How AWS Partners Can Conduct an Effective Cloud Readiness Assessment for Customers

Migrating workloads to the cloud represents a significant transformation that necessitates meticulous planning, expertise, and a deep understanding of an organization’s preparedness. AWS Partners have various options for executing a cloud readiness consulting assessment for their clients:

Those who prefer to have AWS conduct the assessment can collaborate with AWS migration solutions architects who will facilitate the workshop.
Partners wanting to lead the workshop independently can utilize the Migration Readiness Assessment (MRA), with all necessary resources and tools available through AWS Partner Central (login required).

For AWS Partners, conducting a cloud readiness assessment serves as a cornerstone in guiding customers through their cloud migration journey. However, undertaking an assessment without a systematic approach can result in incomplete findings and missed opportunities. This article provides a comprehensive checklist of recommended activities that AWS Partners can follow when carrying out a cloud readiness assessment. It is divided into two main sections:

Section 1: Workshop activities, including guidelines and a checklist for executing a successful cloud readiness assessment workshop.
Section 2: An exploration of the AWS Cloud Adoption Framework and its application in evaluating a business’s readiness for the cloud.

By adhering to these best practices, AWS Partners can deliver high-quality assessments that yield meaningful value for their clients.

Section 1: Workshop Activities Checklist

Process and Artifacts

Define and Document the Cloud Readiness Assessment Process

The first step in conducting the assessment is to obtain or create a well-defined and documented readiness assessment process. This serves as the foundation of a successful cloud readiness assessment (CRA). AWS Partners should delineate the steps, activities, and timelines for each task, ensuring a transparent roadmap throughout the assessment journey. The process should also outline the roles and responsibilities of team members involved.

Create a Delivery Guide

A delivery guide is a vital document for the AWS Partner’s team. It provides clear instructions on how to conduct the assessment, following a standardized process for all clients. This guide (login required) acts as a playbook, promoting consistency and minimizing the risk of overlooking essential steps during the assessment.

Provide Pre-Assessment Questions

In preparation for the assessment workshop, it’s important to share a set of pre-assessment questions with customer attendees. These inquiries establish a baseline understanding of the client’s current environment, including IT infrastructure, applications, and business objectives. This allows AWS Partners to tailor the workshop to the specific needs and challenges of the client.

Communicate Timelines and Milestones

Effective communication regarding timelines and milestones is crucial for a successful assessment. Both the partner and client must be aware of when pre-workshop activities are expected, the workshop date, readout meeting, and any other significant milestones.

Document User Guides for Tools

If tools are utilized during the assessment, AWS Partners should provide user guides to attendees, offering instructions on how to leverage the tools effectively. Making tool usage intuitive ensures participants can focus on providing valuable feedback without distractions.

Standardize Workshop Content

To maintain uniformity across assessments, all content utilized during the workshop should be standardized. This encompasses presentation slides, documents, and any other materials. Refer to Section 2 below for the topics to be addressed during the workshop event.

Create Clear Action Items

The assessment should culminate in a list of well-defined, prioritized, and assigned action items. Each recommendation should be meticulously crafted based on the assessment’s outcomes and communicated to all participants. Clear action items empower the client to take the necessary steps toward a successful cloud migration.

Communication

Clarify the Value of the Cloud Readiness Assessment

It is essential to explicitly communicate the cloud readiness assessment to the client, emphasizing its benefits and potential business outcomes. This ensures that all stakeholders understand the strategic importance of the assessment, which aims to gauge the client’s readiness for cloud migration while identifying planning gaps.

Meet with Executive Sponsor and Coordinator

An initial alignment meeting with the executive sponsor and coordinator from the client’s side is critical. This meeting allows AWS Partners to convey the assessment’s objectives, grasp the client’s current situation, and align on desired outcomes. The executive sponsor plays a crucial role in endorsing and supporting the assessment, making their involvement essential for success. Prior to the workshop, the executive sponsor should receive all necessary information to actively participate. Their engagement lends credibility to the assessment and reinforces the significance of the cloud migration initiative.

Set Workshop Expectations

Clearly communicating workshop expectations to attendees fosters an environment conducive to collaboration and participation. Attendees should be made aware of the workshop’s purpose, expected outcomes, and how their contributions will shape the assessment.

Organization and Coordination

Define Attendee Roles Clearly

For a successful assessment, all required attendee roles should be clearly defined and communicated to the executive sponsor and coordinator. These roles may involve representatives from various business units, IT departments, and other key stakeholders.

Develop a Detailed Agenda

Creating and sharing a detailed workshop agenda with the sponsor and attendees helps set expectations for the assessment’s structure and activities. It should specify activities and timelines for each session. A well-organized agenda enables AWS Partners to remain focused and cover all necessary topics during the assessment.

Achieve Consensus among Participants

During the workshop, reaching consensus on each assessment question rating is vital. Partners should facilitate open dialogues and ensure every perspective is heard and considered. Building consensus fosters a collaborative environment, allowing partners to gather accurate and comprehensive insights from the assessment.

Reporting and Charts

Provide thorough reports and visual representations based on questionnaire ratings, notes, and comments. These reports offer visual insights into the assessment findings and the organization’s cloud readiness rating, simplifying comprehension for stakeholders.

People

Appoint a Skilled Facilitator

Choosing a solutions architect or technical consultant with expertise in cloud migration as the main facilitator is crucial. The facilitator should be well-versed in conducting assessments and effectively guiding discussions. An experienced facilitator ensures the workshop maintains a serious tone and adheres to the overall schedule.

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