Name: Why Every CIO Should Define a Cloud Strategy Now
Start: 2019-11-07T17:00:00Z
End: 2019-11-07T17:00:32.000Z
Location: BrightTALK

Rackspace Technology is a leading end-to-end, hybrid, multicloud, and AI solutions company. We design, build, and operate our customers' cloud environments across all major technology platforms, irrespective of technology stack or deployment model. We partner with our customers at every stage of their cloud journey, enabling them to modernize applications, build new products and adopt innovative technologies. 

Learn more at https://www.rackspace.com/

In the race to deliver seamless, real-time digital experiences, cloud costs can skyrocket before teams even notice. 

Rackspace Technology experts Shahan Noorani and Clement Boit team up with Marcin Szymanski, CTO of Bee-Fee, to share real lessons from scaling complex Google Cloud environments while keeping budgets in line. They reveal where overspend hides, why it persists, and how automation and FinOps practices put organizations back in control.

You will also see a live demonstration of Ternary, the FinOps platform behind Rackspace Optimizer+, showing how unified visibility and smart recommendations help finance and engineering align on cost and performance goals.

What you will learn:
Proven tactics to reduce Google Cloud spend without impacting user experience
How to apply FinOps principles in real-time, high-performance environments
Automated methods for rightsizing, anomaly detection, and accurate forecasting
A practical roadmap for continuous and scalable cost optimization

Tune in to discover how to achieve significant savings and build a cost strategy that keeps up with your users’ expectations.

Scoring Big on Google Cloud Savings: A FinOps Guide for High-Performance, Real-Time Applications

AWS is evolving fast, and organizations are under pressure to deliver more value from every cloud investment. In this 30 minute session, Karl Graham hosts a guided conversation with two leading optimization experts: Nataliya Godunok, Senior Solutions Architect for AWS Well-Architected and Cloud Optimization at Amazon Web Services and Scott Pankonin, Lead Solutions Architect at Rackspace Technology.

Together, they uncover practical ways to turn AWS from a cost centre into a strategic advantage, including:
- The most impactful new AWS optimization capabilities
- Architectural patterns that consistently drive savings and performance gains
- How to get more value from AWS native tools like Cost Explorer, Trusted Advisor, and Compute Optimizer
- Why organizations accelerate outcomes when combining AWS innovation with Rackspace implementation expertise

If efficiency, performance, and cloud economics are top of mind, this is a conversation you do not want to miss.

Architecting for Efficiency: A Strategic Guide to AWS Optimization

Your AWS infrastructure can harbor critical vulnerabilities that appear in nearly every enterprise cloud environment, from untagged resources destroying governance to unrotated secrets waiting to be exploited. This webinar reveals why these specific risks persist across organizations that know better, with insights from analyzing findings across dozens of enterprise accounts.

AWS Principal Enterprise Architect Adrian San Miguel and Rackspace Principal Cloud Practice Architect Michael Bordash expose the uncomfortable truth: technical expertise fails when human nature takes over. Teams rush to build and prove concepts, promising to implement security later, but tomorrow never comes. The pressure to move fast, misunderstandings about AWS's shared responsibility model, and the choice of 200+ services create an environment where critical vulnerabilities multiply invisibly until they become headline-worthy breaches.

Discover practical remediation approaches that acknowledge real-world constraints, limited expertise, competing priorities, and the relentless pace of innovation. Learn how to leverage AWS Config, GuardDuty, and other native tools effectively, understand realistic timelines for fixing these issues, and get clear criteria for deciding between building internal capabilities versus partnering with specialists. Most importantly, gain actionable strategies to break the cycle of accumulating architectural debt that leads to tomorrow's breach, compliance failure, or operational disaster.

Seven Critical AWS Architecture Risks and How to Fix Them

You've migrated to the cloud, but are you maximizing your investment? This 30-minute expert panel brings together real-world insights from AgAmerica's transformation journey, Microsoft's enterprise experience, and Rackspace's proven Cloud Maturity Model.

Many organizations plateau after initial cloud adoption, facing escalating costs, security complexities, and performance issues. The difference between basic cloud usage and cloud-native excellence directly impacts your bottom line through reduced operational overhead, faster innovation cycles, and enhanced security posture.

