The website/blog GigaOm has spent an awful lot of time writing about cloud computing lately. I don’t want to make a habit of linking to other blog posts, because one thing that I hate about the “blogosphere” is that it often feels like a big circle jerk – where one blog just links to the next and it provides no real value.
But, I’ll make an exception with GigaOm. My personal opinion is that they have some of the best content available on the net. They just don’t talk about the latest startup or VC funding round that you’ll never hear from again. Nor do they spend most of their energy writing outlandish posts in a thinly veiled linkbait effort. Instead, they generally write thought provoking articles that make you think.
Their latest post – 10 Reasons Enterprises Aren’t Ready to Trust the Cloud – is a perfect example.
Some of their cited reasons are obvious enough (security, reliability, & portability). But other points aren’t caught be traditional journalists. These type of insights come from actually talking to people who work or have worked in large IT departments. These include:
- Logging issues. A big deal in the world of Sarbanes-Oxley
- Platform issues. This isn’t an issue for a startup that is written 100% on LAMP architecture. But most enterprises have a variety of platforms and legacy issues that they must support.
- Bureaucracy. Its been said many times before – old habits die hard. And trying to get a large IT department to embrace cutting edge technology can always be a risk.
- International Laws. I have a gut feeling that this may be a bigger deal in the future. Although the word “cloud” is a nice euphenism, these servers still have to actually live somewhere. And, as we are seeing more and more, international laws still apply in the Internet age
These are all valid points. And, I do agree with the fact that small businesses and startups will adopt cloud computing at a faster rate than large companies. But, it doesn’t have to be that way. There is a work-around for many of these concerns. You just have to be creative.
I have a lot of experience with “traditional” IT departments. I know that it is easy to keep doing things the same way that you have always done them. Why take a “risk” on cloud computing to save the company money? You can always find more money to buy a new SAN or create a great PowerPoint presentation that explains why you need to upgrade your database server.
If this sounds like your company, don’t be afraid to go against the grain. The benefits of cloud computing can far outweight the costs. Instead of keeping the status quo and earning your 10% bonus, you can really mak a difference in your company. Take the risk. It is worth it.
Tags: blogs, enterprise
