TECHNOLOGY: Cloud computing and your business

Cloud computing is:

1. Computing in which services and storage are provided over the Internet

2. On-demand self-service Internet infrastructure where you pay-as-you-go and use only what you need, all managed by a browser, application or API

2. Broken up into multiple segments including: Cloud Infrastructure, Cloud Platforms and Cloud Applications

3. Accessing computing resources that are typically owned and operated by a third-party provider on a consolidated basis in data center locations

4. As with any new technology or service, before purchasing or implementing its is important to understand how it will increase your revenue, decrease your expenses, or mitigate risk throughout your organization. There is an abundance of information on the web related to the advantages and disadvantage of moving to the cloud. In some instances it depends on your industry, business model, and culture. 

A few of the pros and cons that you would typically see when exploring a cloud model include:

Pros

-Low cost of entry (i.e. No need to increase IT staff or skills)

-Fast Implementation (i.e. Great for startups!)

-Low Maintenance (i.e. Maintenance is performed by cloud vendor)

-Round the clock availability (i.e. web based)

Cons

-Performance (i.e. You never really know how much performance is available to you)

-Security (i.e. Data security is at the hands of the cloud vendor)

-Loss of Control (i.e. Customers rely on the cloud vendors disaster recovery model)

-Limited features (i.e. Features in cloud technologies are not as robust as on-premise)

When evaluating if cloud computing is right for your organization, you should take into consideration the following:

Cost (ie. subscription cost and terms)

1. Business model (ie. mobile workforce, long term strategy)

2. Time constraints (ie. major upgrade or upcoming procurement)

3. Security requirements (ie. regulatory requirements)

Vendor options

1. Industry options for cloud computing

2. Required performance levels

3. Reliability and disaster recovery requirements

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