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Kick Off with Cloud Posse

The kickoff process for Jumpstart engagements with Cloud Posse ensures a smooth start with clear communication for a successful project delivery. During the call, we will confirm contract requirements and set project expectations. We also cover how Cloud Posse will deploy your infrastructure in layers using our reference architecture and introduce various support options, including Slack channels, customer workshops, and office hours.

We Will Review

  • Kickoff Process: Establish roles, confirm requirements, and set project expectations for a smooth start
  • Implementation Phase: Understand how we go about provisioning infrastructure in layers using the reference architecture, including comprehensive handoffs with documentation
  • Support and Communication: Review the multiple channels for support, including Slack, customer workshops, office hours, and detailed documentation to ensure successful engagement

Preparing for the Kickoff Meeting​

This document outlines what to expect from your first call with Cloud Posse. In order to make the most of this meeting, please read through this document and come prepared with questions. In particular, please review the following:

  1. Identify stakeholders and establish ownership of the engagement within your Organization.
  2. Read through the Design Decisions and prepare questions and decisions.
  3. Review the list of Actions Items following this call.

Kickoff Meeting Agenda​

1 Introductions​

Here we will review who is on the call, what their roles are, and identify our technical point of contact at Cloud Posse. We will also review the working timezones of the teams.

2 Project Overview​

Cloud Posse will begin deploying your infrastructure starting with the foundation based your team's design decisions. The Reference Architecture is a collection of best practices for building a secure, scalable, and highly available infrastructure on AWS. The Reference Architecture is a living document that is constantly evolving as we learn from our customers and the community.

We will deploy your infrastructure in layers. These layers are designed to manage collections of deliverables and will be a mix of generated content from a private reference, vendored Terraform from open-source libraries, and any customization for your Organization. Because we are delivering an entire infrastructure repository, these initial PRs will be massive; a complete infrastructure setup requires dozens of components, each with Terraform modules, configuration, account setup, and documentation. You are absolutely welcome to follow along, but we do not intend for your team to be required to review these massive PRs. Cloud Posse internally reviews these PRs extensively to ensure that the final product works as intended.

Once we're confident that we've deployed a given layer entirely, we then schedule the Hand-Off Calls. A handoff call is intended to explain a given topic and provide the opportunity for your team to review and provide feedback on any given layer, as well as answer other questions. Before each Hand-Off Call, review the fundamentals of every layer by watching the videos. While we can use the handoff calls, teams can feel overwhelmed if they haven't watched any of the handoff videos beforehand. These calls can be a lecture on the material for any given layer, a demo from Cloud Posse, or an opportunity to practice with hands-on labs.

tip

If you come prepared for Hand-Off calls, we can skip the lecture and spend more time answering questions or working through hands-on labs.

3 Shared Customer Workshop​

When: Thursdays, 7:00-7:30A PT/ 9:00-9:30A CT/ 10:00-10:30A ET
Where: Zoom
Who: Customers Only

This is a great opportunity to get your questions answered and to get help with your project.

4 Community Office Hours​

When: Wednesdays, 11:30a-12:30p PT/ 1:30p-2:30p CT/ 2:30p-3:30p ET
Where: Zoom
Who: Anyone

This is a good way to keep up with the latest developments and trends in the DevOps community.

Sign up at cloudposse.com/office-hours

5 SweetOps Slack​

If you are looking for a community of like-minded DevOps practitioners, please join the SweetOps Slack.

6 Review Design Decisions​

7 Review Handoff Calls​

Generally, expect to schedule the following Handoff calls. These are subject to change and should be adaptable to fit your individual engagement.

How to Succeed​

Cloud Posse has noticed several patterns that lead to successful projects.

1 Come Prepared​

Review six pagers and documentation before Hand-Off calls. This will help you to know what questions need to be asked. Coming unprepared will lead to a lot of questions and back-and-forth. This will slow down material resulting in less time for new material.

2 Take Initiative​

The most successful customers take initiative to make customizations to their Reference Architecture. This is a great way to make the Reference Architecture your own. It also helps to build a deeper understanding of the Reference Architecture and how it works.

3 Cameras On​

We recommend that all participants have their cameras on. This helps to build trust and rapport. It also helps to keep everyone engaged and focused. This also lets us gage how everyone is understanding the material. If you are having trouble understanding something, please ask questions.

4 Ask Questions​

We encourage you to ask questions. We want to make sure that everyone understands the material. We also want to make sure that we are providing the right level of detail. Our meetings are intended to be interactive and encourage conversation. Please feel free to interject at any time if you have a question or a comment to add to the discussion.

Get Support​

See Support

Slack​

If you need help, please ask in your team's Cloud Posse channel, for example: #acme-general. This helps avoid DMs (siloed and repeated information) and keeps the conversation in the open. Never hesitate to @ a team member if you need help. We are here to help you.

You can also reach out to our community with our SweetOps Slack community.

Office Hours​

Both the Shared Customer Workshops and Community Office Hours are great opportunities to ask questions and get help.

Documentation​

You can always find how-to guides, design decisions, and other helpful pages at docs.cloudposse.com