Learn how AgAmerica transformed their infrastructure by moving beyond lift-and-shift to optimized cloud architectures. Discover the critical configuration elements that determine cloud security success and explore the eight dimensions of cloud maturity that separate organizations merely using cloud services from those achieving true cloud-native capabilities.

Our panel addresses the hard questions: How do you modernize legacy systems without disrupting operations? What's the real ROI of cloud-native transformation? How do you build internal expertise while maintaining business velocity?

You'll gain practical frameworks for assessing your current maturity level, prioritizing improvements, and building a sustainable transformation roadmap. Learn how leading organizations use continuous assessment cycles to drive measurable progress and why the "do with" partnership model accelerates capability building while delivering immediate value.

Ideal for technology leaders seeking to optimize cloud investments, reduce technical debt, and accelerate innovation. Walk away with actionable strategies to advance your cloud maturity and deliver tangible business outcomes.

Achieving Cloud Maturity - Your Roadmap to Cloud-Native Success

Join AWS and Rackspace for a 30-minute exclusive webinar where PIAS, a global entertainment industry leader, shares their successful cloud transformation journey. Learn how to migrate from traditional data center infrastructure to AWS, achieving significant cost reductions while dramatically improving operational agility. Discover practical strategies for cost optimization, accelerating project delivery from months to days, and modernizing from lift-and-shift to serverless architecture. See how a lean IT team successfully manages users across 9 global offices by leveraging leading technologies and expert services. Perfect for IT directors, CTOs, and infrastructure leaders seeking real-world cloud success strategies.

Cloud Transformation Decoded: Strategy, Implementation, Results

Are you struggling to balance cloud sovereignty with scalability?

Is a lack of cloud skills slowing your digital transformation and weakening your customer experience? 

Join Rackspace Technology’s live panel webinar on Tuesday, June 3 at 11:00 AM BST/ 2:00 PM GST as we unpack findings from the 2025 State of Cloud Report, based on insights from over 1,400 IT leaders across 10 industries in EMEA and beyond.

Who should attend?
CIOs, CTOs, and cloud decision-makers facing the challenges of hybrid infrastructure, AI integration, and regional compliance.

What you’ll learn/Discover:
• Why hybrid cloud adoption is accelerating—and if it's strategy or necessity
• How 84% of businesses are embedding AI into cloud strategies
• Why 69% are rethinking public cloud and exploring repatriation
• What data sovereignty means for your regional architecture
• How top performers are closing the 40% cloud talent gap

Hear from:
• Simon Bennett, CTO, Global Private Cloud, Rackspace Technology
• Atif Sheikh, Senior Strategy Consultant, Rackspace Technology
• Bassam Shaker, CTO, Creative Advanced Technologies
 Moderated by: Ben Blanquera, VP of Technology & Sustainability

Don’t miss it—reserve your spot now and gain exclusive access to the full 2025 State of Cloud Report.

The Cloud Balancing Act: Sovereignty, Scalability, and Skills

Join us as we explore AI innovations in Microsoft 365 that boost security and performance. Learn how AI can
transform your Microsoft environment with enhanced security and efficiency and listen in as our expert
speakers share strategies and best practices to help you modernize your tech infrastructure.

Optimizing and Securing your Microsoft 365 Environment for AI

Overview:
As organizations continue to modernize, the cloud landscape is evolving faster than ever—with hybrid models, AI integration, cost optimization, and compliance rising to the top of the agenda. In this dynamic webinar, we dive deep into the findings from the 2025 State of Cloud Report, a global survey of over 1,400 IT decision-makers across 10 major industries.

Join Ben Blanquera, VP of Technology and Sustainability at Rackspace Technology, as he moderates a powerhouse panel featuring:
• Nirmal Ranganathan, CTO of Global Public Cloud at Rackspace Technology
• Alex Eldemir, VP of Global Advisory at Rackspace Technology
• Jon Hyman, CTO and Co-founder of Braze and longtime Rackspace customer

Together, they’ll unpack the most pressing topics shaping the cloud strategies of today—and tomorrow—including:
• The growing dominance of hybrid cloud and the drivers behind it
• The role of AI integration in modern cloud environments
• Why cloud cost management and repatriation are top of mind for many organizations
• The ongoing struggle with security and compliance in regulated industries
• The trajectory of future cloud investments across public, private, and hybrid models

Whether you’re refining your current cloud strategy or preparing for what’s next, this webinar will offer fresh data, customer insights, and expert perspectives to guide your decision-making. Don’t miss this timely conversation on where the cloud is headed and how your organization can lead the way.

