For over a decade, technology media and vendors have created significant hype around private and hybrid cloud capabilities. Many CEOs and CIOs, lured by promises of cost reduction and improved agility, are anxious to “move to the cloud” as quickly as possible. This urgency often overshadows a comprehensive understanding of the associated risks and the need for a multifaceted approach to modernizing IT. It falls on infrastructure and operations leaders to sometimes “read between the lines” and identify the C-suite’s true motivations and needs, assess the available options in the market, and build a strategic multiyear plan to deliver a computing environment that meets the organization’s overall needs. This article will delve into identifying executives’ business challenges, explaining the risks of “simple” cloud strategies, suggesting a cloud-smart hybrid strategy, and implementing it step by step.
1. Identify executives’ business challenges
When considering a hybrid cloud strategy, the first move is to understand the executive team’s business challenges and objectives. Often, executives are focused on enhancing customer experience, boosting revenue, improving employee productivity, and increasing cost-efficiency. For the IT department, particularly infrastructure and operations (I&O) leaders, the challenge is to directly address these top-line and bottom-line investment goals.
Executives are usually looking for ways to solve digital business issues rooted in an inability to enhance workflow speed, data availability, accuracy, application performance, or accessibility. It’s crucial for I&O leaders to pinpoint how IT can help optimize these areas by making the business case for hybrid cloud clear and robust. Enhanced customer experience might be achieved through faster, more reliable applications, while better data accuracy and workflow speed could lead to a noticeable boost in employee productivity and, consequently, company performance.
2. Explain the risks of “simple” cloud strategies
While the allure of cloud computing is strong, it’s essential to enlighten executives about the common pitfalls associated with rushing to implement a cloud strategy without adequate planning. Among the most frequent mistakes are moving the wrong workloads to the cloud or failing to optimize them for cloud environments. These missteps can lead to inefficiencies, increased costs, and operational disruptions.
Additionally, many organizations make the error of launching workloads in the public cloud before their business users and processes are fully prepared to utilize them effectively. This often results in a disjointed system where cloud benefits are negated by unprepared and incompatible processes. Another risk lies in adopting cloud platforms without updating IT processes to align with new capabilities, potentially leading to governance, security, and compliance issues. Educating the executive team about these risks can help mediate their expectations and foster a more informed and cautious approach to cloud adoption.
3. Suggest a cloud-smart hybrid strategy
Even with these risks, I&O leaders can propose a well-thought-out, cloud-smart hybrid strategy to address the executive team’s concerns. This systematic approach should include defining clear business challenges, identifying potential IT solutions, and aligning these strategies with the organization’s overall goals. A hybrid cloud solution can provide the needed balance and flexibility by integrating the strengths of both private and public cloud capabilities.
This approach ensures that executives are not forced into a hasty cloud migration but are instead presented with a viable alternative that minimizes risks. By showcasing the benefits of a hybrid strategy—such as improved scalability, enhanced control over sensitive data, and potential cost savings—leaders can feel more secure in their decision-making process. This method also allows for the strategic use of public cloud services while preserving critical data and applications on the private cloud.
4. Perform a portfolio assessment
One of the key steps in implementing a hybrid cloud strategy is performing a comprehensive portfolio assessment. Often, “lift and shift” migration proposals from public cloud providers appeal to senior executives because they promise a swift, comprehensible exit from legacy IT infrastructure. However, this approach can result in significant missteps if not carefully scrutinized.
It is vital to show executives that while public cloud migration is supported, it is crucial to protect the organization from potential vendor misrepresentation. Utilizing the cloud provider’s migration assessment process can help present a more intelligent, risk-adjusted workload portfolio assessment. This involves closely examining current workloads and determining which are suitable for migration to the public cloud, which should remain on the private cloud, and which might benefit from a hybrid approach. Presenting a well-documented assessment helps in building trust and ensuring a smooth transition.
5. Form a team
Building a capable and diverse team is essential for a successful hybrid cloud implementation. This team should include members from various departments such as security and risk management, enterprise architecture, application development, and sourcing, procurement, and vendor management. Each member brings a unique perspective and expertise, increasing the chances of addressing all potential challenges and requirements effectively.
This interdisciplinary team will be responsible for defining the project’s scope, ensuring that all necessary security measures are in place, developing and integrating applications, and managing relationships with vendors. By forming a team with diverse skills and knowledge, the organization can mitigate risks and improve the likelihood of a successful hybrid cloud deployment. The team should work collaboratively to align their efforts with the organization’s strategic goals and ensure seamless integration of both public and private cloud capabilities.
6. Define scoping definitions
To prevent confusion and misunderstandings during the implementation of a hybrid cloud strategy, it is essential to establish a clear set of common definitions and concepts. Scoping definitions ensure that all team members and stakeholders are on the same page, reducing the likelihood of miscommunication and misaligned expectations.
