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Cloud Strategy: A Decision-based Approach to Successful Cloud Migration
Every enterprise finds itself in some stage of a cloud migration these days. Cloud computing is an amazing resource that can provide fully managed platforms, auto-optimizing and even auto-healing operations, per-second billing, pre-trained machine learning models, and globally distributed transactional data stores. So, it’s no wonder that most enterprises want to take advantage of such capabilities.
Still, migrating a whole enterprise to the cloud isn’t easy. Migration itself can be a costly endeavor while simply lifting and shifting legacy applications to the cloud is unlikely to bring the anticipated benefits. At the same time, re-architecting applications to run optimally in the cloud is likely to be cost prohibitive. So, enterprises need to have a better and more nuanced strategy than just “Cloud First!”
Harvested from half a decade of moving organizations to the cloud, this book presents a fresh take on cloud computing. Staying clear of product pitches and buzzwords, it takes a deeper look at both the architectural choices but also the organizational implications of adopting cloud. It helps IT leaders devise a cohesive strategy that utilizes an organization’s existing assets while also fundamentally transforming the way it looks at IT.
Still, migrating a whole enterprise to the cloud isn’t easy. Migration itself can be a costly endeavor while simply lifting and shifting legacy applications to the cloud is unlikely to bring the anticipated benefits. At the same time, re-architecting applications to run optimally in the cloud is likely to be cost prohibitive. So, enterprises need to have a better and more nuanced strategy than just “Cloud First!”
Harvested from half a decade of moving organizations to the cloud, this book presents a fresh take on cloud computing. Staying clear of product pitches and buzzwords, it takes a deeper look at both the architectural choices but also the organizational implications of adopting cloud. It helps IT leaders devise a cohesive strategy that utilizes an organization’s existing assets while also fundamentally transforming the way it looks at IT.
355 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 11, 2021
105 people are currently reading
427 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
June 21, 2020
Contains a lot of good advice and models to narrow down a fitting cloud strategy for your companies context. At my current employer we’re still not 100% through with our strategy on management level, but this book contains some very useful guardrails that keep us on track.
For instance some of the models in this book helped us a lot structuring the discussion on VP level on why we’re going into the cloud and pulling hidden expectations onto the stage (on cost, speed, scalability and uptime)
-1 star because I already had a good grasp on what going into the cloud means for existing applications and what architecting for the cloud usually means. I didn’t get a lot of new things out of these parts. But that‘s my fault, not the books :)
Highly recommended for everyone in tech management who‘s interested in going into Cloud.
For instance some of the models in this book helped us a lot structuring the discussion on VP level on why we’re going into the cloud and pulling hidden expectations onto the stage (on cost, speed, scalability and uptime)
-1 star because I already had a good grasp on what going into the cloud means for existing applications and what architecting for the cloud usually means. I didn’t get a lot of new things out of these parts. But that‘s my fault, not the books :)
Highly recommended for everyone in tech management who‘s interested in going into Cloud.
March 17, 2021
No more clouds on the horizon with this book!
Every single page of this book can save a lot of money. There are so many reasons for a cloud migration to go wrong and using your common sense is not a strategy. There is so much hype around cloud computing. A cloud migration is a unique opportunity to change how your company is working and this book is the perfect guide to make it happen.
This book is not just for business leaders. All participants in a cloud migration, including developers, will benefit from the experience of the author. The book is opinionated, which makes the reading very enjoyable. This contrasts with all too common articles on the subject.
Business leaders will find the technical explanations they need to understand the real challenges of a cloud migration. You cannot plan your migration like any business transformation. We are talking about running code in a new environment and you need to keep your feet on the ground if you want to understand for example why the multicloud is definitely not the solution to avoid lock-in. If you want to make informed decisions, you should already be reading the book now.
Every single page of this book can save a lot of money. There are so many reasons for a cloud migration to go wrong and using your common sense is not a strategy. There is so much hype around cloud computing. A cloud migration is a unique opportunity to change how your company is working and this book is the perfect guide to make it happen.
This book is not just for business leaders. All participants in a cloud migration, including developers, will benefit from the experience of the author. The book is opinionated, which makes the reading very enjoyable. This contrasts with all too common articles on the subject.
Business leaders will find the technical explanations they need to understand the real challenges of a cloud migration. You cannot plan your migration like any business transformation. We are talking about running code in a new environment and you need to keep your feet on the ground if you want to understand for example why the multicloud is definitely not the solution to avoid lock-in. If you want to make informed decisions, you should already be reading the book now.
June 13, 2021
I really enjoyed that book!
It's one of the most actionable books on the topic of Cloud Computing and its strategical angle. I really like the form and visualization, plus how those essays are composing together and relate to each other. This is a must-read for anyone working with the cloud!
It's one of the most actionable books on the topic of Cloud Computing and its strategical angle. I really like the form and visualization, plus how those essays are composing together and relate to each other. This is a must-read for anyone working with the cloud!
