Transformation Catalysts
What's driving you to make changes?
  • CEO, CMO or CIO
    mandate to innovate
  • Customer dissatisfaction
  • Longer development
    cycle times
  • Excessive spending
  • Gridlock
  • Perception of IT as inefficient
  • Lack of agility
  • Over indexing on processes
  • Incompatible technologies
  • Security vulnerabilities
  • Employee frustration with IT systems
Plan
What are your goals?
Which needs must be addressed?
Where do you start?
  • Identify all stockholders
  • Align IT and the business
  • Evangelize your vision of IT Transformation (include TCO calculations)
  • Gain consensus on how IT will contribute to overall business strategy
  • Evaluate security needs, identify gaps and risks
  • Determine workloads, applications and IT systems to outsource
  • Develop a road map with actionable projects, established timelines and budgets
  • Determine the best order in which to outsource and/or overhaul workloads
  • Identify governance issues
  • Create a communication plan
Assess
What do you discard?
What do you keep?
What's affected?
  • Inventory and evaluate all areas of your IT, including workloads, applications, workflows, systems and data centers
  • Identify any shadow IT systems and solutions, then see if those can be replaced with efficient, authorized solutions
  • Look for areas where efficiency improvements can be made – from data center energy consumption to admin time spent on maintenance
  • Identify utilization rates – under and over
Design
Is your new solution scalable?
Is it cost-effective?
Are your platforms stable, resilient and secure?
  • Design an architecture and processes for applications and workflows
  • Identify and resolve security, hardware and network dependencies
  • Bring in outside consulting as necessary
  • Account for all new business requirements in your design
  • Research potential suppliers or partners and request proposals from them
  • Select the right suppliers for your needs
  • Negotiate terms with vendors and partners
Migrate and Manage
Ready, set, go!
Oh, and where's the finish line?
  • Pressure-test your plan, conduct a proof-of-concept migration
  • Maintain heightened security during all phases of migration
  • If necessary, re-architect apps for the cloud
  • Craft a continuity and contingency plan
  • Migrate and deploy data and applications
  • Repeat for other apps and workloads according to project plans
  • Manage the day-to-day elements of your new state with close monitoring of performance
Optimize
What is the new focus and role of IT?
How is success measured?
How will employee culture evolve?
  • IT is aligned with business goals
  • IT is focused on application performance
  • IT strategy is relevant, measurable and outcome-focused
  • New customer, cost and revenue KPIs are in place
  • IT culture engages employees
  • IT can attract, recruit and retain top talent
Navigating the World of IT Transformation
What is ITT anyway?
IT Transformation is a holistic reassessment and overhaul of information technology within your organization. It can involve changes to architecture, hardware and software, or how data is stored and accessed. It can impact workflow, business rules, automation and corporate culture. Often, the goal of IT Transformation is to move an IT department from a reactive, inflexible state to being a proactive, flexible part of the business that can respond quickly to changing business requirements.
The Transformation Continues
IT Transformation is a long journey involving many stakeholders and variables. As with most technology projects, there is no “one size fits all.” The route through the treacherous terrain of complexity and decision making should be customized for the unique needs of your organization. Expertise and the right tools for the job are essential if you want IT to reach new heights.

