Given the complexity and scope of cloud modernization, having the right solution ecosystem and partner network are crucial to achieving timely results and optimal business value.
Cloud modernization, in all of its iterations, continues apace. In the Foundry “Cloud Computing Study 2024,”63% of the participating IT decision-makers said their organization is accelerating a move to the cloud and 70% are defaulting to cloud-based services when upgrading or purchasing new technical capabilities.
Although there is no single pathway for cloud modernization, the journey requires specific expertise, often in areas where IT organizations are lacking resources and talent. For example, modernizing in the cloud requires demonstrated expertise in cloud-native technologies such as serverless, containers, microservices, and distributed databases. In addition to knowledge of cloud-native functionality, successful modernization strategies demand access to experts versed in specialized tool sets, cloud-specific migration frameworks, shared security model principles, and deployment best practices.
Beyond technology prowess, change management muscle is an essential element of any cloud modernization strategy. The scale of transformation — what’s required today and to be well positioned for tomorrow — can be daunting for some organizations to orchestrate on their own. “It comes down to a lack of imagination: People are trained to think small,” says Jake Burns, enterprise strategist at Amazon Web Services (AWS). “It’s hard for us as humans to think nonlinearly in terms of progress. With cloud and AI [artificial intelligence], you have to think exponentially.”
Where a partner can help
Enlisting the right partner is one way to jump-start cloud modernization. A system integration partner or vendor resource can take the lead on critical aspects of modernization, whether that’s working through the particulars of a thorny application-refactoring blueprint or wading in on proper specifications for IT infrastructure based on application and business performance needs. With a partner focused on the pillars of modernization, internal teams are freed up to spend time mapping out strategies for business innovation.
An outside partner also brings a wealth of shared knowledge to a modernization project. The combination of industry best practices and technology domain knowledge can help facilitate modernization projects while mitigating business disruptions and other risks. Partners can take the lead on training internal IT staffers on critical skills and AWS competencies so they can eventually advance ongoing modernization efforts on their own.
AWS has a vast network of partners trained and certified on AWS competencies. Many offer a range of professional services, including deep industry domain knowledge, solution architect expertise, and change management experience.
To maximize partner relationships:
- Make sure to understand the full range of their capabilities.
- Confirm that they have relevant industry knowledge and references.
- Start with a quick-turn targeted implementation to gauge working styles and fit.
- Foster a collaborative relationship between the partner and internal IT teams so IT can take the reins once the project is up and running.
“This isn’t something you want to get wrong,” Burns says. “Experience matters.”
Want to get the most out of modernization? Explore trusted AWS modernization partners. Or learn how AWS can help you reduce costs, gain efficiencies, and make the most of your existing investments.