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Strategic Decision-Making in Cloud Services

By Virginia Laurenzano, Steve Pereira, Adrienne Shulman

De-Risking Cloud Lock-In

This paper, published in the Fall 2024 Enterprise Technology Leadership Journal, addresses the challenges faced by senior technology leaders, particularly United States Government (USG) officials, in selecting cloud service providers (CSPs). The authors aim to provide new perspectives on vendor lock-in during the selection process and dispel common misconceptions that have led to poor outcomes across various sectors. The paper discusses the complexities of choosing between single-cloud and multi-cloud approaches, highlighting the trade-offs between flexibility and cost.

Features

  • Myth Busting

    Vendor lock-in cannot be completely avoided and multi-cloud strategies are not always the best solution for flexibility and freedom.

  • Strategic Planning

    Organizations should use tools like Wardley maps to understand their capabilities and make informed decisions about cloud deployment.

  • Constraint Assessment

    Understanding organizational constraints, including staff skills and authorization processes, is crucial when choosing a CSP.

  • Exit Strategy

    Organizations should define exit criteria and incorporate exit strategies into their contracts with cloud vendors to mitigate risks.

About the Resource

This paper, published in the Fall 2024 Enterprise Technology Leadership Journal, addresses the challenges faced by senior technology leaders, particularly United States Government (USG) officials, in selecting cloud service providers (CSPs). The authors aim to provide new perspectives on vendor lock-in during the selection process and dispel common misconceptions that have led to poor outcomes across various sectors. The paper discusses the complexities of choosing between single-cloud and multi-cloud approaches, highlighting the trade-offs between flexibility and cost.

The authors challenge two prevalent myths: that vendor lock-in must be avoided at all costs and that choosing multiple clouds provides greater flexibility and freedom. They argue that while lock-in should be considered, it cannot be fully avoided and that multi-cloud strategies often introduce significant complexities and costs. The paper provides guidance on making strategic decisions in cloud services, focusing on understanding scope and capabilities, constraints, the importance of sensing and responding to changes and planning for potential exits from cloud providers.

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Virginia Laurenzano

Virginia Laurenzano

Virginia Laurenzano joined the National Security Agency (NSA) in 2002 as a cryptomathematician and has been a DevOps champion since reading her first IT Revolution publication in 2016. She’s worked in many fields including cryptanalysis, software development, counterterrorism, and technical leadership. Virginia co-founded NSA’s Developer Experience (DevX) program in 2018. She holds a BSc in Mathematics from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and an MSc in Computer Science from Loyola University Maryland. At work, you’ll frequently find Virginia dressed like her fashion idol, Ms. Frizzle. Outside of work, she’s Mama! - an avid nerdy cross-stitcher, yogi, sourdough baker, and lover of tea.

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