Bonus: Attendees will receive access to download the full 2025 State of Cloud Report.

The Future of Cloud: Unpacking Hybrid, AI, Costs, and Security in the Modern Cloud Landscape

Join leading security experts from Rackspace Technology® and Qualys for an engaging
session that unpacks the latest cybersecurity trends and defense strategies.

In this session, you’ll gain expert insight on:

    • Understanding recent threats, key risks and emerging adversary tactics
    • Assessing targeted attacks and evolving cyber threats
    • Understanding bad actors’ real-world initial access methods
    • Accessing cloud security innovations for real-time threat detection, automation and compliance
    • Strengthening security operations at scale with continuous posture assessments and streamlined remediation
    • Enhancing security operations with continuous assessments and streamlined remediation

Navigating Cyber Threats: Insights for Resilient Security

In today’s world, where cyberattacks are more frequent and sophisticated than ever, organizations must prioritize safeguarding their infrastructures, networks, and sensitive data. Data privacy and protection are no longer optional—they are essential for building trust, ensuring compliance, and maintaining resilience in an increasingly interconnected world.

As a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), operational disruptions, resilience, and data security are crucial priorities. This webinar will explore the frameworks and strategies Financial Services organizations should adopt to address operational and cyber resilience, as well as data protection.

Join our CISO and Chief Privacy Officer as they share insights into real-world applications of AI in threat detection, incident response, and recovery. They’ll also discuss the growing importance of human expertise in navigating complex risk landscapes and shaping the future of cybersecurity.

Don’t miss this thought-provoking discussion on the evolving landscape of operational resilience in Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) and how your organization can stay ahead in an era of rapid change.

Inside the mind of a CISO: Modern Strategies for Building Resilience and Safeguarding Data

Understanding and implementing operational resilience measures is no longer a luxury but a necessity under the new DORA regulations.. This session will examine how AI and machine learning are transforming resilience strategies through real-time analytics, automated risk assessments, and rapid incident responses.

As organisations prepare for inevitable threats by developing robust frameworks to prevent and recover from incidents, particularly in the face of growing cyber risks like ransomware, they are incorporating the power of AI with skilled human expertise, ensuring readiness to anticipate, respond to, and recover from cyber threats, maintaining operational continuity in the face of adversity and compliance to the latest regulations.

Join us to learn how to combine AI defense capabilities with the human element providing contextual understanding, adaptive responses, and proactive threat hunting.

Leveraging AI to Drive Operational Resiliency in Financial Services

Navigating the complexities of cloud operations requires more than just adoption—it demands expertise, strategic planning, and continuous optimization. In this webinar, we’ll explore how organizations can tackle common cloud challenges, such as integrating emerging technologies and achieving scalability.

Learn how strategic partnerships with cloud vendors, internal centers of excellence, and advanced observability practices can empower your team to unlock the full potential of cloud platforms. Discover how managed services and automation drive cost savings, improve reliability, and support faster adoption of innovative technologies. We'll also share real-world success stories that highlight the transformative impact of these strategies.

Join us to gain actionable insights and best practices for building efficient, future-ready cloud operations.

Optimizing Cloud Operations: From Chaos to Efficiency

Understanding and implementing operational resilience measures is no longer a luxury but a necessity. This session will examine how AI and machine learning are transforming resilience strategies through real-time analytics, automated risk assessments, and rapid incident responses. 

As organization prepare for inevitable threats by developing robust frameworks to prevent and recover from incidents, particularly in the face of growing cyber risks like ransomware they are incorporating power of AI with skilled human expertise, ensuring readiness to anticipate, respond to, and recover from cyber threats, maintaining operational continuity in the face of adversity.  

 Join us to learn how to combine AI defense capabilities with the human element providing contextual understanding, adaptive responses, and proactive threat hunting.

Leveraging AI to Drive Operational Resilience

Are you facing uncertainty with VMC on AWS? Don’t wait—find out how Rackspace SDDC can help you regain control. In this exclusive webinar, we’ll show you how to lower your cloud costs by 15% or more*  while staying agile with flexible, scalable solutions. Plus, RackConnect Global allows you to seamlessly integrate AWS workloads without moving them, ensuring uninterrupted operations. 

