The IT Process Institute (ITPI) and CA Technologies (NASDAQ: CA) today announced Visible Operations Private Cloud: From Virtualization to Private Cloud in 4 Practical Steps. The new book presents a four-phased approach for managing the development and rollout of a private cloud. It was written with and created for enterprise IT executives and data center managers who are responsible for the success of private cloud initiatives.

Authored by Kurt Milne, director of the ITPI; Andi Mann, vice president of product marketing, CA Technologies; and Jeanne Morain, director of strategic alliances, cloud & virtualization, Flexera Software; the book is based on the study of enterprise IT organizations that have implemented private cloud solutions. It includes ITPI's in-depth analysis of the key competencies these organizations have in common. It encapsulates the authors' more than 60 years of combined experience in systems management, virtualization, and IT process management.

The authors identified private cloud key competencies through surveys and interviews with CIOs, vice presidents of engineering and operations, architects, and IT engineering and operations managers. These IT professionals represent leading global technology, financial services, and telecommunications firms, among others. Their private cloud projects range from mid-sized deployments to large-scale private clouds that encompass thousands of servers.

As a result of the research, which is based on both quantitative and qualitative analysis, the authors recommend the following four steps to achieve an efficient and effective private cloud:

• Phase 1 – Cut through the cloud clutter: plan and communicate objectives, manage initial proof of concept efforts, and develop competency roadmaps.
• Phase 2 – Design services, not systems: design business optimized cloud services, enable one-touch service ordering, and implement a repeatable approach for build and deploy.
• Phase 3 – Orchestrate and optimize resources: update monitoring and alerting, deploy a policy engine to codify response, automate resource changes and workload moves.
• Phase 4 – Align and accelerate business results: complete transition to a resource rental model, reshape consumption behavior, and streamline response to changing business needs.

"Private cloud computing is a compelling next step toward leveraging investment in virtualization technology. But more importantly, it increases IT's responsiveness and strategic value to the business," said Kurt Milne. "We wrote this book to help cut through the cloud clutter, and share the lessons of top-performing IT organizations that have gone the farthest with private cloud."

"Whether readers are trying to formulate an initial private cloud strategy or refine a current one, Visible Ops Private Cloud will help them get it right the first time," said Andi Mann. "The book explains the key people, process, technology competencies, and focus areas necessary for successful private cloud deployments."

"What sets this book apart from others are the numerous examples, lessons learned, and prescriptive guidance – for users by users," said Jeanne Morain. "There is a lot of knowledge to be gained from the IT professionals we interviewed, who are currently implementing cloud environments in production."

Visible Operations Private Cloud: From Virtualization to Private Cloud in 4 Practical Steps is the third in a series of Visible Ops books from ITPI. It is currently available worldwide from the IT Process Institute and Amazon.com.