Cloud Conundrums: Overcoming Public Cloud Adoption Challenges

(Part 1 - Early Investment in People)

Version: 1.00 | Date: 22/08/2024

Introduction

This is the first installment of a multi-part blog series discussing organizational challenges when adopting one or more public clouds. Whether your organization is just beginning its public cloud adoption journey or has been navigating it for several years and encountering issues, this post is for you. Over several posts in the series, we will explore common problems and difficulties orgnizations face on a public cloud adoption journey. We will dig into the root causes of these cloud adoption problems and issues and discuss ways to mitigate and resolve each. We’ll delve into practical strategies to help your organization achieve a smoother transition, maximize cloud capabilities, and ensure long-term success in the digital landscape. By identifying and addressing these issues early on, your organization can avoid costly setbacks and fully leverage the potential of cloud technology.

Who Should Read This Blog?

This blog post series is tailored for professionals involved in the public cloud ecosystem, ranging from executives to technical experts. Whether you are a decision-maker or a hands-on practitioner, this content will provide valuable insights into the challenges of organizational cloud adoption and the solutions available. Below is a detailed breakdown of who will benefit from this post and what they can gain:

CTOs (Chief Technology Officers): Gain strategic insights into aligning cloud initiatives with organizational goals.

CIOs (Chief Information Officers): Understand governance, risk management, and compliance challenges and how to navigate them effectively.

Cloud Practitioners: Learn best practices and methodologies for cloud adoption and how to overcome common challenges.

Program Managers: Discover how to manage cloud adoption projects, including risk identification and successful implementation strategies.

Cloud Implementation Teams: Obtain a practical understanding of day-to-day challenges and the tools needed to overcome them.

Executives Interested in Cloud Adoption: Explore high-level issues and strategies to align cloud adoption with organizational objectives.

Cloud Adoption Managers: Delve into operational challenges and management practices essential for successful cloud adoption.

Cloud Adoption Engineers: Gain technical insights into cloud adoption, including pitfalls and their resolutions.

Cloud Architects: Learn about architectural frameworks and design principles that ensure scalable and resilient cloud adoption strategies.

Cloud Security Managers: Understand the security implications of cloud adoption and how to address vulnerabilities effectively.

The Journey Begins: Where Do Organizations Start?

For many organizations, the journey to the cloud begins with recognizing an opportunity to improve their IT landscape. The move from on-premises IT infrastructure to the public cloud is often driven by the desire to overcome accumulated technical debt, streamline operations, and modernize IT practices. The cloud promises a fresh start—a chance to implement infrastructure as code, embrace automation, and reduce IT complexity, all while innovating rapidly and aligning more closely with evolving business needs.

Cloud adoption is no longer just an option; it has become a strategic imperative. The shift is well underway, with 94% of organizations with over 1,000 employees running workloads in the public cloud and 92% adopting multi-cloud strategies. However, this widespread adoption highlights that the cloud journey must begin with a well-defined plan and thorough preparation to avoid common pitfalls.

Since 2010, I have been at the forefront of cloud adoption, collaborating with some of the world’s largest organizations and public cloud service providers. My experiences have shown that while the cloud offers immense potential, the key to a successful journey lies in understanding where to start and how to navigate the complexities of this transformation. These insights provide valuable guidance for any organization embarking on or refining its cloud adoption journey.

Root Causes of Poor Cloud Adoption Outcomes

One of the most common questions I encounter when discussing cloud adoption with clients is, “What causes poor outcomes in public cloud adoption?” While there isn’t a single answer, a recurring theme is the lack of early investment in cloud education and certification for those in critical decision-making roles.

Investing early in education and certification ensures decision-makers have the necessary skills and knowledge to make informed, strategic decisions. Understanding the intricacies of the target cloud ecosystem and the appropriate contexts for various options is crucial. However, many organizations delay this investment, resulting in decision-makers learning on the job—a reactive approach that often leads to suboptimal decisions. The negative impacts of these decisions may not become apparent for years, by which time they are deeply embedded in the organization’s cloud infrastructure.

