Curious about the cloud, but not sure where to start? You’re in the right place. This book walks you through everything you need to know—from where it all began to what’s happening right now. We’ll start with the early days of networking and virtualization, look at how cloud services took off, and explore the key players shaping the market today. As we go, things get more practical. You’ll learn how to build a smart cloud strategy, what to watch out for when it comes to cost and security, and how to handle the cultural and organizational shifts that often come with cloud adoption. We’ll even touch on compliance, remote work, digital trends, and more. Whether you’re just getting started or already knee-deep in cloud projects, think of this book as your personal guide—straightforward, hands-on, and written by someone who’s been in the trenches.
This book is for both newcomers and seasoned cloud or IT professionals. If you’re just getting started, it offers an easy way into the world of cloud computing and helps you build a solid foundation. If you’ve been in the game for a while, you’ll find insights and best practices that can help sharpen your strategy and take things to the next level. I truly believe this book has something to offer a wide range of readers—whether you’re just beginning your cloud journey or have years of experience under your belt. Either way, it’s here to help you navigate the complexity that comes with working in and around the cloud.
With over 25 years of experience in the IT and cloud space, I’ve built up a lot of knowledge that I’m excited to share with a broader audience. My background gives me a solid perspective on both the technical challenges as well as the strategic side of things. And that’s what sets this book apart—it blends technical know-how with real business insight. A combination many IT professionals are looking for but rarely find in one place. I don’t just focus on the “how” of cloud decisions, but also the “why” behind them.
Available in Dutch today, English version being worked on… What to expect
You’ll see all three major cloud providers come by, however, most of the real-world examples center around Microsoft Azure. That’s simply the platform I run into most in my day-to-day work. Still, we’ll definitely call out the key differences and unique traits of the others, so you get a clear, balanced view of the broader cloud landscape.
Each chapter breaks down concepts with clear explanations, real-world examples, visuals, and a variety of case studies. At the end of every chapter, you’ll find 10 to 15 written key takeaways along with five important questions to reinforce your learning. I’ve also included several hands-on exercises to test and apply your knowledge—some of which are designed for you to work through with your team or colleagues.
These group exercises are designed to help you put theory into practice—so you don’t just learn how the cloud works, but how to actually use it in the real world. They’re meant to get you thinking actively and creatively about the challenges you face when working with, rolling out, or adopting cloud solutions.
Additionally, we leverage the field-tested Step-Cloud Adoption Framework. This framework is the backbone of the book, gradually introduced and revisited throughout the chapters to reinforce a structured, strategic approach to cloud computing. It’s designed to guide you through a thoughtful, step-by-step process for implementing and adopting cloud strategies—from initial planning to execution and optimization within your organization.
The below toolkit is part of the book as well…
While it’s nearly impossible to go into deep technical detail on every topic—every organization is different, after all—this book will give you the tools to prepare effectively and implement cloud successfully.
We’ll dig into concepts like Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) and Return on Investment (ROI). What does it take to build a strong cloud business case (and no, it’s not just about the “hard” costs)? What kind of impact can the cloud have on your company? What changes, and how do you get others on board?
We’ll explore the cloud economy, organizational change, core cloud principles, technical architectures, and services like IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, and DaaS. We’ll also cover common pitfalls, the rise of shadow IT (and how to turn it into an advantage), pros and cons, the shift toward IT as an internal service broker, the move from knowledge to governance, key processes to watch, how the cloud came to be—and yes, even how to plan for a proper cloud exit – a hot topic nowadays. All of this is backed by dozens of tips, quotes, best practices, real-world examples, and the Step-Cloud Adoption Framework I mentioned earlier.
In short, a balanced mix of business and technical guidance. A practical guide to help you understand what cloud is really about—and what kind of impact it can have on your day-to-day operations, culture, your processes, and more. It takes a different way of thinking. You can read this book front to back, or jump to the chapters that matter most to you. That really depends on your background and experience. Either way, it’s packed with useful insights, interesting facts, and helpful context to make the picture as complete as possible.
Cloud technology moves fast, no doubt about it—but the fundamentals remain. Most of what you’ll find in this book will still be relevant five or even ten years from now. Promise.
No longer for sale – free PDF version available, click on image