This is your opportunity to make the switch with a zero-cost migration, improve performance, and future-proof your cloud strategy—all with Rackspace’s expert support.

How to Future-Proof your VMware Cloud

Join Kevin Carter, Product Director at Rackspace Technology, and Justin Augat, VP of Global Marketing, as they share how OpenStack has evolved to power industry giants like Walmart and Bloomberg. You’ll learn how OpenStack drives innovation, agility and cost efficiency for companies across diverse industry verticals, allowing them to scale with confidence. Watch now to learn more about OpenStack's role in today’s enterprise cloud landscape.

Today's Enterprise-Ready OpenStack: Top 5 Ways OpenStack Drives Business Advantage and Innovation

Microsoft 365 Copilot is the future of work: an AI-powered companion that streamlines tasks, boosts productivity, and unlocks new possibilities. Are you ready to not only harness its potential within your organization, but also start selling to your clients? Join Rackspace Technology, a leading Microsoft partner, as we explore everything you need to know about Microsoft 365 Copilot, so you can lead your customers through the AI transformation. 

Who Should Attend:
Rackspace Resellers or anyone interested in reselling Microsoft Modern Workplace 
Anyone offering IT-as-a-service to clients 
Microsoft 365 administrators and users  
Business teams looking to leverage AI for their productivity  
Anyone curious about the potential of Microsoft 365 Copilot  
MSPs, consultants, etc. and anyone wanting to expand their AI knowledge and portfolio 

Why Attend?
Gain a comprehensive understanding of Microsoft 365 Copilot and its impact on both your business and your customers’ business.  
Learn how Rackspace can help you navigate every aspect of M365 Copilot implementation and maximize its value.  
Learn how to position Copilot to your customers and understand how it can transform their work. 
Get practical tips and strategies for a successful M365 Copilot deployment and user adoption.  
Discover best practices for data governance, security, and change management for M365 Copilot deployment.  
Be prepared to leverage the full potential of M365 Copilot and unleash the power of AI in your workplace.

Microsoft 365 Copilot - Get Your Customers AI Ready

The wave of AI innovation has arrived, poised to revolutionize business landscapes across almost every sector. Join us as we discuss the recent insights from our highly anticipated 2024 Global AI Report: "The Impact of AI on Business: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities." Commissioned by Rackspace Technology and sponsored by AWS, Coleman Parkes Research conducted a survey of over 1,400 IT decision-makers from various industry verticals, the report offers insights into how generative AI is influencing investment priorities, creating challenges and opening the door to new opportunities.
 
We will unveil and discuss the findings live with our panel of AI experts and practitioners:
Srini Koushik, President, AI, Technology and Sustainability, Rackspace Technology
Victor Rojo, Principal Partner Solutions Architect - Generative AI, AWS
Rehgan Bleile (Avon), Founder, Women in Analytics (WIA) and Co-founder & CEO, AlignAI
Jeff DeVerter, Chief Technology Evangelist at Rackspace Technology (Panel Moderator)

Don't miss this chance to gain invaluable insights into AI's impact on businesses worldwide!

Solve 2024 Global AI Summit

One of the biggest mistakes CIOs make when it comes to defining a cloud strategy is buying into the myths that it is too late, that a cloud strategy will be a huge undertaking, or that it will require a complete IT overhaul. Don’t let these myths deter you from taking the time to thoughtfully develop a cloud strategy. The truth is, regardless of where you are in your IT transformation journey, a clearly articulated cloud strategy strengthens your organization’s ability to adapt to a changing technology and business landscape. 

In our upcoming webinar, “Why Every CIO Should Define a Cloud Strategy Now,” you’ll hear how Rackspace customers approached defining their cloud strategies. 

Join us to learn:

• How you know you need a cloud strategy – HINT: You do!
• Why it’s never too late to define your cloud strategy
• How to head off common roadblocks and challenges

Why Every CIO Should Define a Cloud Strategy Now

Cloud Strategy

Hybrid Cloud

IT Strategy

Cloud Architecture

Cloud Adoption

Cloud Applications

Strategic Planning

Digital Transformation

Cloud

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Why Every CIO Should Define a Cloud Strategy Now

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Rackspace Technology