How widespread is the use of Cloud now, and is it a business imperative, or just another deployment option? We recently commented on this on our favorite forum at eBizQ:
http://www.ebizq.net/blogs/ebizq_forum/2011/01/is-cloud-computing-now-a-business-necessity.php
I thought Lori MacVittie's comment that "... the "business" doesn't need cloud computing. It needs applications." was very appropriate. True, business isn't usually driving cloud adoption. The IT side of the business has the most immediate gains to realize, having to offer more computing capacity while responding to budget pressures.
However we are seeing two current trends that are very real. Some major companies have identified Cloud as more than a different hosting option, or another word for leveraging somebody's SaaS applications. They are mandating that any business activity, including not just using functionality, but building and testing the applications themselves, must happen in the Cloud.
On top of that, you have what Alain Rap calls "cloud creep," which is the inevitable march of individuals within companies going ahead and using Cloud to get around administrative and procurement issues. Here's what John said about it:
It'll be like Palmolive. You're already soaking in it!
I would say right now about 20% of Global 500 companies identify full Cloud-enablement as an important strategic initiative. But what about the rest?
It may not be defined now as a necessity, but for many companies it is already becoming a reality - you have individual developers and business unit heads, tired of a multi-month IT cost justification for provisioning new servers and elastic capacity to test and run their apps... and many of them are just going out with their credit cards and purchasing some Cloud capacity or leveraging business services on their expense accounts.
What do you think?
Some companies may be best suited entirely in the cloud and some might be better off with a hybrid solution. As you’re planning out your technology, consider Microsoft so you can choose the options that best fit your needs:
Posted by: Jodie Mssmb | February 17, 2011 at 02:27 PM
For real that's your social marketing promotion technique??
Posted by: Jason English | February 17, 2011 at 02:44 PM