How This Book Is Organized

We divided our book into seven parts for easy reading. Feel free to skip about.

Part I: Understanding Concepts and Construction

In this part, we explain the basic concepts you need for a full understanding of the hybrid cloud, from both a technical and a business perspective. We also introduce you to the major concepts and components so you can hold your own in any meaningful cloud conversation.

Part II: Examining Cloud Service Delivery Models

Part II is for both technical and business professionals who need to understand the different models of cloud computing that make up the hybrid cloud. In this section, we dive deeper into the actual foundational elements of the cloud.

Part III: Evaluating the Business Value of the Hybrid Cloud

What is the purpose of the hybrid cloud, and how does it support business objectives? This part of the book gives you a perspective on how to evaluate the hybrid cloud based on your objectives. This part helps you think about the hybrid cloud’s effect on businesses.

Part IV: Creating a Unified Hybrid Environment

This part gets to the nitty-gritty of what it means to create a computing environment that brings elements of a data center together with public and private cloud services. This section gives you plenty to think about in this critical area.

Part V: Operationalizing Hybrid Clouds

At the end of the day, the value of the hybrid cloud is only as good as how well you operationalize these services to support all your constituents. Therefore, look to this section to understand how IT needs to make this new architectural approach work on a day-to-day basis.

Part VI: Getting Set for the Hybrid Cloud Journey

This part helps you think about what it takes to get started on your hybrid cloud journey. It takes lots of planning — not just for the precise service you’re considering, but also the way you apply service orientation and service management to completing the picture.

Part VII: The Part of Tens

If you’re new to the For Dummies treasure trove, you’re no doubt unfamiliar with “The Part of Tens.” In “The Part of Tens,” Wiley editors torture For Dummies authors into creating useful bits of information easily accessible in lists containing ten (or more) elucidating elements. We started these chapters kicking and screaming but are ultimately very glad they’re here. After you read through the hybrid cloud resources, best practices, and do’s and don’ts we provide in the “Part of Tens,” we think you’ll be glad, too.

Glossary

We include a glossary of terms frequently used when people discuss the cloud. Although we strive to define terms as we introduce them in this book, we think you’ll find the glossary a useful resource.