How Azure Transforms Traditional Governance

The cloud offers some great benefits and advantages that are there for all to see. For organizations to truly reap the maximum benefit from their Microsoft Azure cloud investment, having the right governance framework and processes is crucial.  

Opportunity 

In the initial stages of cloud adoption, it’s common for organizations to attempt to apply traditional IT governance process and controls to the cloud. Take for example provisioning a new development server. In a traditional IT governance model this request can involve several reviews and approvals, looking something like the following:

Contrast this with the agile and decentralized model available when automated controls and policies are applied in Azure:

Certainty and efficiency empower your innovation teams when modern collaborative governance policies are implemented throughout your cloud environment.

Here are a few other areas that benefit from Azure cloud services that support collaborative cloud governance. 

Resource Provisioning and Visibility 

Resource management and visibility should be a key aspect of your organization’s cloud governance strategy. An effective resource tagging strategy should be collaboratively defined up front and then required by Azure Policy when resources are provisioned. With tagging in place, Azure provides querying capabilities that allow those responsible for cost management, compliance, and security to gain visibility into the organization’s cloud footprint. 

Curbing Shadow IT 

Depending on the maturity level of your governance strategy, both cloud and traditional IT Governance are at risk of having resource blind spots and shadow IT. One benefit of cloud over traditional governance is automation. Azure provides the ability to configure and enforce organization access management (via Management Groups, Subscriptions and Resource Groups) and the enforcement of compliance and security controls (via Azure Policy, Blueprints, and Initiatives) at all levels of your organization’s cloud footprint. 

Reduces Risk 

Both traditional and cloud governance are concerned with risk and limiting exposure, whether it’s exposed data, non-compliant resources, security exposure or cost overruns. Cloud governance needs to consider the unique challenges posed by cloud solutions. As complexity and scope of cloud-based solutions increases setting stringent compliance processes and ensuring that they are adhered to, is extremely crucial. Compliance standards also need to evolve as regulations change. Azure Security Center is an example of the tooling that’s available in Azure to assist organizations in reducing risks while also  

Reduces Cost

A major differentiator between traditional and cloud governance is how the policies and security measures are carried out and enforced.  Given the complexity of cloud operations, expecting governance to be performed by already over-loaded IT teams is often unrealistic or impractical. Governance is much simpler when IT staff are freed from repetitive and time-intensive tasks that can be automated. With Azure Policy and Azure Initiatives in place, automation can help curb extra spending and consumption, and optimize the use of resources by shutting down workloads when they are not required 

If you are ready to accelerate your governance transformation, contact InCycle to schedule an introductory call. Together, we can explore  modern governance  to help you achieve your goals.  Download our Azure Governance Playbook to learn more today.!