Cloud Computing as a Digital Transformation Enabler
Digital transformation is disruptive, a growth catalyst, and foundational in changing how an organization will deliver “time to value.”
Figure 2.1 outlines the value that cloud computing as a digital transformation enabler can realize for an organization:
Figure 2.1 – Cloud computing as a digital transformation enabler
Cloud computing can be seen as a vital part of any digital transformation journey. However, the reality is that it is less about the “technology model” and more about the “business model,” the “people,” and the “process.”
It is a fact that people do not like change and generally only change direction when they have to. However, there must be a “trigger” to induce the action.
Next, you will look at digital transformation triggers.
Digital Transformation Triggers
The reason to adopt any disruptive technology, especially one that can have a business impact, must start with a “trigger” that’s relevant to the stakeholder’s pain points or objectives and any business operations or technical operations drivers.
This move often begins with a “business directive-led” discussion rather than a “technology-led” one. A business leader will always ask a technology leader what the benefits are, not the features.
The approach to digital transformation comprises steps to identify and resolve triggers. Once triggers have been identified, an approach can be planned. You can think of the triggers as the “why” and the approach as the “how.”
Figure 2.2 outlines some of the triggers for digital transformation initiatives:
Figure 2.2 – Digital transformation triggers
These triggers are an important aspect of defining your cloud adoption strategy and driving your priorities. Knowing the rationale and motivation for adopting cloud resources and migrating your workloads is important. The following section looks at the migration approach.
Migration Approach
The next step in the transformation journey is to grasp the processes, methods, and services that could be used to execute the transition to cloud services. This is outlined in the following list, along with the example services that can be applied:
- Phase 1 | Assess: This phase is an exercise in learning an organization’s business operations and technical operations. It starts with discovery, which provides an inventory of people, processes, apps, data, infrastructure, and, critically, any dependencies. This will help you decide on the best strategy for each area of the captured inventory.
Here are some example services for this phase:
- Azure Migrate Assessments: https://packt.link/kco1y
- Azure TCO calculator: https://packt.link/Mvleh
- Phase 2 | Move: This phase is the physical exercise of moving inventory items to their cloud services target, for instance, moving to Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), or serverless cloud computing services.
An example service for this phase is Azure Migrate migrations: https://packt.link/Pqxsr
- Phase 3 | Optimize: This phase occurs after a period of bedding in – typically a period of months. This may include right-sizing activities better to suit the workload for cost and performance benefits.
Here are some example services for this phase:
- Azure Advisor: https://packt.link/BMrtC
- Cost Management: https://packt.link/pWPJc
- Phase 4 | Secure and Manage: This ongoing operations phase should include governance and control, security, and the protection of the network, app, data, and identities.
Here are some example services:
- Azure Monitor: https://packt.link/qVNZd
- Azure Policy: https://packt.link/CCvK6
- Microsoft Defender for Cloud: https://packt.link/Nk8FJ
- Microsoft Sentinel: https://packt.link/YdwLd
- Azure Backup: https://packt.link/KfDYD
- Azure Site Recovery: https://packt.link/JLP5V
- Azure Firewall: https://packt.link/oZNM9
- Azure App Gateway/Web Application Firewall: https://packt.link/sWRl1
You have explored cloud computing as a digital transformation enabler, the triggers, and the migration approach in this section. The following section will look closely at the cloud computing mindset.
