Introduction
Cloud adoption promises agility to build innovation in your IT Infrastructure. And while this is possible, for many organisations, the reality doesn’t match the vision. Costs spiral, security concerns grow, and IT teams become overwhelmed. Why does this happen?
The answer is simple: you need a clear Cloud Operating Model (COM) to navigate successfully to your desired destination.
Life without a COM
- Costs rise as self-service provisioning gets out of control.
- Security becomes harder to maintain as the attack surface expands.
- IT teams drown in user queries instead of driving innovation.
If this sounds familiar, it’s time to rethink your approach.
What is a Cloud Operating Model?
Microsoft defines a Cloud Operating Model as:
“The collection of processes and procedures that define how you want to operate technology in the cloud.”
In other words, it’s your blueprint for managing the operational shift from on-premises IT to cloud-based systems. It covers everything from governance and security to technology management and cultural change. As one of the longest-standing Azure Expert Managed Service Providers, we’ve based our approach to Cloud Operating Models on Microsoft’s proven best practices and tools.
The Five Pillars of a Cloud Operating Model
A strong COM isn’t one-size-fits-all, but successful models share common attributes. Here are the five pillars to consider:
- 24×7 Operations
Successful transformations depend on people, not technology. When you’re in the cloud, the skills your IT teams need will change dramatically. Operations shifting to 24/7 availability amplify this further as employees need to be equipped to deal with any manor of issues at any time. - Technology and Management
Cloud adoption introduces scalability and flexibility, but also complexity. You’ll need new processes and tools for monitoring usage, managing virtual machines, and extracting insights from analytics. This will ensure your environment remains optimised and delivering maximum ROI for your business. - Strategy and Governance
Governance, security, and compliance are non-negotiable when implementing your cloud strategy. When you shift to the cloud your network parameter expands far beyond traditional firewalls, therefore, the treat landscape increases. Adopting frameworks like Zero Trust, and leveraging tools such as Microsoft Defender can help keep your data safe and controlled. - Transition and Change Adoption
Moving to the cloud successfully should be a cultural shift. Slow and mundane processes will become a thing of the past. Adoption means faster development cycles, new financial models (OpEx vs CapEx), and incorporating cloud native practices to quickly meet customer needs. However, it’s vital to manage this new pace of change effectively to be successful. - Account and Relationship Management
Ongoing optimisation and stakeholder engagement ensure your cloud services deliver value. Regular reviews and proactive relationship management help maintain alignment with evolving business priorities.
Next Steps
Ready to dive deeper?
Read the full guide to discover how to build a Cloud Operating Model tailored to your business.
