OpenStack and the Art of Fishing

Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.  It’s an often quoted proverb when talking about the value of personal development.  Give someone the opportunity to gain the skills and develop the talents they need and you’ll equip that person to survive and thrive.

If that person happens to work for your fishing business, then by training them you’ll also be helping to keep your business afloat and make it profitable.

A whole world of “new”

As we approach 2020, almost all businesses are finding themselves in a whole world of “new”. Most organizations are looking to transform and adapt in order to cope with economic storms and the choppy seas of rapidly changing customer demands. They need to find new ways of getting this done with more speed and efficiency. In short, they need to change – and change is difficult.

Cloud computing is one way of coping.  Cloud platforms offer the promise of cost savings, increased developer productivity, improved business agility and greater innovation. Everything the modern business needs.

There’s no doubt that cloud computing is here to stay.  According to an independent global research study commissioned by SUSE[1], IT leaders expect all forms of cloud usage increasing over the next two years. However, hybrid cloud is the top priority for 66 percent of enterprises, closely followed by 55 percent expecting private cloud usage to increase.

OpenStack for multi-cloud or hybrid cloud strategies

OpenStack is widely acknowledged as the de-facto standard open source cloud platform.  It is now so popular that SUSE’s research shows that 82 percent of organizations have already adopted it or plan to do so in the next two years. The OpenStack Foundation’s own user survey indicates almost half are already using OpenStack as part of a multi-cloud strategy.  With its focus on agility, adaptability, and integration, OpenStack also makes great sense as part of a hybrid cloud approach.

Addressing skills and talent gaps

But what does all this have to do with the “teach a man to fish” analogy?

Well, here’s the rub.  According to SUSE’s research study, 72 percent of IT leaders are concerned about the lack of available cloud skills and OpenStack skills are near to the top of the corporate wish list. That’s not a major surprise, I guess. Leading-edge skills and experience will always be in short supply and only likely to be available at a premium.

Getting the best business benefits from an OpenStack cloud – or any other cloud platform for that matter – is likely to be challenging for an organization lacking the in-house talent pool. Little wonder that developing OpenStack skills is also popular for employees looking for career progression or a little job security.

If you’re struggling with in-house skills or experience gaps in the short term, here’s three ways SUSE can help:

1. SUSE OpenStack Cloud is designed from the ground up to deliver a fast, easy and stress-free deployment experience. That’s important because 4 out of 5 users find OpenStack tough to get up and running.
2. With SUSE Select Services, you get prompt access to OpenStack consultants, premium support specialists and training professionals to fill any immediate in-house gaps.
3. SUSE has developed training and certification programs to help you quickly build the right level of skills your organization needs.

For more information, check our latest whitepaper: OpenStack Momentum Sharpens the Focus on Skills and Talent Shortage.

[1] Source: SDI, Containers and DevOps – Cloud Adoption Trends Driving IT Transformation.