Learn how to implement cloud computing standards in your organization. Follow these steps to assess your needs, research the standards, evaluate the providers, and more.

When researching cloud computing standards, focus not only on the content of the standards but also on their adoption and industry recognition. Look for standards that are widely accepted and supported by reputable organizations, as they are more likely to ensure interoperability and long-term compliance in your cloud implementations. For example, the NIST Special Publication 800-53, which provides security and privacy controls for federal information systems and organizations, has gained widespread adoption in both government and private sector cloud environments. This level of recognition makes it a valuable reference point when implementing security standards in cloud computing, as it reflects industry consensus and best practices.

How do you implement cloud computing standards?

Cloud computing standards are guidelines and specifications that ensure interoperability, security, and quality of service among different cloud providers, platforms, and services. They also help cloud users and developers to adopt best practices and avoid vendor lock-in. Implementing cloud computing standards can be challenging, but it can also bring many benefits to your organization. Here are some steps you can follow to implement cloud computing standards effectively.

1 Assess your needs

The first step is to assess your current and future needs for cloud computing. What are your goals, challenges, and requirements for cloud services? How do you plan to use cloud resources, such as storage, compute, network, and applications? What are your expectations for performance, availability, reliability, scalability, and security? How do you measure and monitor your cloud usage and costs? These questions will help you identify the gaps and opportunities for improvement in your cloud strategy.

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Nick Kaplan

DevOps Lead at Fullpath
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Before diving into cloud adoption, thorough needs assessment is imperative. While it's tempting to go all-in on cloud-native technologies like Kubernetes, it's crucial to identify whether a hybrid or multi-cloud strategy is more in line with organizational goals. Cost-optimization starts here—understand your application's latency, data sovereignty, and scalability requirements. Don't overlook monitoring and observability—they are as essential as performance and security.

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2 Research the standards

The next step is to research the existing and emerging standards for cloud computing. Organizations such as ISO, NIST, IEEE, CSA, and OASIS develop and publish cloud standards that are pertinent to your cloud needs and scenarios. For instance, ISO/IEC 17788:2014 defines the basic concepts and terminology for cloud computing; ISO/IEC 27017:2015 provides guidance on information security aspects; NIST SP 800-145 describes essential characteristics, service models, and deployment models; IEEE 2301-2010 specifies a framework for interoperability among cloud services; and CSA Cloud Controls Matrix outlines best practices and controls for cloud security. It is important to be aware of these standards, as well as their updates and revisions that may occur over time.

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Deep Dave

Technology Consultant | Digital Strategy | Business Transformation | I help businesses save $1M annually by improving operational efficiency with tailored Industry 4.0 solutions and Digital Transformation strategies.
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When researching cloud computing standards, focus not only on the content of the standards but also on their adoption and industry recognition. Look for standards that are widely accepted and supported by reputable organizations, as they are more likely to ensure interoperability and long-term compliance in your cloud implementations. For example, the NIST Special Publication 800-53, which provides security and privacy controls for federal information systems and organizations, has gained widespread adoption in both government and private sector cloud environments. This level of recognition makes it a valuable reference point when implementing security standards in cloud computing, as it reflects industry consensus and best practices.

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3 Evaluate the providers

The third step is to evaluate the cloud providers that offer the services and solutions you need. You should compare their features, capabilities, pricing, and compliance with the standards you have researched. You should also check their reputation, customer reviews, and support options. You should look for providers that are transparent, consistent, and accountable for their cloud offerings. You should also consider the compatibility and integration of their services with your existing systems and applications.

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Nick Kaplan

DevOps Lead at Fullpath
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Selecting the right cloud provider is not merely a checkbox activity. Take into account not just the compute and storage offerings but also network latency, which can be critical for geographically distributed applications. Assess providers based on the richness of their ecosystem; can they offer managed Kubernetes, CI/CD solutions, and FinOps services? Don't underestimate the 'ease-of-exit' strategy. No one wants to be entangled in a complicated, costly migration down the line.

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4 Implement the standards

The fourth step is to implement the standards in your cloud environment. You should follow the guidelines and specifications of the standards when designing, developing, deploying, and managing your cloud resources and applications. You should also use the tools and methods provided by the standards to test, verify, and validate your cloud implementation. You should document and communicate your cloud policies and procedures based on the standards. You should also train and educate your staff and stakeholders on the standards and their benefits.

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Nick Kaplan

DevOps Lead at Fullpath
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Standardizing your cloud setup goes beyond adhering to compliance requirements. It includes leveraging Infrastructure as Code (IaC) for repeatability, ensuring that security controls are automated, and adopting a GitOps methodology for robust versioning and rollback. Remember, the more granular your implementation, the higher the initial setup costs; but it often pays off in long-term maintainability. Always look for community-supported tools and libraries for validation; they are generally more robust and vetted.

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5 Monitor and improve

The final step is to monitor and improve your cloud implementation based on the standards. You should collect and analyze data on your cloud performance, quality, security, and costs. You should use the metrics and indicators defined by the standards to measure and report on your cloud outcomes. You should also identify and address any issues, risks, or gaps in your cloud implementation. You should continuously review and update your cloud standards and practices to align with the changing needs and expectations of your organization and customers.

Implementing cloud computing standards can help you achieve your cloud goals and optimize your cloud experience. By following these steps, you can adopt and apply the standards that suit your cloud needs and scenarios. You can also benefit from the best practices and recommendations of the standards organizations and the cloud community.

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Nick Kaplan

DevOps Lead at Fullpath
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Continuous improvement is the name of the game. Implement robust logging and alerting mechanisms from day one; don't wait for an incident to happen. Reliability isn't just about uptime; it's also about performance predictability. Metric-based decision-making can be a double-edged sword; while it provides insights, it can also lead to ‘analysis paralysis’ if not clearly aligned with business objectives. Keep iterating based on measurable outcomes but remember, the most critical cloud performance metric is customer satisfaction.

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6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How do you implement cloud computing standards?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Assess your needs

2 Research the standards

3 Evaluate the providers

4 Implement the standards

5 Monitor and improve

6 Here’s what else to consider

Cloud Computing

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How do you implement cloud computing standards?

1

2

3

4

5

6

1 Assess your needs

2 Research the standards

3 Evaluate the providers

4 Implement the standards

5 Monitor and improve

6 Here’s what else to consider

Cloud Computing

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