Visualizing your cloud strategy and developing cloud competency

Speaking to organizations embracing the cloud, with a clear cloud strategy, results in two reoccurring to-do’s they recommend I will share in this post and dig into.

1. You should have  simple way to categorize potential cloud projects. This often requires consideration of numerous dimensions shown visually so all can see the plan. I call this visualizing your cloud strategy.
2. You should have a plan in place to increase the cloud knowledge of the organization so they can best leverage the new environment and explore ALL its options. To me this is all about developing cloud competency at your organizations or as an individual.

Let’s dig into those some more.

Visualizing your cloud strategy

One of the major roadblocks in many companies is transparency. When you have a lot of potential cloud projects it is important to communicate where they sit in your overall thinking in a way everyone can see and understand.

One best practice I have seen is to build a visual cloud strategy roadmap. This gives you a single place where you can have a visual overview of your cloud strategy everyone can see and align to.

My favorite recent  example, with the data removed of course, looked a little like the one I have included below (click on it to blow it up to full size).

 

In the version I saw at the customer they had nearly 20 possible cloud projects mapped onto this roadmap. Some were simple quick wins and some were more complex.  The area of focus was also split a little like what was shown here into 4 segments.

Using this chart you can show:

1. The cloud strategy in up to 4 diverse areas of your choosing
2. The timeline of suggested projects
3. The potential value of those suggested projects
4. The potential risk / complexity of those suggested projects

This chart is shared with everyone and it is used to help in making strategic decisions about which cloud investments to make next. It is a living document.

Developing Cloud Competency

If you are moving to the cloud then having cloud competency within your organization is critical. It is a new operating model and there will be a need for IT to pick up some new skills. There are many ways to do that.

In this post I would like to bring to your attention some recent announcements made by Microsoft to help not only those adopting today but also future IT workers. Other organizations have been putting some training out there too but since I work for Microsoft I will focus on that.

Just this week Microsoft announced a massive collection of cloud training for the next generation of technology professionals. The blogs written by my colleagues  Gavriella Schuster and Julia White do a fantastic job of outlining the changes so I will not repeat that here in depth.

Needless to say EVERYONE on the planet that now wants access to training can, for FREE, access a massive on-line MOOC catalogue and accelerate their knowledge.

This is important for three reasons:

1. Back in my blog “Cloud – Are You Already Falling Behind?” I shared that we are now living in an exponential world.
   Change is slow until it is dramatic and fast. Given the cloud is undeniably coming now is the time to build up skills so you are ready to fly as an organization when you start your cloud journey.
2. For those embracing the cloud the more you learn the more you can understand how to take advantage. By getting more training in the cloud you will no doubt discover new options which can be applied to your organization.
3. The 4th Industrial revolution is upon us. The skills of yesterday might not be the skills for tomorrow or the near-term future. Adding cloud to your knowledge will certainly help increase your value to an organization and have a place in a changing landscape. This goes for those inside an organization and outside.

Given the MOOCs are free there is no reason not to give them a go. Beyond that certification is only a small step away. The cloud is coming. You too can be a part of the cloud journey we are all about to go on.

Recruitment gets easier!

By moving to the cloud many of these companies are now able to attract top young talent. The cloud is a part of the strategic future of IT. The best young talent wants to be working with organizations that are utilizing the cloud so they can develop their cloud competency.

So in short.  If you want to attract the best and most disruptive talent, that will help you succeed in tomorrows economy, cloud could be one of your best weapons.

Wrapping it all up

This week I have shared a blog a day around the cloud.  That means this is the 5th blog in this mini-series. The other 4 were:

1. Cloud – Are You Already Falling Behind?
2. Quantifying Cloud Adoption – Is It Really Happening?
3. Where should you start your cloud journey?
4. The Cloud -Do You Know The Hidden Benefits?

My focus this week was on sharing my experiences of a changing world. One I myself stepped into at the start of 2016. I think many companies are well on their way when it comes to the cloud. I think many others are going to get going soon.

Many of the obstacles, perceived or real, have been removed. Training is now readily available to build cloud competency externally. Consulting companies now have cloud competency.

The only real question that remains is not IF you will move to the cloud but rather WHEN you will make that move. Remember – if you are not moving your competitors are.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to your feedback.