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Getting Started With Cloud Computing

Getting started with cloud computing is a multi-step process that will require considerable forethought if you have a complex I/T infrastructure.  Fear not, we have clearly outlined the steps to follow bellow, but first, consider these points:

• Some cloud services brokers are better than others, and sometimes a particular provider may not suite your specific needs.  The issues can be technical or cultural.  In any event, you want some flexibility.
• You will probably use more than one provider (ideally you will have that flexibility).  Be sure you are in a position to have visibility to all of the providers, ideally in one dashboard.  You don't want to manage the finger pointing.
• Be sure you select cloud services providers that offer an SLA.  It's no guarantee of performance, but it provides you financial protection if problems arise and persist.

 

Follow these steps:

1. Visualize and document your first step into cloud computing and your steady state adoption at 5-7 years.   Then, choose 3 interim steps to get you there.  Do you still have in-house IT in 5-7 years?  Maybe both in-house and cloud? 
2. Decide on your NOC strategy.  If you plan to use multiple cloud providers, or use cloud in combination with tradition means, you will need a way to ensure you have visibility and retain a level of command and control.
3. Analyze the pros and cons of public cloud computing, and decide which applications you can potentially use from the public cloud.
4. Decide whether your private cloud(s) will reside in your data center, in a cloud providers or collocated in a third party center.
5. Consider whether you will purchase cloud services directly or use what Gartner calls a Cloud Services broker.  Such a broker can provide much value and the more highly evolved of them provide a "single throat to chock" like BluePoint's SkyNOC to ensure your providers are servicing you in synergy.  Such a provider may also be able to provide the conduit to move you from provider to provider.
6. Lastly, commit.  The greatest threat to any form of IT outsourcing is hedging or fence stratling.  Make your decisions and execute crisply and on a finite schedule.