Modernizing Enterprise Architectures Featuring Exxonmobil Enu202

Title

AWS re:Invent 2022 - Modernizing enterprise architectures, featuring ExxonMobil (ENU202)

Summary

  • Todd Benner, Enterprise Architect at ExxonMobil, leads the Central Enterprise Architecture Organization, focusing on strategic and transformative architectures for a modern IT ecosystem.
  • Joseph Santamaria, director for worldwide solution architecture within the Energy IBU at AWS, discusses the unique approach of AWS solution architects.
  • ExxonMobil's journey to the cloud began around 2006, with skepticism initially due to past experiences with IT outsourcing.
  • By 2018, ExxonMobil embraced cloud modernization, recognizing the benefits of speed and agility for business transformation.
  • ExxonMobil's cloud strategy includes eight enterprise architecture principles and three mandates, emphasizing data as an asset, modular solutions, and a preference for reusing, renting, or buying solutions before building new ones.
  • ExxonMobil's cloud adoption program complements their modernization efforts, with a significant portion of their applications now in the cloud, primarily SaaS solutions.
  • Todd Benner shares three reasons for choosing AWS: AWS Nitro for data protection, AWS's understanding of business challenges, and a history of success with AWS.
  • Examples of modernization at ExxonMobil include Amazon Connect for call centers, Amazon RDS for Oracle, and a bespoke AWS-engineered solution for unconventional data harvesting.
  • Joseph Santamaria emphasizes the importance of executive alignment, ambitious goals, investing in people, and incremental planning for successful cloud transformation.
  • AWS's Migration Acceleration Program is a three-step process to help companies migrate and modernize their IT infrastructure.
  • The session concludes with a Q&A and a reminder of the importance of finding the right partners for cloud transformation.

Insights

  • ExxonMobil's approach to cloud adoption is cautious and economically driven, focusing on modernization only when it aligns with business opportunities.
  • The company's preference for SaaS solutions over building new applications indicates a strategic shift towards operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
  • AWS's Nitro system is a key factor in ExxonMobil's decision to partner with AWS, highlighting the importance of data security in the energy sector.
  • The examples of modernization at ExxonMobil demonstrate practical applications of AWS services in solving specific business challenges, such as improving call center operations and data processing.
  • Joseph Santamaria's discussion on the Migration Acceleration Program provides a structured approach for enterprises to transition to the cloud, emphasizing the need for a strong business case and executive support.
  • The session underscores the significance of training and investing in people as a critical component of successful cloud adoption, which can lead to faster migration and higher employee engagement.
  • The concept of "falling in love with the business problem" reflects a customer-centric approach to IT solutions, aligning technology initiatives with business objectives.
  • The presentation suggests that lift and shift is a practical first step in cloud migration, allowing companies to realize immediate benefits and build the foundation for future modernization and cloud-native development.