Cloud transformation: Merck’s proven modernization factory model (MAM234)

Here is a detailed summary of the video transcription in Markdown format, broken into sections for better readability:

Key Takeaways

  • MSD, a large pharmaceutical company, has been successfully driving a modernization and migration to the cloud through a program called "Blue Sky".
  • The presentation focuses on the learnings and best practices of running a "modernization factory" at scale, which is a crucial part of the Blue Sky program.
  • The speaker, Shawn, the global head of infrastructure and cloud at MSD, shares five key lessons learned from running a modernization factory:
  1. Standardized architectural reviews
  2. Clearly defined guiding principles
  3. Strong technical talent and leadership
  4. Pre-existing knowledge of the applications being modernized
  5. Continuous feedback between the factory and supporting products/services

Standardized Architectural Reviews

  • Architectural reviews are crucial to ensure that applications are built to the company's standards and guiding principles.
  • MSD created a "Target State Architecture (TSA)" process, where three dedicated architects reviewed every architecture, no matter the size or complexity.
  • This has paid huge dividends, as teams now proactively create their target state architecture before requesting cloud provisioning.

Clearly Defined Guiding Principles

  • MSD defined a set of simple guiding principles, such as "go cloud-first," which are used to drive the strategy and decision-making.
  • These principles are continuously referred to and used to hold people accountable, ensuring that the factory is building things aligned with the guiding principles.

Strong Technical Talent and Leadership

  • Technical expertise is critical for running a successful modernization factory.
  • MSD ensured that the program had certified AWS architects and security professionals who could review architectures, provide guidance, and make informed decisions.
  • Having a clear architectural hierarchy and decision-making process is essential to avoid disagreements and ensure a high standard of architecture.

Pre-existing Knowledge of the Applications

  • It is challenging to modernize applications without prior knowledge of their inner workings, especially for large, complex, and legacy systems.
  • MSD leveraged their long-term partner, HCL, who had deep knowledge of the applications and infrastructure, to accelerate the early stages of the modernization process.
  • Documenting the knowledge gained during the process is also crucial for scalability.

Continuous Feedback Loop

  • MSD has been implementing a product model for their infrastructure, where the modernization factory is considered a customer of these products.
  • The feedback generated by the factory is fed back to the product teams, enabling them to enhance the products based on real-world usage.
  • This feedback loop has improved both the velocity of the factory and the maturity of the supporting products.

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