Get to the private cloud: Change people, process, technology

In the last installment on the benefits of cloud computing, we started focusing on the private cloud. For most enterprises, this seems the most logical starting point as all uncertainty, doubt and risk is contained within the corporate data center. But on this path to the private cloud, as we transform the data center from its traditional form to a more dynamic one that provides services to customers, is it really a question of technology?

In the years I've been working in systems management around virtualization, one thing becomes quite apparent - technology is usually not the roadblock for many new initiatives. Let's look at what needs to be taken into account while we are on the path of a successful private cloud initiative.

People: First and foremost, IT is all about people. People with skills and experiences in information technology that allow them to implement, manage and maintain a myriad of systems, handling problems as they arise in an efficient manner. Since products and technologies change frequently in the data center, IT departments must frequently update training to ensure their people are abreast of latest innovations in hardware, software, architecture and solutions to support the best service delivery to their customers.

As the platform for the private cloud, virtualization technologies like hypervisors require a specific skill set to understand this new abstraction layer and how it can be used to deliver services. You need to ensure that people within your organization are trained in these technologies to be successful.

Not to focus specifically on skill sets, it is also important that the culture of an organization be looked at. To get to the private cloud, organizations will need to present IT as a business enabler, partnering with all other groups (finance, engineering, marketing, etc). It is important for IT to get a clear understanding of business needs and requirements so they can provide the right solutions at the right time.

Process: All IT departments run on processes. IT develops processes, formal or otherwise, to allow staff to offer effective, repeatable services to customers. As you move along the journey to the private cloud step by step, it is important that you re-evaluate current processes that may have been developed for older technologies and either update them or augment them to take advantage of new technologies and support and promote IT as a business enabler.

Technology: If you have the right people and processes in place, technology will probably be the easiest of the three issues. If we are transforming IT to provide services to customers and become a business enabler, architecting the right solution will prompt us to question:

• How do we provide services to our customers to allow them to work efficiently?
• How do we provide a balance between customer freedom and data center security?
• How do we properly track, trace and audit moves/adds/changes in the data center?
• How do we participate with our customers to plan future requirements and capacity?
• How do we show the operational cost of providing a service to our customers (even if we choose not to do formal chargeback)?

The answer to these will help you strike the proper balance in your organization as you transform the data center. At times this may seem like a daunting task, but the rewards well exceed the risk.

In our next installment, we will discuss IT maturity as it applies to virtualization to understand where your organization is today and what steps you need to take on your journey to the private cloud.

Remember, "cloudification" isn't just about me telling my story. We can only learn and move forward by sharing ideas and exchanging concerns and questions about cloud adoption. I'd like to hear your thoughts, experiences and best practices regarding how virtualization and the cloud have affected your enterprise and the way you deliver IT services. And, if you have any questions or want to start a discussion, I welcome that, too.

Jean-Marc Seguin is chief architect at Embotics.