Cloud Platform Selection
$70,000 - $90,000 • 8-10 weeks
Select the right cloud platform or platforms for your data workload and growth stage. A productised, questionnaire-led engagement that delivers a clear decision and transition roadmap.
Who This Is For
This package is designed for scale-ups ($10M-100M revenue) in one of these situations:
- Cloud migration decision: You need to choose a primary cloud data platform (or a hybrid mix)
- Multiple clouds: You already use more than one platform and need a clear strategy
- Growth constraints: Current tooling isn't keeping up with scale or compliance needs
- Executive alignment: Leadership needs a defensible decision with risks and trade‑offs
What You Get
A structured platform selection decision covering all five essential questions:
1. Business Value & Priorities (WHY)
- Mapping of key business decisions and data requirements
- Prioritisation framework for analytics use cases
- Expected business outcomes and success metrics
2. Organisation & Capabilities (WHO)
- Assessment of current team capabilities
- Organisational design recommendations (centralised vs. embedded)
- Role definitions and hiring priorities
- Skill gap analysis
3. Data Landscape (WHAT)
- Current data sources and systems mapping
- Data quality and availability assessment
- Critical data gaps identification
4. Platform & Architecture (HOW)
- Cloud platform recommendation(s) (AWS, Azure, GCP, or hybrid)
- Level 0 and Level 1 reference architecture with data domain organisation
- Technology stack recommendations
- Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) modelling
- Governance framework foundations
5. Strategic Roadmap (WHEN)
- 12-month phased implementation plan
- Dependency mapping and sequencing
- Investment model and resource requirements
- Quick wins and long-term initiatives
How It Works
Week 1-2: Discovery & Assessment
Strategic questionnaires to leadership and data stakeholders. Review existing documentation, systems, and team structure. Conduct focused interviews with key stakeholders.
Week 3-4: Analysis & Design (WHY + WHO + WHAT)
Analyse business priorities and use cases. Assess organisational readiness and capabilities. Map current data landscape and identify gaps.
Week 5-7: Platform Selection & Architecture (HOW)
Evaluate analytics platforms against your requirements. Design Level 0 and Level 1 architecture. Create governance framework. Model Total Cost of Ownership.
Week 8-10: Roadmap & Presentation (WHEN)
Develop 12-month implementation roadmap. Create investment model. Build executive presentation. Review and refine recommendations.
Final Deliverables
Strategic Assessment
Business value mapping, organisational assessment, and data landscape analysis
Platform Recommendation
Detailed platform selection rationale with TCO analysis
Reference Architecture
Level 0 and Level 1 architecture diagrams showing data domains and integration patterns
Organisation Design
Team structure, roles, and hiring priorities
Governance Framework
Data governance foundations and operating model
12-Month Roadmap
Phased implementation plan with dependencies and investment model
Executive Presentation
Board-ready deck summarizing strategy and recommendations
Implementation Partners
Vetted partner introductions for implementation phase
Why This Approach Works
Starts with business, not technology: Most consultants lead with platform features. I start with your business objectives and work backwards to technology that fits.
Considers your team reality: Platform selection depends on your team's skills and structure. Centralised SQL teams need different platforms than distributed engineering teams.
Objective analysis: Questionnaire-based approach removes politics and personal bias. Recommendations are grounded in evidence, not opinions.
De-risks investment: $80K strategy engagement before $200K+ implementation spend. Validate approach before committing major resources.
Implementation-ready: Detailed enough for partners to execute, but strategic enough for leadership to understand.
Investment
Fee: $70,000 - $90,000 (depends on organisation complexity and number of data sources)
Timeline: 8-10 weeks from kickoff to final presentation
Payment: 50% at start, 50% at delivery
Fixed scope: Confirmed after the questionnaire to ensure fit and pricing clarity
What's included: All discovery, analysis, design, documentation, and executive presentation. Up to 3 rounds of refinement based on feedback.
What's not included: Implementation, migration, or ongoing support (can introduce vetted partners)
Need a custom engagement? If your situation doesn't fit this package, I offer premium bespoke advisory priced after discovery.
Ready for Cloud Platform Selection?
Book a free 30-minute call to discuss your situation and see if this package is the right fit.