To learn more about how Rackspace professional services can help fuel your IT Transformation projects, visit www.rackspace.com/en-us/professional-services.
The Rackspace Difference
Wherever your IT Transformation journey begins, chances are we've already navigated that territory. To see how Rackspace expertise and experience across the world's major cloud platforms and technologies can help, visit www.rackspace.com/en-us/professional-services.
CEO, CMO or CIO mandate to innovate
Who Owns Digital Transformation? According To A New Survey, It's Not The CIO
Business units that previously operated autonomously will have to collaborate to lead organized, purposeful enterprise-wide transformation. That takes leadership, empowerment and accountability.
Read Me
Forbes.com, October 17, 2016
Excessive spending
Total Cost of Ownership Calculator
Have you ever considered how much managed hosting could save you and your bottom line? Our TCO calculator offers a quick and easy way to find out.
Try It
Perception of IT as Inefficient
Business value is key to IT success
Technology is certainly important to most companies. But IT managers have to remember that technology is not a core competency so much as a conduit to quantifiable and tangible business value.
Read Me
Mike Sisco, CEO, CIO
Lack of agility
Time and lack of understanding holding back agility
What prevents many firms from rolling out technology and practices that will give them the chance to be more flexible is a lack of understanding and fears over the time it will take.
Read Me
ComputerWeekly.com
Over indexing on processes
The Four Stages of Cloud Competence
If you are leading a cloud adoption program, it is important to understand the learning model associated with the introduction of new skills into your work environment.
Read Me
Mike Kavis, Vice President; Principal Cloud Architect, Cloud Technology Partners
Incompatible technologies
Relief for Integration Headaches
Bringing incompatible technologies together is tricky. And even after you've found a solution, small changes in other applications or your OS can produce setbacks. See how IT managers recommend solving integration challenges for the long-term.
Read Me
Neil A. Chaudhuri, GCN.com
Security vulnerabilities
The Top Five Cyber Security Vulnerabilities
Maintaining security during transformation is essential. Hackers wreak havoc on public and private organizations at a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars annually. Despite the sheer number of hacks, there are five predominant vulnerabilities you should be aware of.
Read Me
InfoSec Institute
Align IT and the business
What do we mean when we say “business-IT alignment”?
You hear lots of talk about business-IT alignment, but what does that really mean? CIO.com takes a look at the strategic plans for business and IT, and how to align them for maximum value.
Read Me
CIO.com
Evangelize your vision of IT Transformation
3 Hard Questions Every CIO Needs to Ask
The two most important reasons for building a cloud strategy should be to increase revenue and lower costs. Answering these three questions will help ensure that your cloud transition enables both outcomes.
Read Me
Cloud Technology Partners
Gain consensus on how IT will contribute to strategy
The Cloud Adoption Blueprint: 10 Best Practices for Success
Your cloud program is the single most significant technology shift your company will face over the next decade. Follow these 10 best practices to help get you there.
Read Me
Cloud Technology Partners
Determine workloads, applications and IT systems to outsource
Is Your Workload Cloud-Ready? Ask These 3 Questions
It's rare that an application or data can go straight to the cloud. To take advantage of the cloud-native features that can help deliver the most ROI, you first need to modify or refactor your apps and data.
Read Me
David Linthicum, SVP, Cloud Technology Partners
Inventory and evaluate all areas of IT
Getting Started with the Cloud
To help with prioritization, create a master list of all workloads, applications, workflows, systems and data centers.
Read Me
Rackspace Support Network
Identify any shadow IT systems
Bringing Shadow IT into the Light
As the cloud shifts control into the hands of the non-technical business user, he or she may go around an overburdened IT department to get what they need. Learn how to identify shadow IT, then replace it with efficient, authorized solutions.
Read Me
Rackspace.com
Identify and resolve security, hardware and network dependencies
Mapping the Technical Dependencies of Information Assets
Mapping information assets to your technical dependencies will help you maintain continuity throughout IT Transformation. Many organizations find this step is easier to navigate with help from outside parties.
Read Me
The National Archives, U.K.
Negotiate terms
Forrester: Tips for software contract negotiation
The best negotiations start before you even know what you want to buy, according to Forrester. This four-step primer on contract negotiation will help you arrive at the table with the tools you need for success.
Read Me
ComputerWeekly.com
Pressure-test your plan, conduct a proof-of-concept migration.
Six Tips for Choosing a Cloud Proof-of-Concept Application
If you're a cloud beginner, you may be wondering just how to take your first steps out of the data center. Learn which applications to start with, how to learn from your first deployment, how to test and how to measure success.
Read Me
Rightscale.com
Craft a continuity and contingency plan
Take Business Continuity to the Cloud
Planning for business continuity and disaster recovery is a big part of IT Transformation. The cloud allows you to quickly back up data, applications and operating systems.
Read Me
CIO.com
Migrate and deploy data and applications
The Right Way to Migrate to the Cloud
Migration involves many details and decisions, along with many paths through which to move applications to the cloud. Find the best paths for database-intensive, compute-intensive and user interface-intensive workloads.
Read Me
David Linthicum, SVP, Cloud Technology Partners
IT strategy is relevant, measurable and outcome-focused
Savings Are Only the Start of the Cloud's Value
The lower costs of cloud computing versus on-premises systems seem to be the focus of enterprises. But many enterprises find there is much more value to be found in the cloud than cost savings alone.
Read Me
David Linthicum, SVP, Cloud Technology Partners
New customer, cost and revenue KPIs are in place
20 Ways to Measure the Success of Your Growing Cloud Investment
While the cloud helps you do more with less, it's important to know how much more you're doing — and for how much less. This means IT has to objectively quantify the value of the cloud.
Read Me
CIO.com
IT culture engages employees
Culture and engagement: The naked organization
In an era of heightened corporate transparency, greater workforce mobility and severe skills shortages, culture, engagement, and retention have emerged as top issues for business leaders. These issues are not simply an HR problem.
Read Me
Deloitte
IT can attract, recruit and retain top talent
How CIOs Need to Think About Top Talent
Top talent has new power and new expectations. Those who view the hiring process as a transaction have to understand that it's just one of many stages of engagement expected by an employee.
Read Me
Gartner
Transformation Catalysts
What's driving you to make changes?
 
