Don't forget these
7 key pieces
of your
cloud transformation

Today’s cloud technology has reached an inflection point for enterprises. To avoid ad hoc, ungoverned implementation of cloud services, senior IT executives must develop a cohesive enterprise cloud strategy that balances agility, efficiency, security, and compliance. And they will need to adapt all aspects of IT operations and infrastructure to the cloud era. Scroll up to see how each piece of the puzzle supports your transition to the cloud.

1

Technology Transformation

MAKE SPACE IN YOUR PORTFOLIO
FOR CLOUD CAPABILITIES

Rather than thinking of cloud computing as a replacement for the existing technology portfolio, it should be treated as an additional set of IT solutions and platforms. Successful IT leaders are basing cloud and other IT investments on business strategies and goals. As a result, they are redefining IT as a center of innovation, rather than cost.

2

Service
Delivery

THE BUSINESS DEMANDS
EFFICIENCY AND AGILITY

Virtualization up and down the stack, combined with the automation of standard management tasks, enables IT to meet service-level agreements independently of hardware. This provides a foundation for innovative approaches to service delivery, such as on-demand and self-service models.

3

Talent Acquisition
and Development

THE TRANSITION TO THE CLOUD
REQUIRES NEW TALENTS AND SKILLS

IT executives should ask themselves: Do I have the right people, competencies, and expertise in my organization to enable next-generation IT and business innovation? Talent strategies include hiring new team members with the necessary skills, retraining and educating current team members, building a culture that encourages team members to embrace new roles, and working with vendor management professionals to build cloud skills.

4

Financial
Management

DRIVE THE BUSINESS
WITH STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS

Making the right investments today can actually help fund future IT transformation. To take advantage of the cloud’s pay-as-you-use cost advantages, procurement and budgeting need to be updated for “elastic” resources. And financial transparency—related to IT investments and service costs—is key to positioning IT as a business driver, not a cost center.

5

Governance

TRADITIONAL IT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
ARE NO LONGER SUFFICIENT

New policies and procedures will be needed to create greater cohesiveness and efficiency around cloud solutions across the enterprise. An updated governance structure might include a new definition for joint roles, responsibilities, and accountabilities for line-of-business and IT teams.

6

Internal Sales
& Marketing

ADOPT A SALES
AND MARKETING STRATEGY

To develop productive relationships with executive management and elevate IT to a more strategic role, IT leaders must go beyond simply pitching ROI, cost-benefit analysis, and business cases. We recommend a "trusted partner"-level approach to internal selling that includes developing and marketing IT capabilities, generating demand, socializing change initiatives, and presenting LOB leaders with proactive, business-driven proposals.

7

Business
Strategy

Elevate IT’s position in the company
by contributing to business strategy

IT can become an active participant in business strategy development by researching and proposing business-driven technology innovations and by designing solutions around corporate priorities and business outcomes. Success will depend on developing a deep understanding of the company’s business and the operations of each line of business.

CLOUD TRANSFORMATION SUCCESS!

VMwareReferences: VMware: “2013 Journey to IT as a Service” research report, August 2013. Forrester Research: “Cloud Investments will Reconfigure Future IT Budgets,” January 2013. Gartner: “For CIOs, Proactively Engaging with the Business Means Learning to Sell,” January 2013. Forrester Research: “Achieve Cloud Economics for Operations and Services,” May 2012.