Cloud Computing and Digital Transformation for Managers

Course overview

Course outline

1. 1Day 1: Cloud Computing Strategy and Business Value

   • Understanding cloud computing and its role in enterprise digital transformation
   • Comparing Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS)
   • Evaluating public, private, hybrid, and multi-cloud deployment approaches
   • Understanding the business capabilities of Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Google Cloud
   • Connecting cloud adoption with agility, scalability, resilience, innovation, and customer experience
   • Practical exercise: Identifying business capabilities and processes that could benefit from cloud-enabled transformation
2. 2Day 2: Cloud Migration, Application Modernization and Business Cases

   • Assessing existing applications, infrastructure, data, dependencies, and business criticality before migration
   • Evaluating migration approaches including rehosting, replatforming, refactoring, repurchasing, retaining, and retiring workloads
   • Prioritizing cloud initiatives according to business value, complexity, risk, and strategic importance
   • Developing cloud business cases covering investment requirements, operating costs, benefits, risks, and expected outcomes
   • Understanding modernization approaches involving cloud-native applications, APIs, containers, serverless services, and managed platforms from a management perspective
   • Case study: Evaluating an application portfolio and developing a prioritized cloud migration and modernization plan
3. 3Day 3: Cloud Economics, Governance, Security and Operational Risk

   • Comparing capital expenditure and operating expenditure considerations in cloud investment decisions
   • Understanding cloud consumption, pricing models, budgeting, cost allocation, and financial accountability
   • Applying FinOps principles to improve collaboration between technology, finance, and business teams
   • Understanding cloud security responsibilities, identity and access management, data protection, and the shared responsibility model
   • Managing resilience, business continuity, vendor dependency, service availability, and cloud-related operational risks
   • Workshop: Reviewing a cloud programme from financial, security, governance, and business risk perspectives
4. 4Day 4: Cloud-Enabled Data, AI and Digital Business Transformation

   • Connecting cloud platforms with enterprise data, analytics, business intelligence, and digital decision-making
   • Understanding how cloud infrastructure supports artificial intelligence, generative AI, machine learning, and automation initiatives
   • Modernizing business processes through cloud applications, integration, APIs, and workflow automation
   • Using cloud capabilities to support digital products, customer platforms, remote collaboration, and scalable services
   • Aligning technology modernization with business architecture, customer journeys, and organizational priorities
   • Practical scenario: Designing a cloud-enabled transformation initiative combining data, AI, automation, and process improvement
5. 5Day 5: Leading Cloud Adoption and Building the Digital Transformation Roadmap

   • Establishing cloud governance structures, decision rights, accountability, policies, and management oversight
   • Identifying organizational capabilities, skills, roles, and operating model changes required for cloud adoption
   • Managing stakeholder expectations, resistance, communication, and adoption during digital transformation
   • Defining cloud and transformation KPIs covering cost, speed, resilience, adoption, customer value, and operational performance
   • Prioritizing initiatives and developing phased implementation plans based on business value, dependencies, resources, and risk
   • Capstone exercise: Developing and presenting a Cloud Computing and Digital Transformation Roadmap with strategic priorities, investment considerations, governance controls, and measurable business outcomes