Cloud computing is not a technology; it's an economic innovation. There are many ways to think through design, economic models, risk profiles, strategies, and technology decisions. The section will talk through some ways to navigate the thought process, how to eliminate some of the noise surrounding the cloud, and how to stay focused on what the challenges are and how solutions get mapped to those business challenges.

We will cover the following topics in this chapter:

• Foundation for design – the thought process
• Foundation for design – the cloud is economic, not technical
• Foundation for design – the plans
• Understanding business strategy and goals