Cloudnative Worst Practices: Wrong Cloud Operating Model

A common misstep in cloud adoption is choosing the wrong cloud operating model. This error is like picking the wrong vehicle for a journey – it might hinder efficiency, cost-effectiveness, or even feasibility. Companies often rush into a popular or recommended cloud model without assessing if it suits their specific business needs and workflows.

What is a Cloud Operating Model?

A cloud operating model is the framework and guidelines an organization uses to manage its cloud environment. It includes how cloud services are delivered and managed (service management), budgeting and cost control (financial management), data security and compliance with laws (security and compliance), and the policies for managing the cloud infrastructure (governance). It also involves choosing the right deployment model, such as public, private, hybrid, or multi-cloud, based on business requirements.

Choosing an unsuitable cloud model can cause several problems. It may lead to overspending for overly complex services or underutilizing the cloud’s potential. This mismatch affects scalability, performance, and cost-effectiveness. For example, a public cloud model for sensitive data might raise security issues, while a private cloud for all needs could be costly.

The Solution

Selecting the right model requires analyzing business needs, data sensitivity, scalability, and compliance. Understanding the different available models - public, private, hybrid, and multi-cloud - and evaluating them against specific business goals and technical requirements is essential.

Start with a comprehensive assessment of your organizational needs. For example, a healthcare provider looking to adopt cloud services would involve stakeholders from IT, clinical operations, and compliance departments. They would assess the types of patient data handled, ensuring strict compliance with health privacy laws. The IT team would evaluate the technical requirements, like the need for high data availability and privacy for patient records. The financial department would assess costs and budget allocation. Some results:

1. Data Types and Sensitivity: The assessment revealed that the provider handles a variety of patient data, including sensitive health records requiring strict privacy and security measures.
2. Compliance Requirements: Compliance with health privacy laws such as HIPAA is a top priority. This requires a cloud solution that offers robust security features and compliance capabilities.
3. Technical Needs: High data availability and scalability are essential for managing patient records efficiently. This necessitates a cloud model that can handle large volumes of data and scale resources as needed.
4. Cost Considerations: The financial department highlighted the need for cost-effective solutions that align with the healthcare provider's budget constraints and set a cost target.
5. Operational Flexibility: The clinical operations team emphasized the need for a solution that can adapt to changing healthcare practices and patient needs and provides high availability, even in case of an emergency.

Based on these findings, a hybrid cloud model was considered most appropriate, providing a balance of security, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness, while meeting the diverse needs identified in the assessment

Final Thoughts

Choosing the appropriate cloud operating model is crucial in your cloud journey. It sets the foundation for effective and efficient cloud technology use. Aligning your choice with your business needs saves costs and enhances operations. In cloud adoption, the best model is the one that fits your unique requirements.