I used to be excited to talk at a regional cloud computing summit hosted by one of many main cloud suppliers. My presentation targeted on the various alternatives of public cloud and the important want for danger administration. Just earlier than the occasion, I obtained an electronic mail stating that three of my slides, which mentioned cloud outages and the dangers of over-reliance on suppliers, needed to be eliminated. Mentioning failures didn’t align with the host’s narrative of reliability.
Frustrated however not shocked, I eliminated the slides. During my presentation, I highlighted the significance of making ready for outages, disruptions, and different potential dangers. I shared real-life incidents, equivalent to main outages at high suppliers, that demonstrated how companies unprepared for third-party failures can face vital monetary, operational, and reputational harm. The viewers’s response was blended. Some nodded, clearly understanding the dangers. Others, together with occasion organizers on the again, appeared uneasy. Unsurprisingly, I haven’t been invited once more.
Here’s the reality: Managing danger isn’t about doubting the effectiveness of cloud suppliers—it’s about guaranteeing resilience when the surprising occurs. If sharing that message makes folks uncomfortable, I do know I’m doing my job.