In this exciting episode of Cloud Dialogues, we are joined by Liz Fong-Jones, Field CTO at Honeycomb and former Google SRE, to explore the fascinating world of Site Reliability Engineering (SRE)—a game-changer for scaling and automating large systems.

What We Covered:

1. Meet Liz Fong-Jones: Liz brings over a decade of SRE experience from her time at Google and Honeycomb, helping companies revolutionize how they manage reliability and automation.

2. The Origin Story: SRE actually predates the cloud! Born at Google in the early 2000s, SRE started as a way to automate manual system administration tasks and has since evolved into its own discipline, running parallel to DevOps.

3. SRE at Its Core: - Minimize repetitive work (aka "toil") by automating everything you can. - Use Service Level Objectives (SLOs) and Service Level Indicators (SLIs) to measure and maintain reliability.

4. Different SRE Models: There are different ways to implement SRE: - Tools-based within platform teams - Consultative SREs parachuting in to help teams - Embedded SREs integrated within every team

5. The SRE Mindset: Curiosity and empathy are essential for SREs. Teams need a culture of psychological safety where concerns can be raised without fear.

6. The Magic of SLOs and SLIs: SLOs set reliability targets (like aiming for 99.5% uptime), while SLIs measure performance against those targets. Together, they ensure your systems are running smoothly.

7. FinOps Meets SRE: Liz explains how SREs can help balance reliability, performance, and costs using SLOs to allocate resources more efficiently.

8. Disaster Testing: Want proof SREs are ready for anything? Honeycomb regularly tests its disaster recovery by taking down an entire availability zone—on purpose!

9. Pro Tips for Executives: Thinking about implementing SRE at your company? Liz suggests starting with your biggest challenges, offering executive support, and setting clear, achievable SLOs.

10. Why Observability Matters: Observability is the backbone of SRE. Having real-time, actionable data is key for setting and managing effective SLOs.

Plus, Liz gives covers off on her favorite ARM processors (for cost and environmental savings) and shares insights from her book Observability Engineering.

This episode is a deep dive into SRE, filled with actionable insights and strategies for leaders looking to supercharge their reliability game. You won’t want to miss it!

In this episode of Cloud Dialogues, Matt & Georgia dive deep into the world of data strategy with Allison Howells, a seasoned expert with over 20 years of experience across industries like financial services, insurance, and consulting.

Exploring the evolution of data platforms and the strategic decisions that help organizations harness the power of their data.

Here are some of the key topics the team breaks down:

1. Data Platforms: Then & Now – How data platforms have transformed over the past 10-15 years. 2. Aligning Data with Business – Why syncing your data strategy with your business goals is a game-changer. 3. Centralized vs. Decentralized Platforms – The pros and cons of each approach. 4. Data Governance & Quality – Why these are the cornerstones for driving successful AI and machine learning projects. 5. Data Context & Origin – The critical role of understanding where your data comes from and how it’s used. 6. Cultural Impact of Decentralized Platforms – How decentralization can foster innovation and shift organizational mindsets.

Top Takeaways: - Data Strategy = Business Strategy: A successful data strategy is always grounded in solving real business problems. - Decentralized Data Platforms: These can enhance accountability, fuel innovation, and empower teams through data democratization. - Data Context is Key: Knowing the "where" and "why" behind your data ensures it’s used effectively. - Governance & Quality Matter: No matter your data platform, strong governance and data quality are essential. - Data Literacy is a Must: Every department needs to level up their data skills to thrive in today’s data-driven world.

Curious about how to get your data initiatives off the ground and deliver business value from day one?

Allison shares actionable steps for executives to build a winning data strategy that drives results. To get the full executive playbook, tune in to the episode!

In this exciting episode of "Cloud Dialogues," Georgia and Matt return from their well-deserved breaks, ready to dive deep into the world of cloud operating models. They unpack the challenges organisations face when transitioning to cloud environments and share insights on how to navigate this complex landscape.

Here's what you can expect:

1. Tackling Operating Model Challenges: Dive into the common pitfalls of cloud transformation, emphasizing how misaligned operating model changes often lead to trouble.

2. DevOps and Product-Centric Thinking: The shift from traditional IT operations to a DevOps and product-focused approach, stressing the need for a cultural shift within organisations.

3. Platform Engineering Essentials: The importance of customising cloud platforms to meet the unique needs of DevOps teams, all while creating an exceptional developer experience.

4. The Role of Cloud Centers of Excellence (COE): Discover how COEs bridge the gap between platform teams and developers, ensuring smooth and efficient cloud usage.

5. Evolution of Change Management: Learn how change management is transforming in cloud environments, moving from rigid approval processes to more flexible, enabling approaches.

6. FinOps and Accountability: The critical role of product owners in balancing cloud costs and value, making accountability a key focus.

7. Navigating Data Management: Challenges of managing data across organisations, proposing a federated model with a central data catalog.

8. AI and Platform Teams: Should organisations build their own AI capabilities or rely on existing SaaS solutions? The hosts offer their take on this hot topic.

9. Mastering Containerisation: They shed light on the complexities of managing containerised environments like Kubernetes, with practical insights.

10. Strengthening Security Operations: The importance of well-resourced security teams in understanding and mitigating risks within intricate cloud setups.

11. Transforming Operating Models: Finally, the hosts advocate for small, incremental changes over sweeping transformations, ensuring smoother transitions.

To wrap things up, Georgia and Matt hint at an upcoming discussion on Site Reliability Engineering (SRE)—stay tuned!