Implementing OpenStack in a Government Environment: 90% Culture / 10% Technology Audience: Beginner Topic: User Stories Abstract: As a manager of a team tasked with implementing Cloud Technologies, I will explore the issues around implementing such and Agile technology into a predominately waterfall enterprise. I will provide recommendations around how to deploy cloud technologies into a Government enterprise and how culture of the cloud team is as important as the interactions with the rest of the organisation. Speaker Bio: Vanessa Binding, Department of Defence I am the lead for the team tasked with implementing a Private Cloud. I am an APS employee working for the Department of Defence. Before moving into management I was a Linux System Adminstrator. OpenStack Australia Day Government - Canberra 2016 https://events.aptira.com/openstack-australia-day-canberra-2016/

1. Implementing OpenStack in a Government
Environment
90% Culture / 10% Technology
Presenter: Vanessa Binding
November 2016

2. Implementing OpenStack in a Government Environment
• Explore the issues around implementing OpenStack
and Agile technology into a predominately waterfall
enterprise.
What I will be talking about…..
• Provide recommendations
around how to deploy cloud
technologies into a
Government enterprise
• How culture of the cloud
team is as important as the
interactions with the rest of
the organisation.
To the Clouds!

3. Implementing OpenStack in a Government Environment
• Understand your Organisation’s current infrastructure
problems
• Know how your Cloud will solve current problems
• Get the public buy-in from your Senior Executives
• Engage early and often with your security team, ensure
you know their requirements/concerns
Know your Purpose…..

4. Implementing OpenStack in a Government Environment
• Be open to the change, be flexible
– Fail Fast, Fix Once and Automate Often
– Plan, Build, Business Change and Support in Parallel
• Feedback - Multiple Communication channels, keep them
open.
Know your Team’s Issues…..
• Agile! – Ensure Retrospectives
occur after iterations
• Don’t add more process to fix
problems, it just doesn’t work.

5. Implementing OpenStack in a Government Environment
• Along with your main stakeholders focus on:
– Early Adaptors
– Negative / Blockers are just as important as the
consumers
– System & Process Gatekeepers
• Tailor your communications to the stakeholder
– Direct Meetings
– Consultancy services
– Premium Support
– Information Sessions
Know your Stakeholders

6. Implementing OpenStack in a Government Environment
• Cross-skilled & Integrated Team
• Support Services for your Cloud are important as the Cloud
infrastructure
• Focus on Automation – Take the hit.
• DevOps and Agile methodologies
• Build a Culture where:
– Failure is ok, you learn from it, not hide from it.
– Up-Skilling is never an issue
– Knowledge transfer is continuous
If you create a culture staff enjoy they are more likely to stay around.
Get your Team Culture Right
Right Way
Right Way

7. Implementing OpenStack in a Government Environment
Recap
• Know your Organisation and your Team
• Culture change will be needed
• Communicate, Communicate, Communicate!
– Quick / Early Feedback is critical to success.
• DevOps and Agile are winners.