CEO, CMO or CIO
mandate to innovate
Learn More
Customer dissatisfaction
Longer development cycle times
Excessive spending
Learn More
Gridlock
Perception of IT as inefficient
Learn More
Lack of agility
Learn More
Over indexing on processes
Learn More
Incompatible technologies
Learn More
Security vulnerabilities
Learn More
Employee frustration with IT systems
 
Plan
What are your goals?
Which needs must be addressed?
Where do you start?
 
Identify all stockholders
Align IT and the business
Learn More
Evangelize your vision of IT Transformation (include TCO calculations)
Learn More
Gain consensus on how IT will contribute to overall business strategy
Learn More
Evaluate security needs, identify gaps and risks
Determine workloads, applications and IT systems to outsource
Learn More
Develop a road map with actionable projects, established timelines and budgets
Determine the best order in which to outsource and/or overhaul workloads
Identify governance issues
Create a communication plan
 
Assess
What do you discard?
What do you keep?
What's affected?
 
Inventory and evaluate all areas of your IT, including workloads, applications, workflows, systems and data centers
Learn More
Identify any shadow IT systems and solutions, then see if those can be replaced with efficient, authorized solutions
Learn More
Look for areas where efficiency improvements can be made – from data center energy consumption to admin time spent on maintenance
Identify utilization rates – under and over
 
Design
Is your new solution scalable?
Is it cost-effective?
Are your platforms stable, resilient and secure?
 
Design an architecture and processes for applications and workflows
Identify and resolve security, hardware and network dependencies
Learn More
Bring in outside consulting as necessary
Account for all new business requirements in your design
Research potential suppliers or partners and request proposals from them
Select the right suppliers for your needs
Negotiate terms with vendors and partners
Learn More
 
Migrate and Manage
Ready, set, go!
Oh, and where's the finish line?
 
Pressure-test your plan, conduct a proof-of-concept migration
Learn More
Maintain heightened security during all phases of migration
If necessary, re-architect apps for the cloud
Craft a continuity and contingency plan
Learn More
Migrate and deploy data and applications
Learn More
Repeat for other apps and workloads according to project plans
Manage the day-to-day elements of your new state with close monitoring of performance
 
Optimize
What is the new focus and role of IT?
How is success measured?
How will employee culture evolve?
 
IT is aligned with business goals
IT is focused on application performance
IT strategy is relevant, measurable and outcome-focused
Learn More
New customer, cost and revenue KPIs are in place
Learn More
IT culture engages employees
Learn More
IT can attract, recruit and retain top talent
Learn More
 
Navigating the World of IT Transformation
What is ITT anyway?
IT Transformation is a holistic reassessment and overhaul of information technology within your org. It can involve changes to architecture, hardware and software, or how data is stored and accessed. It can impact workflow, business rules, automation and corporate culture. Often, the goal of IT Transformation is to move an IT department from a reactive, inflexible state to being a proactive, flexible part of the business that can respond quickly to changing business requirements.
The Transformation Continues
IT Transformation is a long journey involving many stakeholders and variables. As with most technology projects, there is no “one size fits all.” The route through the treacherous terrain of complexity and decision making should be customized for the unique needs of your organization. Expertise and the right tools for the job are essential if you want IT to reach new heights.

