There are a bevy of new technologies in the market to help with IT ops in the cloud--AIOps for example. However, to get the most out of AIOps (or any tech), match the tool to the needs and define the needs--and success metrics--based on your service-level objectives.

Software testing isn't glamourous, but it's critical. It's also often misunderstood or siloed. However, DevOps has highlighted the importance of testing and the cloud has transformed the testing process, making it faster and easier and freeing up resources to focus on human-centric testing.

Using FinOps to more effectively govern cloud usage and match cost to need to value can help organizations avoid potentially costly reactions, such as overprovisioning.

The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting economic downturn have most likely accelerated a shift to cloud for some companies. Why? Because cloud provides the agility and scalability that can help companies weather this, and other crises, more effectively.

The disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has encouraged many companies to accelerate their journey to cloud. The impetus? Improved security and business continuity, as well as the scalability to handle this disruption--and the new normal it will create--more effectively.

The world is in crisis, and many businesses are too. However, with the elasticity to enable organizations to scale to need, cloud can help beat back some of that disruption by helping maintain business continuity, which--aside from keeping safe right now--is a top priority.

Intelligent automation can change the way companies automate much of the software production and management process. That's a good thing, but some companies are hesitant. However, in this new "normal" organizations should welcome tools that can help them manage disruption and stay competitive.

The current environment is unprecedented--at least in modern times, and organizations need a strategy for continuity. With its ability to scale to need, cloud can help. Also key will be rethinking operational and IT strategies in the new normal when things settle down.

Cloud adoption is growing, but one obstacle organizations face is a lack of cloud skills within their IT ranks. One solution is to build a cloud learning center to give workers the skills they need to help their companies more effectively realize the potential of the cloud.

Cloud is transforming the way business is done, but many companies are reluctant to fully automate business processes--especially where data security is a concern. To overcome that reluctance, and gain efficiency, it's crucial to implement effective cloud-governance policies.