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Clouds are the New Silos: How to Survive in a Multi-Cloud World

Will Huber

Many organizations without the right IT partners insist on going down their own multi-cloud hybrid highway alone. Don’t get stuck in a silo. Eventually you will strain your own IT resources, especially when most organizations are challenged with flat or shrinking budgets. Lower your operating costs by doing more with less. Discover how CDI’s Hybrid Cloud Automation Framework (HCAF) fits into your new multi-cloud world.

In the IT world, the concept of silos is nothing new. Not too long ago, when you heard the term technology silo you likely thought about technology domains like servers, compute, network, and storage (among others). These silos were often home to individuals with specialized skillsets who were grouped in rigid organization charts with dedicated leadership and little cross-functional interaction.

It took companies that operated this way months to stand up the infrastructure capable of supporting new business initiatives and applications. Delays (and lost revenue opportunities) were attributed to different processes, lengthy procurement cycles, handoffs among business units, wait time, and the necessary coordination between various groups. Virtualization technology, converged infrastructure, and automation technologies coupled with the synchronization of engineering and operations teams eased this pain to a degree.

For the last five years running, the mainstream adoption of cloud services from companies like AWS, Microsoft, and Google has re-shaped the idea of a technology silo. Now more than ever, we are seeing customers adopt not just one cloud platform, but multiple cloud platforms. In addition, it is likely that most organizations are still looking after their own internal data centers, even if it is only for a temporary period as they shift their workloads to an external cloud service provider.

Some customers continue to implement a hybrid strategy for their long-term operations. This hybrid model, however, will introduce a strain on IT, especially when most organizations are challenged with flat or shrinking budgets. Operationalizing and supporting an internal data center that serves the entire company is hard work, and on top of that, IT is now burdened with operationalizing and supporting one or more cloud providers—each with its own unique feature sets, cost models, APIs, monitoring tools, workload automation solutions, and more.

So how does IT operate in a multi-cloud world?

Of course, the answer is a complex one that isn’t solved in a simple blog article. But you can count on this—at CDI we truly help our customers navigate the hybrid multi-cloud world and enable them to focus on their applications and business, and not on the infrastructure that underpins it. We do this with our Hybrid Cloud Automation Framework (HCAF).

HCAF enables our highly-skilled consultants to chart a course to success for our customers. From end-to-end, customers rely on HCAF to help them make the journey through cloud strategy, tools, process, and people before finally arriving at their ultimate destination — the realization of business value. We can introduce you to the right technologies, capabilities, automation opportunities, and optimized processes that will reduce your operational cost, risk, and complexity. HCAF empowers our customers. They stop worrying about IT infrastructure and focus instead on delivering an exceptional customer experience to their end users.

To schedule a demo in our Hybrid Cloud Solutions Center or to learn more about HCAF, visit www.cdillc.com/hcaf.

Will Huber

Will Huber, Chief Technology Officer, CDI

Specializing in leading complex and often very large cloud engagements spanning multiple disciplines, Will Huber defines, architects, and evangelizes the future of cloud-based consulting services at CDI. His responsibilities include the development and delivery of next-generation Hybrid Cloud frameworks including cloud and platform maturity models, architectures, strategies, IT operations management, business process automation, automation, orchestration, and strategy. Will comes to CDI from EMC where, as Principal Solutions Architect for Global Cloud Services, he was responsible for leading delivery teams that provided complex Federation Enterprise Hybrid Cloud (FEHC) engagements worldwide. One of less than 248 architects in the entire world that hold the VMware Certified Design Expert (VCDX) credential, Will also holds the distinction of being one of just 31 architects globally with VCDX status in the Cloud Management and Automation track. In addition to his MCSA/MCSE 2003 education and training, Will is the recipient of over 26 certifications from VMware, Microsoft, and EMC. In addition to his corporate responsibilities, he is currently pursuing an advanced degree in IT with Western Governors University.