What is a Cloud Evangelist? Are they a Cloud Myth?

The Cloud Evangelist – An Introduction

A Cloud Myth? Cloud Evangelists and enterprise cloud architects have two skills critical for businesses today. Evangelists promote cloud computing benefits, and enterprise cloud architects design and build cloud-based solutions that meet an organization’s needs. Finding IT experts with both skillsets can be challenging to say the least. This article explores the importance of these skills, the challenges of finding individuals with both, and strategies for developing them. We finish with a discussion on how to develop these skillsets to remain competitive in the digital landscape.

In this article we cover:

1. Cloud Myth – Cloud Architecture and Cloud Evangelism
2. Solution Architects & Evangelists
3. How is Cloud Enterprise Architecture Different from Technical Architecture?
4. The Cloud Myth – the Cloud Architect & Evangelist – the Power of Two Masteries
5. The Exciting Journey to Become a Unicorn
6. Where to Find (or Build Your Own) Cloud Evangelist and What to Do With Them?

Cloud Myth – Cloud Architecture and Cloud Evangelism

Cloud computing is crucial in today’s digital landscape. Businesses need both public cloud evangelism and cloud enterprise architecture skills to reap the benefits of cloud services. Public Cloud Evangelists advocate cloud benefits to businesses – helping to drive change and adoption. This skillset helps organizations understand how cloud services can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance operations. Sometimes these are also called “Cloud Champions” or “Cloud Advocates.”

Cloud Enterprise Architects focus on designing and implementing cloud solutions aligned with a company’s strategy. They consider the unique needs of a business and develop solutions that maximize cloud benefits. In a complex cloud environment, individuals with this skillset help businesses navigate challenges such as security, compliance, and governance.

Having individuals with both these skillsets on a team is a powerful benefit for organizations, however, they are rare to find – and are quite hard to find available. Are they a Cloud Myth? This article explores the importance of these skillsets, their impact on businesses, and how to develop them. Prioritizing the development of these skillsets can help businesses remain competitive in the digital landscape.

Solution Architects & Evangelists

Public cloud evangelism is critical for businesses adopting cloud services. Cloud Evangelists help businesses understand how cloud services can benefit their operations – benefits that extend well beyond initial adoption. Cloud Evangelists also help businesses stay up to date with the latest cloud technologies, security measures, and governance policies.

Moreover, public cloud evangelism promotes a culture of innovation and change within organizations. Individuals with this skillset identify areas where cloud services can drive operational improvements and cost savings. Ongoing, they help organizations leverage new cloud services and features as they become available.

Public Cloud Evangelists also help businesses build stronger relationships with their cloud service providers. When businesses understand the benefits of cloud services, they can work with their providers to develop better solutions. This creates a win-win situation where businesses benefit from cloud services while platforms increase customer satisfaction. The primary purpose for Cloud Evangelists is to drive maximum value from their cloud platforms through a combination of increased capability and reducing costs.

Cloud Evangelists generally start in technical engineering/architecture and with sales, business development, management, or marketing. They may be architects helping sell technical services and solutions or they may be leaders with an interest in technology solutions. The result is someone who can both architect a solution and pitch it – all while championing the cause of cloud. They are masters of solution architecture with business acumen, a touch of executive presence and the confidence and compelling communications skills to back it up.

How is Cloud Enterprise Architecture Different from Technical Architecture?

Cloud enterprise architecture plays a crucial role in the successful adoption and integration of cloud services into a business’s operations. It involves taking a comprehensive approach to cloud adoption, considering the unique needs of a business, and developing solutions that maximize the benefits of cloud services.

Individuals with cloud enterprise architecture skills can help businesses evaluate their existing IT infrastructure and determine which systems can be migrated to the cloud. They can also identify opportunities for developing cloud-native applications that can improve efficiency, agility, and innovation. By considering a business’s overall strategy and goals, Cloud Enterprise Architects lead the development of cloud solutions that align with these objectives.

Furthermore, cloud enterprise architecture plays a vital role in ensuring that cloud solutions are secure, compliant, and well-governed. By leading the development of cloud solutions that adhere to regulatory requirements and industry best practices, Cloud Enterprise Architects can help businesses avoid potential risks and vulnerabilities. They can also ensure that cloud solutions integrate with existing systems and processes, minimizing disruption to ongoing operations.

