Choose a Public Cloud Infrastructure-as-a-Service Partner

Outsourcing part of your IT infrastructure is inevitable. The question is no longer about whether to outsource, but when to outsource.
IT infrastructure outsourcing options are plentiful and growing. There are more options to outsource to the cloud than ever before, including a suitable solution for every organization.

Our Advice

Critical Insight

Time your public cloud IaaS project to the infrastructure hardware refresh cycle. Don’t throw away perfectly good servers just to move to the cloud.
Don’t blindly implement public cloud IaaS just to save money, and at the cost of performance.
Hybrid services are hot. Providers are differentiating themselves through managed cloud services and multi-service hybrid offerings.

Impact and Result

Assess cost and strategic fit when determining deployment decisions.
Treat your cloud vendor as a partner – collaboration works much better than penalties do.
Consider both current and future requirements when selecting a public cloud IaaS solution and build them into your contract.

Choose a Public Cloud Infrastructure-as-a-Service Partner Research & Tools

Start here – read the Executive Brief

Read our concise Executive Brief to find out how to choose the right public cloud IaaS partner, review Info-Tech’s methodology, and discover the four ways we can support you in completing this project.

Choose a Public Cloud Infrastructure-as-a-Service Partner – Executive Brief

1. Launch the public cloud IaaS project and collect requirements

Develop a project plan to launch the public cloud IaaS project.

2. Select a public cloud IaaS solution

Select the best-fit public cloud vendor based on the requirements and criteria.

3. Plan the public cloud IaaS implementation

Transform the public cloud plan into an implementable project.

About Info-Tech

Info-Tech Research Group is the world’s fastest-growing information technology research and advisory company, proudly serving over 30,000 IT professionals.

We produce unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. We partner closely with IT teams to provide everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.

What Is a Blueprint?

A blueprint is designed to be a roadmap, containing a methodology and the tools and templates you need to solve your IT problems.

Each blueprint can be accompanied by a Guided Implementation that provides you access to our world-class analysts to help you get through the project.

Table of Contents

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Guided Implementation 1: Launch the public cloud IaaS project and collect requirements

Call 1: Identify organizational fit and deployment with public cloud IaaS.
Call 2: Create the project plan.
Call 3: Gather requirements and metrics.

Guided Implementation 2: Select your public cloud IaaS solution

Call 1: Discuss and complete the IaaS vendor assessment.
Call 2: Complete the IaaS RFP template.
Call 3: Conduct contract review.

Guided Implementation 3: Plan your public cloud IaaS implementation

Call 1: Create an implementation plan and roadmap.
Call 2: Discuss rollout of processes and hand over to Operations.
Call 3: Review your exit strategy and communication plan.

Authors

John Sloan

Michael Battista

Michael Rosehart

Contributors

Tom Baker, Manager of Architecture & Research, NZ Department of Corrections
Glenn Burnside, Executive VP, Headspring
Brian Doyle, Infrastructure Architect, Gen Worth
Scott Clark, Vice President, Innovation Credit Union Limited
David Schwindt, Manager IM/IT, Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
Terry Honeycutt, MIS Director, Pueblo of Isleta Government Programs
Bart Veldhuis, Cloud Consultant, Weolcan
Peter Joseph, Cloud Architect & Independent Consultant
Brian Pokojoy, Associate Director, University of Calgary
Rick van der Mieden, Infrastructure and Cloud Architect, Resonate IT
Paul Baran and Craig Bates, Director Business Systems, Allegheny Technologies Inc.
Shlomi Fanan, Head of Cloud Computing, WE Ankor
Bala Dengale, Cloud Architect
Nick Korte, Infrastructure Administrator, Organic Valley
Kevin Vigil, Director of Information Technology, Southwest Care Center

Additional interviews were conducted but due to privacy and confidentiality requirements, they are not listed.