How does a platform, or service, change what we know about cloud based services? First, the word "cloud" has a bipolar effect in the crowd: either love the idea or simply avoid it.
To me, the cloud is just a mechanism to provide a range of services in a centralized way. This means that the cloud is my infrastructure layer – either in my internal server farm, hosted by external vendors, or in some form between the two.
More importantly, however, I can connect them in the right way. To do this, I will use a platform that serves as my application platform. With the PAAs solution, I can leverage existing assets, develop new applications, and deploy them to a broader cloud.
In short, a platform is a service that provides computing platforms and solutions as a service. However, it is not just a propaganda hype; it is a paradigm shift in enterprise IT activities. The reasons are as follows:
Paradigm Shift
Migrating to a platform, a service model, requires a transformation of two types of paradigms: one on technology and the other on governance. Technical changes are due to the need to learn new configuration dashboards and the changes required for networking (if you are using proprietary or hybrid clouds). However, changes in governance are broader in scope. ITIL can be the subject of discussion only after the establishment or review of governance regulations. Depending on the maturity of the enterprise, capacity management needs to be explored, and the business or IT department SLA and the internal billing model that require this core infrastructure are also directly related to the maturity of the enterprise.
Platform is the driving force of service
Traditionally, companies look at it from a cost-benefit perspective. However, enterprises often require IT departments to have a certain degree of expansion. This is because people would rather risk excess capacity than risk SLA defaults in services that focus on business. So I believe that this is a key driver of the platform-service evolution and deployment process
Other drivers of the deployment platform, the service process, are enterprises with centralized IT organizations, enterprises with a need for IT infrastructure flexibility, and businesses that want to reduce costs without risk.
Achieving a qualified platform as a service
Technology is no doubt an important part of cloud computing, but it is not the whole story. As with any it plan, you need to consider two other main pillars: processes, and more importantly, people.
I think the platform, the service, should be completely transparent to the developers of the enterprise and service. Therefore, the people who need to make adjustments for this new paradigm shift are the people in the infrastructure team. However, if you already have the necessary background knowledge, you need only minimal training.
Next steps
The implementation platform, the service, needs to achieve a cultural change across the enterprise. Only in this way, you have the opportunity to correctly handle the various problems encountered during implementation. Therefore, there is only one chance. For those who implement the platform as a service, it is essential to carry out experiments under various possible selection conditions.
If you want to get into the realm of service, you have to understand that this is a brave new world – an unfinished universe, and you will be the creator of it. Now you will be at the forefront of a change.