Traditional technical architects generally concern themselves more with the design and implementation of specific systems or applications rather than overall integration. And technical cloud architects are often laser focused on particular systems or services within a particular cloud platform. Cloud platforms offer an incredible number of services and it’s impossible to master them all deeply. Cloud Enterprise Architects often arise out of the ranks of technical architects, however.

The Cloud Myth – the Cloud Architect & Evangelist – the Power of Two Masteries

Individuals with both public cloud evangelism and cloud enterprise architecture skills are a rarity in the job market. It is challenging to find individuals with expertise in both areas as they require different skillsets, experience, and knowledge. Public Cloud Evangelists typically have experience in sales, marketing, or business operations, while cloud enterprise architects come from a high-end technical background.

Businesses looking for individuals with both skillsets face significant challenges. They often are forced to create a team that brings together multiple individuals with complementary skillsets. Finding the right mix of cloud technical expertise and leadership can be expensive and time-consuming, making it difficult for businesses to scale their cloud adoption efforts.

However, businesses that invest in the development of these skillsets reap significant benefits. Individuals with both skillsets can help businesses develop and execute cloud strategies that drive significant value for their organization. Together, they help businesses navigate the complexities of cloud adoption, identify opportunities for innovation and operational improvements, and ensure that cloud solutions are secure, compliant, and well-governed. And they demand a significant compensation premium – making them both hard to catch and keep.

The Exciting Journey to Become a Unicorn

Developing both public cloud evangelism and cloud enterprise architecture skills requires a rare combination of training, education, and hands-on experience. On the technical side, individuals looking to develop these skills can start by pursuing relevant certifications, such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect, Azure Solutions Architect Expert, or Google Cloud Certified – Professional Cloud Architect. They can also participate in workshops, attend conferences, and network with industry experts to gain knowledge and insights into the latest trends and practices in cloud adoption.

They should further develop their technical skills by gaining hands-on experience working with cloud services. This can include building and deploying cloud-native environments and applications, migrating existing applications to the cloud, and developing solutions that leverage advanced cloud services such as AI and machine learning. Hands-on experience can help individuals gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities of cloud adoption and develop the technical skills required to design and implement cloud solutions.

Technical development is only half the story, however. Development for an evangelist should also include professional development at conferences. delivering presentations, facilitating events like CIO roundtables, negotiating and writing contracts, and participating in presales solutioning activities. Often, some amount of team leadership of management experience is useful as well as an entrepreneurial mindset. The most critical skill for the evangelist, however, is communication – both written and spoken. They differentiate themselves from technical architects in their ability to negotiate and convince their audience of the benefits of cloud platforms and drive real adoption and consumption – not just initial adoption, but continuing, long-term, transformative adoption.

The road to becoming a true Cloud Enterprise Architect & Evangelist is not short and anyone claiming the title before mid-career likely doesn’t have all the skills and experience required yet. It will take some time, but by investing in the development of these two skillsets, businesses can create a culture of innovation and change, attract top talent, and stay ahead of the curve in cloud adoption.

Where to Find (or Build Your Own) Cloud Evangelist and What to Do With Them?

To find or build your own cloud enterprise architecture evangelist, start by looking for individuals with a technical background who also possess excellent communication and collaboration skills. These individuals should be able to bridge the gap between technical and business stakeholders and be able to articulate the benefits and challenges of cloud adoption. If you can’t find or afford someone with the full skillset, consider building a team with complementary skills that can work together to develop and execute a cloud strategy that aligns with your business objectives.

Once you’ve found or built your Cloud Enterprise Architect & Evangelist, it’s essential to ensure they have the support and resources they need to be successful. You’ll want to create a culture of innovation and experimentation and empower them to make decisions and drive change. Executive support for the Cloud Enterprise Architect & Evangelist is critical – with that support, a Cloud Enterprise Architect & Evangelist can be a powerful asset in helping your business achieve its cloud adoption goals and stay ahead of the competition. Without that support, they will be ineffective at best, and likely will move on to greener pastures sooner than later.

Conclusion

In conclusion, public cloud evangelism and cloud enterprise architecture are critical skillsets for businesses looking to adopt cloud services successfully. Individuals with both skillsets can help businesses develop and execute cloud strategies that are aligned with their overall objectives, navigate the complexities of cloud adoption, and ensure that cloud solutions are secure, compliant, and well-governed. While finding individuals with both skillsets can be challenging, investing in the development of these skillsets can pay significant dividends for businesses looking to stay ahead of the curve in cloud adoption.