| The Cloud changes how organizations use and | | | | - they want a simple way to deploy office |
| share information, offering on-demand, anytime, | | | | applications that are platform-independent |
| anywhere capabilities. It helps put idle computing | | | | - they have a mobile and/or a geographically |
| resources to work, potentially reducing IT's | | | | dispersed workforce |
| carbon footprint. Itremoves cost-of-entry barriers | | | | - their IT department lacks the subject matter |
| by allowing users to "rent" hardware and | | | | expertise for certain types of software outside |
| software capacity, and opens new collaboration | | | | the realm of typical financial, human resources and |
| possibilities. | | | | content management applications. |
| Cloud Computing and Software as a Service | | | | ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES |
| (SaaS) are gaining acceptance in the marketplace. | | | | Advantages |
| If you use Google Apps, then you are already in | | | | - Reduced infrastructure risk |
| the Cloud. If you use Salesforce.com, then you | | | | - Managed |
| are in the Cloud. Global airline KLM switched from | | | | - Flexible and scalable |
| traditional office applications to Google Apps earlier | | | | - Reliable |
| in 2010 to keep its largely mobile workforce | | | | - Sustainable |
| connected 24/7. Other companies are adopting | | | | - Secure |
| OpenOffice.org and robust Enterprise Resource | | | | - Low cost of entry |
| Planning (ERP) applications for supply chain, financial | | | | - Cost effective |
| and human resources management, as well as | | | | - Reduced complexity |
| specialty applications for environment, health & | | | | - Workload optimization |
| safety (EHS) information management. | | | | - Better user experience |
| DRIVERS | | | | Disadvantages |
| Companies consider Cloud Computing for many | | | | - The service provider controls the data |
| reasons, for example: | | | | - Limited software options |
| - their aging IT infrastructure needs replacing | | | | - Information security |
| - they require consolidated information roll-up but | | | | - Compliance |
| have several enterprise applications and systems | | | | - E-Discovery risk |
| that do not communicate with each other | | | | - Integration with other systems |
| - they need to standardize business processes | | | | - Limited customization options |
| across several platforms and do not want to | | | | CONSIDERING A MOVE TO THE CLOUD? |
| upgrade their IT infrastructure | | | | Should you move to the Cloud? The return on |
| - they cannot keep up with computing demand | | | | investment (ROI) for any IT initiative depends on |
| - they need a mechanism for internal and external | | | | internal IT resources, budget, need for |
| parties to collaborate, 24/7, independent of IT | | | | customization and integration with other software |
| platform (hardware, operating system, software) | | | | applications. Beyond the ROI calculation, consider |
| - they are concerned with increasing regulations | | | | your organization's culture, its maturity with |
| and guidelines that call for information | | | | respect to the adoption of new technology, and |
| transparency and individual accountability | | | | its risk tolerance. |