subject: Cloud Computing Solutions [print this page] arketplace, many companies are still unsure if this solution can meet their current and future business needs and challenges.
At a simplistic level, cloud computing is a solution that utilizes the Internet to access software applications instead of providing access by an internal network server that is physically located within your office location.
The more common uses of a cloud computing solution are for hosted email, online data backup and recovery, software-as-a-service and hosted IP based phone service (hosted VoIP).
A complete cloud computing environment typically comprises the outsourcing of every network servers and their associated software applications to a third-party data center. As such, another company will have the ultimate responsibility and accountability for the on-going maintenance and up-time of your Information Technology infrastructure.
One of the most attractive benefits of a cloud computing solution includes the substantially lower total cost of ownership that results from the more efficient utilization and leveraging of technology.
For example, by leveraging commercially available virtualization technology, many servers may be consolidated to a single physical server. This effort will result in reduced costs while offering enhanced network support and maintenance capabilities via centralized services management.
An additional benefit results from an increased availability of faster internet bandwidth speeds. Your staff will now have data traffic performance speeds that rival those of your internal network.
In summary, cloud computing can frequently minimize the need and expense of procuring new or additional hardware, provide your company with out-of-the-box disaster recovery capabilities, minimize your electrical power consumption, remove hardware maintenance expenses, as well as free- up valuable office space.
Furthermore, your IT support staff can focus their time and energy on ensuring the continued and successful delivery of your core service offerings to your marketplace.
But, this solution may not be a good fit for every organization. Some prospects have expressed concerns about data security, protection, and assurance, the reliance and reliability of their internet service provider to access their data and applications, bandwidth performance and speed issues and maintenance and support considerations.
In addition, others have expressed concerns around vendor management and the potential risk of increased finger pointing and lack of problem accountability and issues ownership among their vendors and service supplies.
Despite these issues and concerns, we still believe that cloud computing is a solution that is definitely worth further discussion and additional consideration.
