1 Overview Public cloud services have become central to IT strategy. The potential cost savings and agility are simply too compelling to ignore. And, as more enterprises move to a hybrid IT environment and service providers continue to enhance their offerings, public cloud services will likely gain in popularity in the coming years. It’s tempting for many IT and business leaders to want to push their organizations into the public cloud as quickly as possible to reap the benefits — to leap before they look. But taking the time to do necessary groundwork is important. Why preparations are worthwhile: To mitigate and minimize risks To prevent reactionary moves and fire drills later on To be more resource-efficient (i.e. less time and money wasted)