The following blog post was written by Jason Hardy.

The destination is “the cloud” but for many the question remains “how?” You’ve heard the stories, good and bad, about others and their journey to the cloud so how do you pick your path and find success? You may choose to go it alone and chart your own course tweaking the plan as successes and challenges dictate but they may lead to a bumpy ride full of unexpected pitfalls. While some have been successful pioneering their way to the cloud, others have burned resources only to turn back and realize this journey isn’t what they expected. A better approach is to find someone that has successfully made the journey and let their map be your guide.

Avanade: Global SI and Cloud Cartographer
Avanade is the 2017 Worldwide Consulting and SI Microsoft Azure Alliance Partner of the Year and we have successfully made this journey to the cloud many times. With a broad range of client requirements and diverse environments, we have developed a map that successfully guides our client’s success. We take a holistic approach to cloud transformation using a map that we call “The 6 Key Elements of Cloud Success.” This map reflects the experience and expertise gained on our previous journeys down this path. Here is a high-level look at waypoints on our map:

#1: Transform applications into adaptive services

#2: Let your applications drive your infrastructure

#3: Create new levels of efficiency in your operations

#4: Implement effective governance and compliance

#5: Unit IT and finance to promote visibility and accountability for cloud consumption

#6: When it comes to security data is the new perimeter

Below I will look at element #1 and then address each of the others in subsequent blogs.

Framing the problem and finding the answer
When you think about success element #1, it really comes down to this: “how can organizations update their applications and IT systems faster to allow them to keep up with the market and competition?” The answer to this question lies in transforming applications into adaptive services but what does that mean?

Companies should undertake an application portfolio rationalization to understand which apps are best-suited for the cloud and whether those applications should be migrated or fully modernized to deliver on the business needs of the enterprise. Enterprise applications that are lumbering monoliths may no longer serve a clear and valuable purpose or may be too costly to maintain. Those applications could be redesigned as agile services that can be updated quickly, frequently and cost-effectively to once again deliver clear and effective business value.

By transforming applications, you can avoid a major stumbling block experienced by many IT leaders that have gone before you and not seen the business value they expected. This is typically a result of taking a lift-and-shift approach that merely transferred their existing applications—and the related problems within those applications to a new platform. Old apps in a new data center don’t represent transformation. To achieve the desired outcome, businesses must modernize these apps for the future.

Review the map now
The 6 elements of cloud success represents waypoints that you need visit on your journey to the cloud. The order in which you visit these destinations is less important than making sure you plan to consider all the topics. 

To learn more about the 6 key elements of cloud success and how Avanade can guide your journey to cloud, see the CIO’s Guide to Cloud Transformation: Six Elements of Cloud Success.