The Danger of Inadequate Knowledge and Experience

When an organization embarks on its cloud journey, it is vital that those making critical decisions understand the target cloud ecosystem. Simply having years of IT experience is not enough. Relying on past IT knowledge with a solid understanding of the cloud can be more beneficial, as it may lead to decisions based on outdated practices rather than what is best for the cloud environment.

Unfortunately, a common approach is to up-skill personnel in parallel with cloud adoption. This strategy places individuals with limited cloud experience in positions where they must make critical decisions. This is akin to a pilot deciding to learn how to fly while the plane is already in the air—an approach fraught with risks.

Decisions made by individuals lacking cloud-specific knowledge often result in a patchwork of technologies and processes that do not fully leverage the cloud’s capabilities. These issues usually go unnoticed until they become significant problems years later, making them difficult and costly to rectify.

The Importance of Informed Decision-Making

Consider the example of choosing infrastructure-as-code (IaC) tools during cloud adoption. Terraform is often selected early in the process, not because it is the best tool for the job but because it is familiar to the decision-makers. However, this decision can lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities without a thorough understanding of the target cloud ecosystem.

For instance, Azure's native IaC ecosystem offers tightly integrated tools that provide out-of-the-box security, total lifecycle management, and comprehensive support. Without this knowledge, decision-makers may opt for Terraform, not realizing they are bypassing more effective, integrated solutions that could better serve their needs.

Long-Term Consequences of Early Decisions

The early decisions made during cloud adoption have lasting consequences for an organization’s cloud posture. A poorly chosen tool or process can lead to a fragmented, disjointed cloud environment that is difficult to manage, secure, and scale. This patchwork approach often results in a "Wild West" scenario, where the cloud environment is a mix of incompatible tools and processes, making it nearly impossible to achieve the clean, efficient IT infrastructure that was initially envisioned.

The Role of Comprehensive Cloud Training

Organizations must invest in comprehensive cloud training and certification for everyone involved in the cloud adoption process to avoid these pitfalls. This collective approach ensures that all team members understand the cloud ecosystem and can work together to make informed decisions. It also fosters a collaborative environment where more vital team members can support less experienced ones, leading to a more cohesive and effective cloud adoption effort.

The Impact of Poor Tagging Practices

Another common issue in cloud adoption is inadequate resource tagging, which often becomes apparent only when the cloud environment starts to resemble the "Wild West." Poor tagging practices are typically a symptom of a broader problem: a need for a cohesive strategy for managing the cloud resource lifecycle.

When tags are applied retroactively, it’s a clear sign that the organization’s cloud environment is suffering from poor planning and oversight. This issue is not just about tagging; it reflects more profound problems with automation, governance, and resource management.

Indicators of a Troubled Cloud Adoption

Several signs indicate that the cloud adoption process is not going as planned:

Security vulnerabilities: Such as open ports or unmonitored access points.

Lack of visibility: Cost management, governance, and regulatory compliance.

Poor documentation: For cloud infrastructure and deployed services.

Manual processes: These should be automated, leading to inefficiencies and potential errors.

Fragmented tooling: Using third-party tools when integrating solutions within the cloud provider’s ecosystem would be more effective.

Inconsistent resource tagging and naming conventions make managing and auditing the environment difficult.

Conclusion: Investing in People for Cloud Success

Ultimately, the success of a public cloud adoption program hinges on the people behind it. Investing in their education, skills, and certification—coupled with a collaborative approach to training and decision-making—will profoundly impact the organization’s cloud journey.

By ensuring that all team members are well-versed in the cloud ecosystem and able to work together towards common goals, organizations can avoid the pitfalls of cloud adoption and fully realize the benefits of the public cloud.

This is just the beginning of a series that will delve deeper into specific challenges and solutions in public cloud adoption. Stay tuned for more insights in the next installment.