September 9, 2022
I am a solution engineer at VMware and I found this book very valuable. It really helps in finding the right questions to ask to customers so we can come up with a cloud strategy that fits their requirements and align it to our proposed solutions and roadmap. The book also discusses aspects of budgeting as well as human resources, so it is not only technology-focused.
June 27, 2021
This is not a book...rather hundreds of pages of do/don't type of canned wisdom. Most things are obvious to any reasonably non-trivial techie. Not sure what is the deal here.
March 19, 2021
A comprehensive guide to Cloud and the strategies to adopting and implementing it optimally, covering many aspects end-to-end such as understanding the Cloud concept and its implications, migration, architecture, software build & design, and how to embrace the Cloud lifestyle. Written in a lightweight, easy-to-read chapters, Gregor does a great job in explaining the topic based on his vast knowledge and experience, having worked in multiple Cloud providers and Cloud implementations. His side notes and jokes are great additions to the content, often putting a smile on my face in the middle of my reading. This book doesn't dive deep into low-level details, as it is meant to provide a high level holistic overview of Cloud, highly useful especially for the executives and people who come from non-Cloud background. For Cloud-savvy readers, this book gives a great distilled overview on how to embrace Cloud fully and how to implement on Cloud the right way.
March 3, 2021
Another great read from Gregor, this time focused on cloud strategy.
Following up his recent book - the Architect Elevator, this is the next step into technology domains and I look forward to the next one on platforms.
This is easy to read and follow without getting too technical so has broad appeal that is useful to a wider enough audience to understand the value of the cloud and how to get value out of it.
Following up his recent book - the Architect Elevator, this is the next step into technology domains and I look forward to the next one on platforms.
This is easy to read and follow without getting too technical so has broad appeal that is useful to a wider enough audience to understand the value of the cloud and how to get value out of it.
January 2, 2021
Good book on the area of movement to cloud. It is made clear it is not just a one short shift rather a lifestyle change. Also proposes high level steps to organize the change. Many links do direct us to standard material on the topics. Some details could have as well helped like the kind of tools (open ones) which could be used for planning a shift.
April 21, 2022
The book has some great parts, some obvious parts and a lot in between. It lacks the depth to do work in the cloud but is a good orientation on how to write your proposals for your managers. Read it if you want to create a project/proposal that should use the cloud, skip it if you need to work with cloud platforms.
July 9, 2023
I have yet to find a more clear, comprehensive and straightforward book that covers both the technical and the business goals of Cloud transition, migration and implementation.
As a Cloud Architect, and as somebody who has work as Gregor in a big financial institution I feel this should a MUST READ.
Brilliant book.
As a Cloud Architect, and as somebody who has work as Gregor in a big financial institution I feel this should a MUST READ.
Brilliant book.
September 25, 2020
This is great book (as I've come to expect from Gregor Hohpe!). The author has a way of transforming tons of experience and complexity into practical and useful decision models. It certainly gave me several different lens though which to analyze the cloud.
October 3, 2021
Very helpful within the wider enterprise context. Not a book aiming for delusional context that cloud solves the world, but rather a balanced take on the challenges enterprises need to face into. It’s a go to on my shelf for work related challenges right now.
May 11, 2020
I enjoyed reading the book, it's relevant and current on challenges and misconceptions when coming up with cloud migration & adoption strategies.
Great job Gregor!
Great job Gregor!
February 20, 2021
Great work Gregor! Please keep on!
I already enjoyed 37 Things and Cloud Strategy reached the same level. I am looking forward for your next big thing ;)
I already enjoyed 37 Things and Cloud Strategy reached the same level. I am looking forward for your next big thing ;)
December 20, 2021
- A lot of do's and dont's.
- Some good advices for helping decision making.
- Good for executives
- an index is missing
- containers vs classic iaas etc. is missing a bit
- Some good advices for helping decision making.
- Good for executives
- an index is missing
- containers vs classic iaas etc. is missing a bit
May 16, 2022
I really hope more architects read Hohpe’s books and work. It really make our jobs better
April 15, 2023
This book is thought-provoking. It reads like a conversation, rather than a textbook.
Read
November 9, 2023Why cloud? How to get to the cloud? And how to organize and structure to fully utilize the cloud?
November 8, 2024
Very useful, clear and well-thought decisions and tradeoffs to be considered when starting a cloud migration.
November 16, 2024
Not a technical book. But a very good advisor. And reference based on sound experience and learnings.
January 10, 2021
I would have wished this book exists 2 years ago. My personal experience in enterprise cloud adoption resonates much with various sections in this book. Deliberately maintaining a cloud service provider neutral narrative, much arguments, metaphors, examples, do’s and don’s in the book sound unusually convincing as they reflect the reality I observe on the ground. A much needed guidance for those genuinely look for sustainable value realization from cloud.
September 30, 2021
If you're looking for a Cloud strategy, there are a lot of better books available. While this book might be useful for those new to Cloud, those with more experience will find the content of this book lacking. The book focuses more on defining the "What" of the problem (Cloud Challenges) but barely gives the How (Solution).
November 20, 2025
Enjoyable read that teaches a lot
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews