Around this time last year, researchers were pointing to the high number of company executives who believed the security risks associated with cloud computing outweighed the benefits. Now, thanks to the efforts of organisations like the Cloud Industry Forum (CIF), a much clearer, more accepting approach to the delivery of cloud-based services has materialised.
The CIF and other organisations have given financiers and corporate stakeholders a clear picture of the big business benefits to be realised when leveraging definitive cloud computing strategies aligned with future business needs and industry trends.
Strategically, with the arrival of 2011, it is now time to acknowledge the baggage a company holds in terms of old-fashioned IT investments, redundant platforms and outmoded contracted maintenance agreements. Perhaps it's time to let someone else build the data centre, buy costly hardware and run the applications.
Cloud everything
With almost every possible business solution available (or soon to be available) as a cloud-based service, a strategic business plan can now be developed to evaluate each outdated corporate system and then phase it out after introducing an appropriate cloud-based option geared to unlock business value.
If any motivation is needed for the introduction of such a plan, it is the many benefits of cloud services - from their agility and adaptability to low (and easily calculated) support costs and negligible capital expenditure requirements.
For example, corporate accountants will be impressed by the ease at which future cloud computing expenses can be predicted. There will be no unpleasant surprises related to equipment failures or 'must-have' upgrade expenses. And shareholders will appreciate the effortlessness associated with the calculation of costs (from an IT perspective) needed to support the launch of a new division - or how much in savings will be realised when selling off a subsidiary.
Choose wisely
However, before a company begins decommissioning its data centre and dismantling its server farm, it must make sure it has selected the most appropriate cloud solution for its business needs.
It's vital to make a clear distinction between the many public, private, and hybrid cloud services and choose the correct combination to suit the company's requirements.
Perhaps it's time to let someone else build the data centre.
Martin May is regional director of Enterasys Networks.
The public cloud represents cloud computing in the conventional sense, whereby resources are dynamically provisioned on a self-service basis over the Internet, via Web services from an off-site third-party provider, who shares resources and bills on the 'utility' or on-demand basis.
The private cloud, on the other hand, describes offerings capable of emulating cloud computing on private networks. While these typically virtualised products often claim to offer enhanced security and reliability, they are criticised because users still have to buy, build and manage them.
The hybrid cloud, as expected, is an environment consisting of internal and external providers. It represents the option most likely to be chosen by the majority of users - at least initially. According to analysts, this will change. They say the majority of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will derive most of their computing resources from external cloud computing providers within the next three to five years.
Having made a decision, the next step in establishing a cloud computing strategy will be to team with one or more dependable, responsible cloud service providers.
Take time to evaluate them, ideally, with the help of an expert. Track their performance history and make the effort to fully understand theirsecurity infrastructures and safeguards before handing them the keys to the company's corporate data repositories.
The relationship with the cloud service provider could be long-term. Together every strategic move will be planned, including how and when data will be moved out of the company's corporate environment - the data centre - and into internal or external clouds.
In many instances, decisions will be taken based on a combination of the size of the data centre, the applications it runs, the service portfolio and the business needs now and in five years' time.
Most cloud computing experts suggest a one-at-a-time approach to rolling out cloud services. Prepare a 'road map' and fully understand the benefits of the first cloud service selected. Make sure the advantages (from financial, logistical, performance and security perspectives) are disseminated to all stakeholders before moving on to the next phase.
The company's strategic plan may take months or years before it is finally realised, but never underestimate the economic benefits cloud computing can provide for an organisation in the short-term - or the degree to which it will assist the management team to achieve its goals in the long-term.
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