As
different as the Cloud and Scotch may seem, while I was enjoying a dram
one night I realized they aren't so different after all. These are the
lessons I learned from that night. 1. It isn’t for everyone
This is probably the hardest for me to “swallow”. I like to think that Scotch is the king of
all adult beverages but the reality is it isn’t for everyone. I don’t always accept this truth when I hear
it and I think “they just don’t understand it”.
Maybe in some situations they don’t understand it, but in others it
really just isn’t for them.
Similarly the Cloud may not be a fit for many
organizations. That isn’t to say that
some Cloud solutions wouldn’t be of benefit, but every solution doesn’t fit
every organization. A plumbing company
may be able to use a hosted website and email, but they may not need cloud
computing or cloud storage. Too often I’ve
seen providers attempt to shove everything they offer onto a business. The cloud, where appropriate, may benefit an
organization but that doesn’t mean everything the cloud has to offer is a fit.
2. Ease into it
You don’t want to start exploring Scotch with an Islay peat
monster. Start slow with something that
you can appreciate and enjoy and then branch out.
With moving to the Cloud, it is too disruptive to move
everything at once. Start with email,
and then a server or two. Usually Cloud adoption
happens when servers are nearing end-of-life.
Instead of sinking money into new hardware which will need to be
replaced again in a few years, the cloud is considered and often chosen as a
more flexible and less expensive option.
Work with a provider that will help you plan your cloud migration.
3. Enjoy its simplicity
and marvel at its complexity
Scotch is simple. It
is a tasty beverage that makes you feel good.
Once you find one you like and you begin experimenting with other varieties
you will start to appreciate its complexity.
The Cloud is simple.
It replaces the need for you to manage and maintain hardware and you can
focus on running your business. Once you
begin using the Cloud, explore all it has to offer. There is much more it can do than just
serving email, or running applications.
It can protect you against cyber attacks, quickly grow when you need it,
train your employees against “Spear Phishing”, replicate itself in preparation
for a disaster, and analyze buying trends of your customers to increase sales.
The technology that makes all of that possible is incredibly
complex and doesn’t need to be understood, just respected.
4. There is no “Right
Way”
There are those who feel Scotch can only be enjoyed and
appreciated one way. Scotch is meant to
be enjoyed and there is no “right way” for everyone. Some like it neat, with a few drops of room
temperature water, with a little ice, or with a lot of ice. I like it all of those ways depending on which
Scotch I’m having.
The same holds true for the cloud. There is no “right way” to use the cloud to
enhance your business. You know your
business better than anyone and you shouldn’t listen to those who don’t attempt
to understand your business. Don’t be
bullied into using a solution you aren’t comfortable with just because it’s
what a competitor is using or a service provider is pushing for it. That doesn’t mean it can’t be used
effectively in those ways but try to get creative and find an even better way.
5. Experience may vary
We all have different tastes and enjoy different
things. Just because someone you know
didn’t like a particular Scotch doesn’t mean you won’t. I have a group of friends who get together
for Scotch tastings and everyone’s view is a little different. Sometimes we disagree but that is one of the
aspects that make it so amazing. You learn
a little more about yourself by comparing your experience to others.
When a Cloud service doesn’t make sense for one
organization, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider it. You may find it is a huge value to the way
you do business. Be open-minded and you
may stumble across a unique way to save money or reduce complexity.
6. Ask lots of questions
I find many people want to know about Scotch but they are
afraid to ask questions. Find someone
who loves Scotch and they will be happy to answer any questions you have. Don’t go to just one source because everyone
has a different view. Ask many people
and eventually you will come to understand what you like and why.
Asking questions is the best way to learn how you can better
your business with the Cloud. Those who
are using the Cloud or “Cloud Enthusiasts” will be happy to answer all of your
questions. Again, don’t go to just one
source. The flexibility the Cloud offers
is what gives the Cloud its greatest value but with that comes different
experiences. Find someone who
understands what you want and need and can express the solutions in terms of
how it benefits your business.
7. Learn the lingo
The Scotch group I mentioned was a mess initially. We would argue if a Scotch was “peaty” or “smoky”. There is a difference between “Lemon notes
and Citrus” or “Spicy and Peppery”. Once
we realized what everyone was saying we could truly begin to have a conversation.
I have had meetings where the terms “disaster recovery”, “business
continuity”, and “backup” essentially meant the same thing to who I was
speaking with but they mean very different things to me. As you can imagine the conversation started off
pretty rocky but by the end we completely understood each other and I was able
to address the concerns they actually had.
Cloud has become a very diluted term and it can mean anything from SaaS
(software as a service), to IaaS (infrastructure as a service), to hosting your
equipment in a colocation data center.
It is important to understand exactly what everyone is saying to get the
benefit of their insight. Don’t be
afraid to ask questions if you don’t completely know what the other person is
saying or even to confirm your understanding.