To learn more about how Rackspace professional services can help fuel your IT Transformation projects, visit www.rackspace.com/en-us/professional-services.
The Rackspace Difference
Wherever your IT Transformation journey begins, chances are we've already navigated that territory. To see how Rackspace expertise and experience across the world's major cloud platforms and technologies can help, visit www.rackspace.com/en-us/professional-services.
CEO, CMO or CIO mandate to innovate
Who Owns Digital Transformation? According To A New Survey, It's Not The CIO
Business units that previously operated autonomously will have to collaborate to lead organized, purposeful enterprise-wide transformation. That takes leadership, empowerment and accountability.
Read Me
Forbes.com, October 17, 2016
Excessive spending
Total Cost of Ownership Calculator
Have you ever considered how much managed hosting could save you and your bottom line? Our TCO calculator offers a quick and easy way to find out.
Try It
Perception of IT as Inefficient
Business value is key to IT success
Technology is certainly important to most companies. But IT managers have to remember that technology is not a core competency so much as a conduit to quantifiable and tangible business value.
Read Me
Mike Sisco, CEO, CIO
Lack of agility
Time and lack of understanding holding back agility
What prevents many firms from rolling out technology and practices that will give them the chance to be more flexible is a lack of understanding and fears over the time it will take.
Read Me
ComputerWeekly.com
Over indexing on processes
The Four Stages of Cloud Competence
If you are leading a cloud adoption program, it is important to understand the learning model associated with the introduction of new skills into your work environment.
Read Me
Mike Kavis, Vice President; Principal Cloud Architect, Cloud Technology Partners
Incompatible technologies
Relief for Integration Headaches
Bringing incompatible technologies together is tricky. And even after you've found a solution, small changes in other applications or your OS can produce setbacks. See how IT managers recommend solving address solving integration challenges for the long-term.
Read Me
Neil A. Chaudhuri, GCN.com
Security vulnerabilities
The Top Five Cyber Security Vulnerabilities
Maintaining security during transformation is essential. Hackers wreak havoc on public and private organizations at a cost hundreds of billions of dollars annually. Despite the sheer number of hacks, there are five predominant vulnerabilities you should be aware of.
Read Me
InfoSec Institute
Align IT and the business
What do we mean when we say “business-IT alignment”?
You hear lots of talk about business-IT alignment, but what does that really mean? CIO.com takes a look at the strategic plans for business and IT, and how to align them for maximum value.
Read Me
CIO.com
Evangelize your vision of IT Transformation
3 Hard Questions Every CIO Needs to Ask
The two most important reasons for building a cloud strategy should be to increase revenue and lower costs. Answering these three questions will help ensure that your cloud transition enables both outcomes.
Read Me
Cloud Technology Partners
Gain consensus on how IT will contribute to strategy
The Cloud Adoption Blueprint: 10 Best Practices for Success
Your cloud program is the single most significant technology shift your company will face over the next decade. Follow these 10 best practices to help get you there.
Read Me
Cloud Technology Partners
Determine workloads, applications and IT systems to outsource
Is Your Workload Cloud-Ready? Ask These 3 Questions
It's rare that an application or data can go straight to the cloud. To take advantage of the cloud-native features that can help deliver the most ROI, you first need to modify or refactor your apps and data.
Read Me
David Linthicum, SVP, Cloud Technology Partners
Inventory and evaluate all areas of IT
Getting Started with the Cloud
To help with prioritization, create a master list of all workloads, applications, workflows, systems and data centers.
Read Me
Rackspace Support Network
Identify any shadow IT systems
Bringing Shadow IT into the Light
As the cloud shifts control into the hands of the non-technical business user, he or she may go around an overburdened IT department to get what they need. Learn how to identify shadow IT, then replace it with efficient, authorized solutions.
Read Me
Rackspace.com
Identify and resolve security, hardware and network dependencies
Mapping the Technical Dependencies of Information Assets
Mapping information assets to your technical dependencies will help you maintain continuity throughout IT Transformation. Many organizations find this step is easier to navigate with help from outside parties.
Read Me
The National Archives, U.K.
Negotiate terms
Forrester: Tips for software contract negotiation
The best negotiations start before you even know what you want to buy, according to Forrester. This four-step primer on contract negotiation will help you arrive at the table with the tools you need for success.
Read Me
ComputerWeekly.com
Pressure-test your plan, conduct a proof-of-concept migration.
Six Tips for Choosing a Cloud Proof-of-Concept Application
If you're a cloud beginner, you may be wondering just how to take your first steps out of the data center. Learn which applications to start with, how to learn from your first deployment, how to test and how to measure success.
Read Me
Rightscale.com
Craft a continuity and contingency plan
Take Business Continuity to the Cloud
Planning for business continuity and disaster recovery is a big part of IT Transformation. The cloud allows you to quickly back up data, applications and operating systems.
Read Me
CIO.com
Migrate and deploy data and applications
The Right Way to Migrate to the Cloud
Migration involves many details and decisions, along with many paths through which to move applications to the cloud. Find the best paths for database-intensive, compute-intensive and user interface-intensive workloads.
Read Me
David Linthicum, SVP, Cloud Technology Partners
IT strategy is relevant, measurable and outcome-focused
Savings Are Only the Start of the Cloud's Value
The lower costs of cloud computing versus on-premises systems seem to be the focus of enterprises. But many enterprises find there is much more value to be found in the cloud than cost savings alone.
Read Me
David Linthicum, SVP, Cloud Technology Partners
New customer, cost and revenue KPIs are in place
20 Ways to Measure the Success of Your Growing Cloud Investment
While the cloud helps you do more with less, it's important to know how much more you're doing — and for how much less. This means IT has to objectively quantify the value of the cloud.
Read Me
CIO.com
IT culture engages employees
Culture and engagement: The naked organization
In an era of heightened corporate transparency, greater workforce mobility and severe skills shortages, culture, engagement, and retention have emerged as top issues for business leaders. These issues are not simply an HR problem.
Read Me
Deloitte
IT can attract, recruit and retain top talent
How CIOs Need to Think About Top Talent
Top talent has new power and new expectations. Those who view the hiring process as a transaction have to understand that it's just one of many stages of engagement expected by an employee.
Read Me
Gartner