Enable Cloud Strategy and Planning with Predictable Methods, Models, and Tools

We previously
looked at why cloud is so important (Challenge
the Status Quo and Advance Business through Cloud Computing, ),
approaches to cloud strategy (Understanding
Which Investments Should go to the Cloud, Cloud
Strategy Begins with Value and Balances Risk ) and who the best
people (Why
Enterprise Architects Must Drive Cloud Strategy and Planning) are to
execute. Today we’ll examine the methods, models, and tools that the enterprise
architect should use for effective cloud strategy and planning.

Methodologies
As far as methodologies go, it’s usually
better not to reinvent the wheel. There are already proven general frameworks EAs can use, so try to leverage
what is already out there whenever possible. When using an existing
general-purpose framework like TOGAF, apply cloud specifics to it.

Using a framework like TOGAF can ensure that you
are not missing the critical steps, questions and outcomes that every good
architecture should have. This will also ensure that all the other architecture
work and this work is consistent and predictable with the outcomes it produces.
Below are a list of a few benefits for leveraging TOGAF as your methodology for
Cloud Strategy and Planning:

• Broad Community – If a custom framework is built, very few people
  have expertise and experience. TOGAF has an extremely broad EA acceptance,
  adoption and certification.
• Deliverables and Artifacts – TOGAF comes
  with a wealth of “out of the box” templates that can be leveraged to
  architect.
• Linkages to SOA and Cloud IP – The Open Group which manages TOGAF, has
  other forums  and working groups that
  builds content for specific architecture areas and domains such as SOA,
  Cloud, Business Architecture and Security Architecture to name a few.
• Associated Cloud Standards Bodies – The Open Group has done a great job of
  uniting multiple specialized and deep cloud standards bodies with the TOGAF
  standard to bring together the best of both worlds. The general purpose
  framework applied. These partners include NIST, Cloud Security Alliance and more.
  All this work has come together in The
  Open Group Cloud Computing Work Group.

Below is a visual on how Cloud Strategy and Planning
extends TOGAF within this framework:

Another great visual is from Serge Thorn where he shows this from
a native TOGAF view:

Check out his blog post, “Cloud
Computing Requires Enterprise Architecture and TOGAF”

Is TOGAF the only methodology you use? No. Just
like any other architecture work there are many different facets other than
just architecture such as: Risk Management, Information Security, Project /
Program Management, Software Development and Operations. There are methodologies
and frameworks for each specialized area that complement your architecture
work.

Some things to remember when adopting methodologies:

• Strategy Methods are Universal – The same macro/basic steps are the same
  and can be applied to most anything. Just like with anything you will have to tailor
  slightly to your needs. DO NOT REINVENT
  PROVEN MODELS.
• Make General Purpose Methods Specific – These were meant to be applied to a
  specific problem set. Cloud is
  no different.
• Use Extensions – Cloud tools and techniques such as CSA, NIST,
  and Open Group-specific resources can be very useful in giving general-purpose
  frameworks meaning.

 

When we apply these
aspects to a cloud methodology you get The Cloud Strategy and Planning (CSP)
Framework. It is comprised of three simplified phases and seven activities.

 

CSP
embraces and extends proven practices in the industry and the industry
resources from the following distinguished bodies:

• The Open Group (TOGAF)
• Cloud Security Alliance (CSA)
• NIST Cloud Computing Working Groups
• Sherwood Applied Business Security
  Architecture (SABSA)
• Cloud Security Alliance (CSA)

 

Activity Descriptions

Below is a high-level overview of the activities with the description of
what occurs in each. The detailed steps are not shown below.

Strategy
Rationalization

1	Establish Scope, and Approach	Conduct the Cloud Envisioning Workshop Provide overview of cloud computing Define the enterprise business model for cloud computing Establish project charter
2	Understand Strategic Vision	Gather the IT and business strategic objectives Identify strategic cloud computing patterns and technologies Analyze customer feasibility and readiness State strategic vision for cloud computing
3	Identify and Prioritize Capabilities	Define evaluation criteria for key IT & business value drivers Evaluate the capabilities based on these metrics Identify ~5 high-priority capabilities for deeper analysis

 

Cloud Valuation

4	Profile Capabilities	Determine current state of capability maturity leveraging IO Maturity Tools Execute Risk Analysis Method with corresponding assessments and remediation steps. Profile the capability asset portfolios of information, technology, and processes and analyze by architectural fit, risk and readiness
5	Recommend Deployment Patterns	Research capability proven practices and market direction Define target cloud capability requirements Determine optimal cloud service and deployment patterns for the capabilities based on fit, value, and risk

 

 

Business
Transformation Planning

6	Define and Prioritize Opportunities	Completely define opportunities to include  an overview, benefits, risks, assessment results, technology impacts, and project plan Prioritize opportunities for detailed architecture and execution
7	Understand Strategic Vision	Assess implementation risks and dependencies Develop and deliver a business transformation roadmap Validate with the customer and edit accordingly

 

Models

With respect to models, there are many out there readily available. Since
we are starting with  business value we
want to make sure we continue to do so and ensure there is a bridge from
strategy to implementation.

