Every Cloud Journey Begins with a First Step

Taking the first step toward the cloud can be both exciting and daunting. Whether you’re an individual developer, a small business owner, or part of a large enterprise, here are some essential steps to guide you on your cloud journey.

5 Steps to a Successful Cloud Journey

1. Don’t Overthink It; Assign a Developer and Start!

The hardest part is often getting started. Don’t get bogged down by overthinking. Assign a forward-thinking developer or engineer to explore the cloud. Focus on developing the necessary skills and start experimenting. All the help you need is available, and many questions have already been answered by the cloud community.

2. Empower a Single-Threaded Leader

Having executive support during the transition is crucial. The CIO or a direct report must lead the effort. They should provide direction, remove roadblocks, and ensure alignment across the organization. Remember, all assumed constraints are debatable—view challenges as opportunities.

3. Create Your 2-Pizza Cloud Business Office

Form a virtual leadership team (around 8–10 people) responsible for strategic oversight and tactical support. This team ensures engineers and developers have the air cover they need. It’s essential for inclusive executive alignment and reinforcing the benefits of moving to the public cloud.

4. Visit the Cloud Provider’s Website and Sign Up

Visit the website of your chosen cloud provider (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud). Sign up for an account, provide billing information (you won’t be charged until you exceed free tier limits), and verify your email. Set up multi-factor authentication for security.

5. Learn by Doing

Start using the cloud console. Spin up an EC2 test instance, explore services, and get hands-on experience. Learning by doing is the most effective way to understand the cloud’s capabilities.

Remember, the cloud journey is a marathon, not a sprint. Take these steps, learn from others, and embrace the transformative power of the cloud.