{"id":6617,"date":"2013-03-22T15:02:42","date_gmt":"2013-03-22T15:02:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.journeytothecloud.com\/?p=2771"},"modified":"2013-03-22T15:02:42","modified_gmt":"2013-03-22T15:02:42","slug":"cloudviews-recap-the-enterprise-cloud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/icloud.pe\/blog\/cloudviews-recap-the-enterprise-cloud\/","title":{"rendered":"Cloudviews Recap: The Enterprise Cloud"},"content":{"rendered":"

By John Dixon, Consulting Architect, LogicsOne<\/a><\/p>\n

A few weeks ago, I took part in another engaging tweetchat on Cloud Computing. The topic: the enterprise cloud. Transcript here: http:\/\/storify.com\/CloudCommons\/cloudviews-tweetchat-enterprise-cloud<\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ll be recapping the responses to each question posed in the Tweetchat and giving an expanded response from the GreenPages<\/a> perspective. As usual with tweetchats hosted by CloudCommons<\/a>, five questions are presented a few days in advance of the event. This time around, the questions were:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. How should an enterprise get started with cloud computing?<\/li>\n
  2. Is security still the \u201cjust because\u201d reason for not migrating to the cloud?<\/li>\n
  3. Who is responsible for setting the cloud strategy in the enterprise?<\/li>\n
  4. What\u2019s the best way for enterprises to measure cloud ROI?<\/li>\n
  5. What are the top 3 factors enterprises should consider before moving to a cloud model?<\/li>\n
  6. How should an enterprise measure the success of its cloud implementation?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Before we jump in to each question, let me say that the Cloud Commons Tweetchats are getting better and better. I try to participate in each one, and I find the different perspectives very interesting. The dynamic on Twitter makes these conversations pretty intense, and we always cover a lot of ground in just 60 minutes. Thanks to all of the regulars that participate. And if you haven\u2019t been able to participate yet, I encourage you to have a look.<\/p>\n

    How should an enterprise get started with cloud computing?<\/b><\/p>\n

    I\u2019m sure you\u2019d agree that there are lots of different perspectives on cloud computing, especially now that adoption is gaining momentum. Consumers are regularly using cloud services. Organizations large and small are using cloud computing in different ways. Out of the gate, these different perspectives came to the surface. Here\u2019s a recap of the first responses (with my take in parentheses). I don\u2019t disagree with any of them; I think they\u2019re all valid:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. \u201cBan new development that doesn\u2019t use cloud \u2026 as a means to help development teams begin to learn the new paradigm\u201d<\/i> (maybe a little harsh, but I can see some policy and governance coming through in that point \u2013 after all, many corporate IT shops have a virtualization policy that kind of works this way, don\u2019t they?)<\/li>\n
    2. 2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/i>\u201cInventory applications, do some analysis, and find cloud candidates\u201d<\/i> (this is definitely one way to go, and maybe the most risk-averse; this perspective holds \u201cthe cloud\u201d as a destination)<\/i><\/li>\n
    3. 3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/i>\u201cUse SaaS\u201d<\/i> (certainly the easiest and quickest way to start using cloud, if that\u2019s a mandate from management)<\/i><\/li>\n
    4. 4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/i>\u201cEnterprises are already using cloud, next question\u201d<\/i> (I definitely agree with this one, enterprises are already using cloud for some things, no doubt about it)<\/i><\/li>\n
    5. 5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/i>\u201cLook at rogue IT, then enhance and wrap some governance around the best ideas\u201d <\/i>(again, I definitely agree with this one as a valid method; in fact, I did a recent blog post<\/a> on the same concept, <\/i><\/li>\n
    6. 6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/i>\u201cKnow what you need from a cloud provider and be prepared\u201d<\/i> (the Boy Scout model, be prepared! I definitely agree with this one as well! In fact, look here<\/a>.)<\/i><\/li>\n
    7. 7.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/i>\u201cPartner with the business to determine how cloud fits in the COMPANY strategy, not the IT strategy\u201d<\/i> (this was from me; and maybe it is obvious by now that cloud has huge business benefits, not just benefits for corporate IT)<\/i><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

      There was lots of talk about the idea of identifying the \u201crogue IT<\/a>\u201d groups and embracing the unique things they have done in the cloud. All in all, these are ALL great ways to get started with cloud. In hindsight, I would add in another method of my own:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. Manage your internal infrastructure as if it were already deployed to the cloud. Some tools emerging now<\/a> have this capability \u2013 to manage infrastructure through one interface whether it is deployed in your datacenter, with Rackspace, or even Amazon. This way, if and when you do decide to move some IT services to an external provider, the same tools and processes can be applied.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

         <\/p>\n

        Your organization may have some additional methods to get started with cloud (and I\u2019d love to hear about them!). So, why not use all of these methods in one concerted effort to evaluate cloud computing technology?<\/span><\/p>\n

         <\/p>\n

        Is security still the \u201cjust because\u201d reason for not migrating to the cloud?<\/b><\/p>\n

        The short recap on this topic: yes, organizations do use security as a convenient way to avoid acting on something. The security<\/a> justification is more prevalent in large organizations, for obvious reasons. I\u2019d like to point out one of the first responses though:<\/p>\n

        \u201c\u2026or is security becoming a reason to move to the cloud? Are service providers able to hire better security experts?\u201d<\/p>\n

        I think this is a fantastic, forward looking response. History has seen that specialization in markets does<\/i> occur. Call this industrial specialization: eventually\u2026<\/p>\n