Clear scoping definitions will help create a shared understanding of key concepts such as data sovereignty, security requirements, regulatory compliance, latency, and customization needs. Establishing these definitions early in the process will provide a solid foundation for the project and guide the team in making informed decisions as they progress through the implementation stages. This step is crucial for maintaining clarity and focus, ensuring that the project stays on track and meets its objectives.
7. Define use cases
Identifying and defining use cases is a critical step in developing a hybrid cloud strategy. Use cases provide concrete examples of how the hybrid cloud solution will meet the organization’s specific needs and requirements. Common use cases include data sovereignty or security concerns, regulatory compliance, latency or customization requirements, and avoiding vendor lock-in.
By clearly defining and prioritizing these use cases, the team can ensure that the hybrid cloud solution addresses the organization’s most pressing challenges. If none of these use cases apply, it might be worth reconsidering whether a hybrid cloud solution is necessary for the organization. Defining use cases helps create a roadmap for implementation, ensuring that the hybrid cloud strategy aligns with the organization’s goals and delivers tangible benefits.
8. Gather requirements
Once use cases are defined, the next step is to gather specific requirements for the hybrid cloud solution. This involves considering factors such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and self-service capabilities. Additionally, requirements should include cost and consumption tracking, workflow management, and integrations with public cloud IaaS/PaaS providers.
Collecting these requirements will provide a comprehensive understanding of what the hybrid cloud solution needs to achieve and how it should function. This step ensures that all necessary features and capabilities are accounted for and that the solution will meet the organization’s needs. By gathering detailed requirements, the team can make informed decisions about which solutions and technologies to adopt, ensuring a successful implementation.
9. Evaluate available solutions
With a clear understanding of requirements, the team can begin evaluating available private and public cloud solutions. This involves researching and comparing various options, including IaaS-leaning, PaaS-leaning, and distributed cloud solutions. The goal is to find solutions that best meet the organization’s needs and align with the defined use cases and requirements.
Evaluating available solutions requires a thorough analysis of each option’s features, capabilities, and potential limitations. This step ensures that the chosen solutions will integrate seamlessly with the existing IT infrastructure and provide the desired benefits. By carefully evaluating available solutions, the team can select the most suitable technologies and create a robust hybrid cloud strategy that meets the organization’s goals and objectives.
10. Integrate infrastructure
Once the appropriate solutions are selected, the next step is to integrate the private and public cloud environments at the hardware and utility component levels. This integration ensures that both environments can work together seamlessly, allowing for efficient data exchange and resource management.
Integrating infrastructure requires a thorough understanding of the existing IT environment and the capabilities of the chosen cloud solutions. This step involves configuring hardware, software, and network components to enable smooth communication between private and public cloud environments. By integrating the infrastructure effectively, the organization can leverage the strengths of both cloud environments and create a cohesive, efficient hybrid cloud solution.
11. Orchestrate runtime environments
To maximize the benefits of a hybrid cloud solution, it is essential to orchestrate runtime environments for tasks such as virtual machine (VM) mobility, workload scaling (cloudbursting), and vendor-agnostic PaaS or container environments. This orchestration ensures that workloads can be easily moved between private and public cloud environments as needed, optimizing resource utilization and performance.
Orchestrating runtime environments requires setting up automation and management tools that can handle the complexities of hybrid cloud operations. These tools should be capable of monitoring and managing workloads across both private and public cloud environments, ensuring that resources are allocated efficiently and that performance remains consistent. By orchestrating runtime environments effectively, the organization can achieve greater flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency in its hybrid cloud solution.
12. Integrate applications
Once the appropriate solutions have been selected, the next step is integrating the private and public cloud environments at the hardware and utility component levels. This integration ensures seamless cooperation between both environments, facilitating efficient data exchange and resource management.
Integrating infrastructure requires a comprehensive understanding of the current IT environment and the capacities of the chosen cloud solutions. During this step, you need to configure hardware, software, and network components to ensure smooth communication between private and public cloud environments. Properly executing this integration allows the organization to utilize the strengths of both cloud types, establishing a cohesive and efficient hybrid cloud solution.
To successfully integrate these environments, IT teams must meticulously plan and assess the capabilities of existing systems and the new cloud solutions. They need to address potential compatibility issues, security challenges, and performance optimization. This integration is crucial for creating a flexible, scalable, and highly efficient IT infrastructure. By bridging the gap between private and public clouds, organizations can achieve better resource allocation, improved disaster recovery options, and enhanced overall productivity. This hybrid approach allows enterprises to adapt to evolving technological demands while maintaining control over sensitive data and crucial operations.
