Description

---

Many companies claim to have "gone to the cloud," yet returns from their efforts are meager or worse. Why? Because they've defined cloud as a destination, not a capability. Using cloud as a single-vendor, one-stop destination is fiction; in practice, today's organizations use a mosaic of capabilities across several vendors. Your cloud strategy needs to follow a hybrid multicloud model, one that delivers cloud's value at destinations you choose.

This practical guide provides business leaders and C-level executives with guidance and insights across a wide range of cloud-related topics, such as distributed cloud, microservices, and other open source solutions for strengthening operations. You'll apply in-the-field best practices and lessons learned as you define your hybrid cloud strategy and drive your company's transformation strategy.

• Learn cloud fundamentals and patterns, including basic concepts and history
• Get a framework for cloud acumen phases to value-plot your cloud future
• Know which questions to ask a cloud provider before you sign
• Discover potential pitfalls for everything from the true cost of a cloud solution to adopting open source the right way

About the Author

---

Christopher D. Bienko covers the Information Management Cloud Solutions portfolio for IBM's World-Wide Technical Sales organization.Chris Backer is Business Unit Executive of IBM Z Systems Software and Hybrid Cloud Platform where he leads its global client adoption program and a set of deep subject matter experts are helping clients from all industries around the globe design and implement IT strategies that incorporate cloud capabilities. A 21-year veteran in the IT Industry, Chris has spent his career focused on helping clients increase their competitive advantage through innovative use of automation, analytics and cloud technology.Chris was previously the Business Unit Executive for IBM Watson Customer Engagement where he led Solution Engineering for IBM's Marketing and Behavioral Analytics portfolio. Under Chris's leadership he led the transition from delivering traditional on-premise capabilities to entirely SaaS based offerings to IBM clients.Chris has also led a number of Tiger Teams within IBM whose sole purpose is to bring new technology capabilities to market. His experience building and leading innovative first of a kind technology projects spans across mobile application development, IoT, connected vehicle, behavioral analytics, fraud analytics and now hybrid cloud.An avid outdoors man, Chris enjoys spending his free time exploring all that nature has to offer and when he isn't immersed in technology you will find him in a Jeep traversing trail system's that offer breath taking views and challenging obstacles along the route.Chris Konarski is a Thought Leader with 20+ years' in Technology, he is known and respected for his innovative approaches for technology sales and execution with an emphasis on helping customers unleash speed and innovation through digital transformation. Promoted throughout career for the most challenging, high-profile sales and technical leadership roles in recognition of innovation, building culture and consistency of results. He has achieved outstanding success developing new business models leveraging technology, services and solutions to help customers use technology as a competitive advantage. Chris has repeatedly demonstrated the ability to develop and lead talented teams, accelerate go-to-market capabilities, and develop modern approaches ?supporting rapid growth for world-class technology enterprise business units at IBM. His deep technical expertise and passionate leadership experience spans many areas: manufacturing, development, infrastructure, software, security, AI and Hybrid Cloud. Chris Currently Serves as Vice President of Technical Sales for IBM, where he has led the global technical sales for all the business units. Chris has an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a BSc in Chemical Engineering from New Jersey Institute of Technology. To balance his love for Tech, he is an avid outdoorsman with a passion for nature, so if you can not reach him then he is likely off the grid chasing elk or 100 miles offshore catching Tuna. Connect with Chris on LinkedIn to learn more.