as people, processes and technology, before cloud computing becomes as mainstream as virtualization technology…
Building out a cloud requires a strategy. The first step to ensure that cloud initiatives don’t fail is to create a vision and a plan. The intention of this blog is to help you build out a plan, determine where you may run into some roadblocks, figure out how to overcome them, and then how to build out your plan(s).
Here are a few things to think about as we get started:
- Cloud options: Private cloud? Public cloud? Hybrid cloud? Where do you begin? Do you implement one of them or do you implement all three? Which is the best option for your organization? How can you tell?
- Virtualization Maturity: How far into virtualization adoption are you? Are you still in a data center consolidation phase trying to get a handle on what you have? Was this a development project that just became the problem of IT? Are you farther along and have thought of topics like virtual DR or Cloud Bursting?
- Corporate Culture: How ready is your organization to adopt a cloud strategy? What are the indicators to let IT know it’s time to start looking? How willing is your organization to help take you from vision to execution?
- Changes in People: Once you adopt a cloud strategy, what does that mean for the people in the organization? Do roles change? Do you have all the domain expertise you need? Does the structure of the organization change?
- Changes in Process: Have you been able to adapt your current processes to support the dynamic nature of virtualization? Do you need to revisit them? Do you need to re-write them?
- Changes in Technology: With new cloud vendors appearing in the market daily, how do you know which is the right vendor for you? How do you assess the strengths and weaknesses of each? How do they fit in with your current IT investments? What makes a strategic cloud partner that will not only take you to the cloud now, but will continue to change with you as your processes change?
This is only the beginning. The purpose of this blog is to get you past the hype and buzz words of the cloud. Looking for a frank and open discussion? Want to leave the FUD behind? Want to really know "what is the cloud and what will it do for me?"
I will try to answer all those questions and clear the confusion. Topics that will be covered range from a basic definition of the cloud and cloud concepts, to ensure we are all on the same page, to how to take advantage of this technology in a crawl, walk, then run manner, to more advanced concepts such as Cloud Service Management/Service Catalog, IT as a Service, Self Service and Delegated Administration.
But cloudification isn’t just about me telling my story. We can only learn and move forward by sharing ideas, exchanging concerns and questions about cloud adoption. I’d like to hear your thoughts, experiences and best practices on how virtualization and the cloud have affected your enterprise and the way you deliver IT services. And, if you have any questions or want to start a discussion, I welcome that, too.