Cloud Computing - Some Things to Consider
Posted by Jo Ann Wetzel on Mon, Aug 30, 2010 @ 09:43 AM
Microsoft recently outlined their vision of the future - Cloud Computing. Shortly after that announcement, I've not only seen a tremendous amount of interest around this solution, but also a lot of questions around it. These questions are not just coming from IT Director's/Managers, but also business executives as well as the general business community.
So what are the 3 most frequently asked questions?
- Is my company the right size to consider Cloud Computing?
- Why would I want to do this? What are the benefits?
- Is the Cloud Computing safe/secure?
With any technology, there are always pros and cons. Let's talk about those.
1.) Is my company the right size to consider Cloud Computing? Yes - companies of every size (small, mid-market, and enterprise) can benefit from Cloud Computing.
2.) Why would I want to do this? What are the benefits?
To answer this will depend on the business need.
For small businesses:
Problem: They tend to not "keep up" with changing technology. For them, everything appears to be running fine. They often find themselves on unsupported hardware or software which then becomes problematic when they call for support. Perhaps they have no internal IT person and someone in the office is wearing 2 hats and managing the system takes away from their efficiency and productivity.
Solution: Purchasing a server in the Cloud eliminates the need to manage this server environment and this internal person becomes more productive. Most guarantee uptime. Cloud services are typically paid for on a monthly basis just like a utility - electric, water, cable, so you know what your IT spend is going to be each month - no suprises.
For mid-market and enterprise businesses:
Problem: Most of these companies are still on Exchange 2003 (or some other e-mail platform) and are trying to figure out a way to upgrade (or get to Exchange), but yet keep costs down. They find out that not only do they have to upgrade their server hardware, but they must also upgrade most if not all of their software - Windows Server 2008, repurchase Windows Server 2008 Client Access Licenses (CAL's), Exchange 2010, Exchange CAL's, plus they need to determine if they have to upgrade their backup solution or just purchase a new backup agent, purchase new antivirus software and/or anti-spam software, plus they may consider virtualizing. All of this comes at a substantial cost that a lot of companies don't expect.
Solution: There is clearly an interest in Exchange Online Services and the Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS). Exchange Online moves Exchange to the Cloud with 24/7 reliability given their multiple datacenters in the U.S. and abroad. Users can still utilize their Microsoft Outlook client if they chose or use the web-based client. Management, storage, and archiving are all a breeze, allowing internal IT to focus on the areas that will help grow the businesss, move it forward, and remain competitive. Business Productivity Online Suite includes not only includes Exchange Online, but SharePoint Online, Office Live Meeting, and Office Communications Online - many of these services that can be installed on-premise as well, but again, less expensive to do in the Cloud.
3.) Is Cloud Computing safe/secure? You should always discuss your concerns with a Technology Partner. Your Technology Partner should be able to identify the risks and benefits based on your current environment, past history, and future growth and determine if this is the right solution for you.
For more information on Microsoft's Online Services, please visit www.microsoft.com/online. To learn more about Cloud Computing, please visit www.bcgsystems.com/learn and attend one of our upcoming Executive Briefings. (Cloud Computing Series begins September 9th!)
What do you think about Cloud Computing? What questions do you have?
