All you need to know about AWS Cloud Adoption Framework — People

Hi, welcome to my next story — great to have you here again! Today I’m going to explain how to effectively prepare your team for a migration to cloud computing. Today’s business environment often suggests adopting a cloud-based model as a major driver of organizational efficiency. However, for a cloud migration to be fully successful, an organization needs to understand not only its current state, but also the intended outcome of the cloud migration project and how to transition from the current state to cloud adoption. To this end, the AWS Cloud Adoption Framework (AWS CAF) developed by Amazon Web Services was created to help organizations develop and execute effective plans to ensure that their cloud adoption journey is successful. We distinguish, among other things, the People perspective, which I will tell more about now, also based on my own experience.

The People perspective is about aligning an organization’s people management policies and frameworks, such as people development, training, communication and change management, with modern, optimized processes and policies designed to facilitate a successful migration to the cloud. It highlights the human resource skills, procedures and policies required to increase value and reduce migration risks.

In fact, People Perspective activities include HR managers, HR departments and hiring units. Secondly, the principles of the People perspective include:

1. Career management

Career management under the AWS CAF is described as identifying, acquiring and maintaining the required skills for cloud migration, as well as the current operating model after the successful completion of the migration project.

2. Organizational change management

We need to realize that at some point every organization will undergo change in order to stay in business and scale up. Change is a natural part of the organizational business model. However, change is often met with resistance or misunderstanding from current employees. Therefore, to ensure that change remains positive, organizational change management is key, especially in the cloud adoption process.

3. Training management

It is important to remember that the company’s employees in this case need training to fulfill their specific roles in the cloud computing environment. Completing courses and having employees obtain the appropriate certifications gives them the ability to work with the latest solutions used in the cloud.

4. Resource management

The journey of migrating to the cloud and using technology post-migration also requires new skill sets and new employees. Resource management helps companies understand and anticipate what new personnel and new skills are needed for a successful migration to the cloud.

5. Incentive management

Incentive management under AWS CAF is really about implementing an incentive program to attract and retain the talent needed to manage, maintain and operate a cloud-based architecture.

In conclusion, in my story I focused on the people perspective, which is integral to organizational and operational success. I know from experience that if a company does not implement specific people management policies, success in cloud adoption can be significantly hampered. That’s why I strongly recommend you implement AWS CAF’s People perspective as an integral part of a successful migration. My next stories will be about other AWS CAF Perspectives so… stay tuned! ;)