Abstract

This IDC study provides guidance to CIOs and their teams on developing a successful strategy in the design phase of the cloud transition strategy for taking full advantage of a diverse set of cloud options for existing and next-generation workloads. Enterprises are engaged in a continuous digital transformation process as they adapt to or drive disruptive changes in their customers and markets. Success in these digital transformation efforts depends upon the adoption of a "cloud first" mantra for enterprise IT. Cloud first isn't just about picking among a specific set of product or service delivery models such as public, private, or hybrid cloud, however. Organizations must realign their cloud selection and operations strategies based upon the use of three classes of cloud options (steady state, elastic, and local).

"The key to effectively using cloud-based IT as the driver of digital transformation depends upon moving beyond the current world of hybrid cloud solutions and developing a dynamic, diversified cloud strategy that enables the coordinated use of all cloud options to achieve specific business purposes." — Richard Villars, vice president, Datacenter and Cloud

Coverage