The Hybrid Cloud Operating Model

[Cloud_Steve]

To put it simply, the hybrid cloud operating model (HCOM) is how organizations orchestrate people, process, and technology across their hybrid cloud formation to deliver value. As per this author, the HCOM encompasses the following elements:

• reference operating model
• functional practices
• transformation model
• enterprise capabilities
• organizational structure and design, with detailed roles and responsibilities
• governance and oversight

The HCOM reference model is comprised of four interconnected disciplines, with each playing a critical role in supporting and driving the achievement of enterprise imperatives and objectives. Those disciplines are as follows, with priority functions associated

• Strategy & Governance - drives adaptive and transformational change, establishes comprehensive operating model, and provides economic management
• People & Culture - defines organizational structure and design, established corporate culture, readies the workforce, and performs overall organizational change management
• Operations - establishes policy, standards, and process & procedure across functional practices to sustain continuous compliance and business/operational continuity via hyper automation and orchestration
• Product & Service Delivery - delivers products and services across digital channels via the compilation of redefined experiences, application & workload modernization, and experimentation 

In order for the HCOM to become a reality, it must be fueled by subject matter experts (with business, institutional, and functional knowledge) and enterprise capabilities. These enterprise capabilities come in the form of platforms and technologies, services via a well-managed service catalog, and the institution (e.g. skilled resources, process & procedure, governance, and other unique functions of an organization). The complete elaboration of enterprise capabilities is defined by the HPE Hybrid Cloud Transformation Framework (HCTF), which contains eight distinct domains:

• Strategy & Governance
• People
• Innovation
• Security
• Operations
• Applications
• DevOps
• Data

Since we have discussed the capabilities that fuel the operating model, there is one additional piece to the puzzle, and that is the group that will drive the execution and oversight of these adaptive and transformational changes. That entity is called the Hybrid Cloud Business Office (HCBO). The HCBO establishes standards-based governance, accelerates business decisions and orchestrates the people, processes and technologies required to work in concert to achieve goals, objectives, and imperatives. Among its critical functions are:

• Development of a Comprehensive Hybrid Cloud Strategy & Defensible Business Case
• Day-to-Day Oversight and Continuous Compliance
• Financial Management, including cost avoidance and reduction techniques
• Communications
• Policy & Standards
• Vendor Management

Before beginning such an endeavor, it is important to keep the following questions top of mind:

• Do you have a comprehensive strategy to lead and facilitate digital and hybrid cloud transformation?
• Does your organization have a well-defined and efficient hybrid cloud operating model that delivers value to internal and external customers?
• Do you understand your impediments and points of friction?
• Do you have a comprehensive view of your organization's capabilities, and do you have a plan for helping your business partners achieve their objectives?
• Is your executive team aligned and enrolled with your strategy and approach?
• Do you have a plan for operating in a state of continuous compliance?
• Do you have complete visibility and control over your hybrid cloud formation?
• Do you have any residual risk associated with business and operational continuity?
• Do you have the resources and talent to effectively manage your IT ecosystem?

For more information, here are some great options:

• reach out to me directly, at steven.fatigante@hpe.com
• connect with Steven Fatigante on LinkedIn
• download our latest cloud transformation guide
• visit our Cloud Consulting Services page on the HPE web site