10 Things to do before you decide if Cloud native is for you.

Take a step back and make sure that you’re not just jumping on the cloud native bandwagon without fully understanding what it’s all about!

After all, it’s not like you can just call up a cloud native Uber to get you where you need to go.

1. Understand what cloud native is and means for your business.

Knowing the goals and objectives of implementing cloud native technology can help determine if it is the right choice for your organization. This is like taking a trip; before packing your suitcase, you need to consider what the destination is and what you hope to achieve by going. Once you have a clear idea of the purpose and goals of the trip, you can make an informed decision on what to bring and how to get there.

2. Evaluate the cost savings and benefits of cloud native technology.

Consider the cost of implementation and maintenance, the scalability of the technology, and the potential ROI of using cloud native technology before making an informed decision. Analytical techniques such as cost-benefit analysis, break-even analysis, and net present value calculations can be used to evaluate the financial implications of using cloud native technology.

3. Identify your application requirements and assess the ideal cloud for your needs.

Once you have identified your application requirements, you can start to make an informed decision on the best cloud platform to meet those needs. Identify the size and scope of your application and the performance requirements, such as latency and throughput, that will be needed. Then, assess the cost of the cloud platform that offers the best performance for the best price.

4. Consider the scalability, resiliency, and security of cloud native solutions.

Evaluate how well cloud native solutions can scale, how resilient they are in the face of unexpected changes, and how secure they are in order to determine if they are the right fit for you. Scalability refers to how well cloud native solutions can scale up or down to meet the demands of the workload; resiliency looks at how well the solution can handle unexpected changes or disruptions; and security evaluates how secure the solution is in terms of data protection and authentication.

5. Research the range of cloud native technologies and services available.

To research the range of cloud native technologies and services available, you should read up on the different technologies and services, attend conferences and seminars, and talk to experts in the field. Additionally, you should reach out to other organizations that are already using cloud native technologies and services to get their insights and advice.

6. Assess the impact of cloud native on existing systems.

Assess the existing systems to determine if they need to be modified or replaced in order to accommodate the cloud native architecture. Consider the impact of the cloud native architecture on existing systems, such as data integration, performance, reliability, scalability, security, and cost.

To assess the impact of the cloud native architecture;

1. Determine the key metrics for each system, such as response time, throughput, cost, and availability.
2. Then, benchmark the existing systems and compare the results to the benchmarks set by the cloud native architecture.
3. Finally, evaluate the results and make a decision on whether the existing systems need to be modified or replaced.

7. Analyze the vendor landscape.

To analyze the vendor landscape, review the product offerings from different vendors and compare them to determine which one offers the most value for your organization. Consider factors such as cost, scalability, performance, and features to determine which solution is the best fit for your organization's needs. You should also consider the factors like support and vendor's long-term roadmap and how it fits with your organization's goals.

8. Create a cloud native strategy and roadmap.

A cloud native strategy should outline the objectives of the business, technology and architecture goals and the steps to achieve them. A roadmap should be created to show how these objectives can be met over time. This will help ensure that you have a clear understanding of the steps you need to take before investing in cloud native technology.

9. Build a team with the right skillset.

Building a team with the right skillsets is critical for any cloud native project. You should look for people who are familiar with the cloud platform you are using, as well as those who have experience with distributed systems, container orchestration, CI/CD pipelines, and microservices. A diverse team, with a range of skillsets, is key to the success of your cloud native project.

10. Review the cloud native roadmap and timeline.

Carefully review the cloud native roadmap and timeline, looking for key milestones and associated risks. Assess the potential benefits and drawbacks of each step on the roadmap, and compare them to the potential benefits and drawbacks of an alternative approach. Consider the cost, complexity, and time required for each step on the roadmap.