Outsourcing Cloud Solutions
(field of studies: Information Technology)

1. A client wants to move their entire system to the cloud “because it’s cheaper”. What do you do?

Analyse their current infrastructure, costs and requirements, then show them what is genuinely worth moving and under which model. Draw up a plan to migrate everything, since that’s what they want. Agree without question – the client is always right.

2. An external cloud provider keeps falling short of the agreed availability levels. How do you respond?

Check the SLA terms, log the incidents and agree concrete corrective steps with the provider. Flag it to my manager. Wait for things to improve on their own.

3. The monthly cloud bill for your project suddenly shoots up. What do you do?

Dig into resource usage, track down idle instances and set up budget alerts so it doesn’t happen again. Ask the team to cut back on usage. Pay it – that’s just what the cloud costs.

4. Classes, case studies and team projects will be in English, in a group of people from different countries – much like the international IT teams that serve clients remotely. How does that sound?

Great – it’s exactly the kind of environment I want to work in, and a good chance to practise talking to clients in English. Fine, though I’m more at home with the technical side than with discussions in English. I’d rather study in my first language.

5. A company is thinking of handing the running of its infrastructure over to an external provider. What do you look at when choosing one?

Their expertise, data security, contract terms, reporting and an exit plan in case the partnership ends. Mainly price and what other clients say. Go with whoever answers the enquiry first.

6. A client’s data is heading to the cloud, but some of it is personal data. How do you approach this?

Before anything moves, check the data protection requirements, where the servers are, encryption and access rights. Assume the cloud provider will take care of security. I don’t see the difference – data is data.

7. What experience do you have with IT infrastructure?

I’ve set up servers, networks or cloud services and want to move into managing that kind of solution. I know the basics from my degree but haven’t used them much in practice. Hardly any, and it doesn’t really interest me.

8. The provider’s team works in a different time zone and replies are slow to arrive. What do you suggest?

Set clear escalation procedures, a shared meeting window and documentation so neither side is left waiting. Send my emails earlier so they have time to reply. Conclude that working with an outside company just doesn’t work.

9. Where do you see yourself a few years after graduating?

As a cloud solutions architect, an IT vendor manager or a consultant helping companies migrate. In any IT department. I don’t have any idea yet.

10. What motivates you most to pursue a Master’s degree in Outsourcing Cloud Solutions?

The chance to combine technical and business know-how and design cloud solutions that genuinely help companies. Good salaries in IT. I’m not sure it’s for me