A recent article from CRN Cloud Computing just a “fad” reports that according to a recent survey by Vanson Bourne of 200 CIO’s, cloud enablement is the least compelling reason for them (CIO’s) to make changes to their datacenters. After reading this article, it started echoing my current thoughts around cloud computing. Have you ever given someone else access to your mailbox or blackberry to manage? This same scenario reflects the responsibility a CIO has over his company’s Information System. Despite the new buzz around cost savings that moving to the cloud offers, it still poses risks. The main responsibility of the CIO is to take all necessary precautions to protect and safeguard the company’s Information System. Therefore, during times when it is vital for cost savings in your Information Systems, it is prudent to be conservative by reducing the risk you would be exposed to.
In the messaging industry, virtualization is already underway with uptake increasing rapidly over the next few years and cloud services are beginning to interest many CIOs with the major attraction due to bigger savings that can be achieved. While it is the desire of the CIO to implement cost saving practices, it is better to take smaller steps in low risk investments such as Virtualization. Virtualization technology has matured and is now widely accepted across the entire IT industry. Through virtualization and consolidation, you are doing more with less at a lower risk than moving all your data to the centralized cloud exposing it to possible threats. A company still has control and management of their systems with the added benefit of running on smaller servers. Companies can reduce their footprint and power usage and CIOS are able to justify their spending to achieve a modest savings.
There are many applications that are very capable in the cloud, however it still lacks in the ability to meet the needs of complex functions such as corporate email gateway message requirements that are used to protect the flow of information within the company and the outside world. So is cloud Computing just a fad? With its current technology, I think so.
I respectfully disagree. You’re throwing the baby out with the bath water by assuming that slow enterprise adoption spells doom for the cloud segment as a whole. Merely because cloud computing may currently not be an ideal solution for all situations does not mean its days are numbered. Sure, you’ll see slower cloud adoption rates among larger organization with complex requirements – but cloud computing already has a firm grip on the email security industry (essentially tied with hardware market share percentages). Not to mention innovations like the Hybrid approach that Sendmail employs enables organizations to get the best of both worlds which will further spur adoption of cloud services (as well as reassert the importance of a hardware presence).
I’ve read countless articles claiming the cloud is a fad, and even more articles stating that hardware and software solutions are in the throws of death… might I suggest neither are true?