Reducing Risk with Cloud Computing

SHOW: Season 2, Show 3

OVERVIEW: From the creators of the Internet's #1 Cloud Computing podcast, The Cloudcast, Aaron Delp (@aarondelp) and Brian Gracely (@bgracely) introduce this new podcast,  Cloudcast Basics.

FRAMEWORK FOR CONSIDERATION

This episode is going to focus on both how you can reduce risk (overall, vs. what you had before), but also look at what risks you need to consider when using the cloud.

1. Risk of Innovation: We’d like to try something new, but will we be successful? (setup, pick the right technology, pick the right vendor, allocate the right budget)
2. Risk of Planning: We planned and planned, but will we be successful when it’s time to execute? 
3. Risk of Overspending: Depends on the service, might actually be more challenging in cloud (requires a change of thought-process)
4. Risk of Failure: The scope of failure can be (somewhat) better controlled, although there are still examples of cloud failures. This is more about scope and timing that can be more granular.

REAL-WORLD CONSIDERATIONS:

• It’s important to understand the “Shared Responsibility Model” when working in the cloud. What do you own, and what does the cloud own? Not enough companies understand this.
• Risk (or Opportunity Costs) are very difficult to measure. Sometimes you need to work backwards and look at what you can control and what you can’t control. 
• Can you design around what you can control? 
• Can you design around what you can’t control?

RISKS OF USING THE CLOUD

• Not having good governance - self-service can lead to some very large bills
• Not having good cost controls - see above
• It’s important to understand the “Shared Responsibility Model” when working in the cloud. What do you own, and what does the cloud own? Not enough companies understand this.

SUBSCRIBE: Please subscribe anywhere you get podcasts (Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon Music, Pandora, etc.).

CLOUD NEWS OF THE WEEK - http://bit.ly/cloudcast-cnotw

LEARNING CLOUD COMPUTING:
Here are some great places to begin your cloud journey, if you're interested in getting hands-on experience with the technology, or you'd like to build your skills towards a certification. 

• CBT Nuggets - Training and Certifications
• A Cloud Guru - Training and Certifications
• Cloud Academy - Training and Certifications
• Katakoda - Self-Paced, Interactive Learning
• GitHub - Code Samples and Collaboration

FEEDBACK?

• Web: Cloudcast Basics 
• Email: show at cloudcastbasics dot net
• Twitter: @cloudcastbasics