Demystifying Cloud Native Concepts for the Business World

The Business Value Subcommittee of the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) aims to translate cloud native and CNCF projects to a larger audience, particularly business people. They started with a glossary to establish a shared understanding of terms used in the industry.

• Technology has become a strategic differentiator for most businesses, making it business-critical and requiring tech-savvy business leaders.
• The content on cloud native technologies is mostly targeted to technologists, making it difficult for business people to understand without a computer science background.
• The CNCF aims to become a reliable source of information on cloud native technologies for business people.
• The Business Value Subcommittee started with a glossary to establish a shared understanding of terms used in the industry.
• The glossary is an open-source project that allows for open discussions, issue-raising, and tracking changes over time to the documents.

The subcommittee realized that they weren't all using the same terms in the same way, making it difficult to create a shared understanding between people. For example, one person might talk about a canary release, while someone else might be thinking of a blue-green deployment. To ensure a shared understanding, they decided to build new projects for the CNCF on the basis of a strong foundation, which is the glossary. The glossary allows for a shared language and lexicon, making it easier for people to understand each other.

As co-chairs of the CNCF Business Value Subcommittee, Jason Morgan and Catherine Paganini seek to democratize cloud native concepts. Technologists have been talking about these topics for years, yet, for many, the cloud native space is still largely inaccessible. What is a service mesh? How do containers fit in? And how do any of these technologies help my organization achieve its strategic goals?In this session, Jason and Catherine will talk about their first project: the CNCF Cloud Native Glossary.  The glossary explains these concepts in simple terms that anyone can easily understand—no computer science degree required. They'll discuss what motivated them and why they believe that now is the time to spread the cloud native gospel to a broader audience.