Title

AWS re:Invent 2023 - How to find and realize real-world business value in the cloud (ENT216)

Summary

Jake Burns, an enterprise strategist at AWS, shares insights from his experience and over a thousand engagements on how to extract value from the cloud.
Burns emphasizes that cloud adoption does not automatically create value; it offers potential value that must be realized through strategic actions.
He discusses the importance of cost savings, productivity, resilience, and agility as pillars of cloud value realization.
The talk outlines a three-step approach to cost optimization: cost transparency, removing unnecessary resources, and right-sizing remaining resources.
Burns stresses the need for continuous optimization as part of cloud operations.
He highlights the importance of agility in the cloud, which allows for rapid experimentation and innovation at a lower cost of failure.
Building a high-performing cloud team, getting buy-in from employees, using outsourcing strategically, and demanding more from IT are key to unlocking cloud value.
The session concludes with the message that the cloud enables businesses to try many approaches to find the best solution, akin to digital photography's "spray and pray" method.

The cloud's real value lies not just in cost savings or eliminating data center management but in enabling businesses to innovate through rapid and cost-effective experimentation.
Cost optimization in the cloud is an ongoing process that requires transparency, accountability, and a focus on eliminating waste and right-sizing resources.
Building a motivated and skilled internal team is crucial for successful cloud adoption and transformation, more so than relying on external consultants.
Outsourcing should be used to handle mundane tasks or provide expert guidance temporarily, not to build core systems.
Training and certification, especially when combined with hands-on experience, are effective ways to upskill teams and prepare them for cloud work.
Creating a meritocratic environment where opportunities are based on skill and contribution can uncover hidden talent within an organization.
It's essential to educate non-technical teams about the cloud's capabilities and encourage them to challenge IT with new demands, ensuring that the organization fully leverages the cloud's potential for innovation.