Given the top down
nature you will want to pull from models  that lend to our approach. When selecting
models, take a step back and ensure you fully understand the scope of what you
want to accomplish then select the most appropriate models from the many
sources at your disposal such as: analysts, standards bodies, industry bodies
or internal reference models.

For example, CSP
integrates SABSA to ensure that CSP has a classification scheme to capture business
requirements along with the identification, classification and management of risk.
The SABSA method focuses on the area of security while CSP extends this for cloud
computing. CSP incorporates a similar structure to SABSA and utilized the SABSA
matrix as a stellar example of using question-based analysis in IT
decision-making. By using the business requirements as the “red thread” through
the analysis, SABSA and CSP are both able to ensure that the business
objectives are being met. In the case of CSP, the business should be the
driving force behind the cloud transformation.

A common issue I
see when selecting models are that a model is selected either based on
preference or it is good enough. Don’t do that. Make sure you have a fit for
purpose model. If you don’t you may not get an accurate output.

 

Below are a good
set of models that can be used when rationalizing strategy:

• Strategy maps
• Business canvas
• Hosen strategy
• Net Present Value (NPV)
• Business Scenarios
• SWOT
• Porters Five Forces Analysis
• Motivation Model

Tools

 Now let’s talk about
the tools. These will allow us to automate the method along with helping align,
measure, quantify and qualify our work.

The tools below
will help

• Charter – Template to authorize the
  project and define scope, stakeholders and timeline
• Enterprise Capability Assessment –
  Enterprise level 1 capability analysis to segment a customer’s portfolio for
  the discovery of cloud opportunities.
• Business Heat Map – Graphical view of an
  organization based on business capabilities and cloud attributes like risk,
  value, fit and readiness
• Capability Prioritization – Further
  refinement of each business capability with respect to cloud risk, fit and
  readiness
• Capability Profiling – Rollup dashboard
  of a given capability to determine the level of value and risk it provides in
  the context of cloud.
• Cloud Pattern Valuation – Robust metric
  driven analysis tool used to determine which cloud service and deployment
  models should be used for a solution.
• Cloud Pattern Matching – Graphical tool
  to connect service and deployment models with business or technical capabilities.
• Portfolio Analysis – A tool to plot cloud
  opportunities to a grid based on Business Priority, Value, Risk and Effort to
  aid in the roadmapping.
• Cloud Opportunity Dashboard  – A dashboard that provides a complete
  rollup of the Cloud Valuation assessments into one sheet to support decision
  making.
• Cloud Taxonomy –This taxonomy provides a
  way of rationalizing cloud specific cloud implementation decisions.
• Cloud Risk Framework – A risk reference
  model that identifies the key aspects of cloud risk to be assessed.
• Cloud Risk Method – Process for applying
  a risk classification to a potential cloud solution.
• CSP Project Planning – Examples of a
  defined project engagement, with timelines, milestones, activities and
  deliverables.

A good example of a tool leveraged in CSP is The Capability Planning
Tool. It analyses Business and IT capabilities under seven areas that fall
under four assessment drivers: architectural fit, value, risk, and readiness:

• Architectural
  Fit: Adoption and Complexity
• Value:
  Cost and Strategic Alignment
• Risk:
  Significance and Regulations, Standards, and Policies
• Readiness:
  Organizational Readiness and Technical Readiness

For all capabilities, the EA will ask the customer for the enterprise’s
score in each topic area. For example, for the business capability, Claims
Management, the EA will ask for the capability’s level of adoption based on the
following criteria: 5-Enterprise-Proven, 4-Tested, 3-Industry-Proven,
2-Emerging, and 1-Not Available.

This assessment is intended to capture a range from 1 to 5 for each
topic area under these assessment drivers. The end result is a rolled-up
dashboard with the scores of architectural fit, value, risk, readiness, and an
overall score for each capability. The final results presented in the dashboard
will allow the EA to determine the high-priority capabilities with the
customer.

Conclusion

The Cloud Strategy & Planning (CSP)
guidance helps establish a common context for cloud computing among all
business and IT stakeholders. Furthermore, it allows companies to define an
actionable cloud opportunity plan for qualified & validated cloud
opportunities to be architected for a specific service and deployment model.

The CSP guidance has 3 phases and 7
activities which give an overall structure to the approach. These allow the
client to assess and identify the current maturity level of their competences,
to find out which of these are best suited for cloud migration, and to evaluate
and better understand the opportunities for cloud solutions in the
organization. This assessment will ultimately lead to a business transformation
roadmap that is aligned with the enterprise’s technology and business
objectives. 

A few key points:

• Focus on Maximizing Business Value – Leverage a business top down
  process of analysis and refinement, describing business capabilities to matched cloud technologies is essential
• Capability
  Driven – Respect both the business and IT dimensions of an organization
• Balance
  Value and Risk  – Identify cloud
  opportunities while also rationalizing the potential challenges
• Leverage Industry Best Practices – Amplify value of proven methods, models
  and tools to reduce risk of a poorly planned and executed strategy.

Related articles

Technology Architecture Questions for Vendors

Challenge the Status Quo and Advance Business through Cloud Computing

TOGAF Templates

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