Cloud Computing Changes IT for Good and Bad

Grazed from Windows IT Pro. Author: BK Winstead.

Whether your organization is jumping full force into cloud computing or hanging back and assessing options carefully before deciding if the cloud can benefit your organization, there’s no question that IT shops are being changed by the industry’s drive toward cloud delivery. However, it’s equally clear that not every change is for the best. The challenge for IT pros is to find the cloud computing models that can aid your organization without sacrificing data security, organizational efficiency, and business productivity.

Dark Clouds

You’ve probably heard all the standard complaints against the cloud: can’t guarantee security; can’t access data or applications if the service or your connection goes down; no visibility into where your data is stored. Of course, these problems are real, and not something you can just gloss over. Yes, you do need to consider your back up plans, your legal obligations, and everything else very carefully—just as you do for your on-premises deployments…

It seems that sometimes there’s a feeling that when you move something to cloud computing, you wash your hands of responsibility, and that simply isn’t the case. Walter Scott, CEO of GFI Software, said, "When you put all your data in the hands of the software vendor, their SLA becomes very important." You need to be sure you know exactly what they’re guaranteeing to your organization—something to be certain of before entering into any agreement—and keep track of whether they’re delivering…

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