Why is Cloud Computing Relevant?
Posted by Brad McMillan on Tue, Feb 21, 2012 @ 02:09 PM
Cloud is a new computing paradigm that opens the door to bold new possibilities. Cloud is already having a broad impact, with implications that are relevant even to the most non-technical person.
As business leaders, we expect technology to deliver cost efficiencies, improve cust
omer experience, drive revenue growth, and foster innovation. At the same time, we expect constant availability and end-to-end security.
This combination of rising expectations and a rapid rate of change challenge traditional approaches for information technology. Business cycles keep shortening, but business system complexity keeps escalating. Information technology is too often described as equal parts business accelerator and business obstructer.
Cloud will change the way the world lives, works, plays, and learns. Imagine having access to nearly unlimited computing power on any device from anywhere. Imagine bringing new products to market months faster than you can today. Imagine speeding up your innovation cycles, with fewer barriers to scaling up successes and shutting down failures. Imagine accessing your content—music, movies, books—from any location. Imagine connecting with friends, family, and colleagues around the globe with a rich and secure experience, accessible to everyone.
A new approach is needed to free individuals and organizations from the constraints of traditional information technology. I believe that Cloud is part of the answer and will play a central role in the next era of IT.
Though Cloud is a reality today, even greater functionality is on the horizon. As Cloud continues to mature into a market-place, we can expect more revenue opportunities, shorter time-to-market, and a richer set of applications and services. We will witness more powerful development capabilities, accessible even to non-technologists. We will experience better quality communication platforms. Lastly, we will achieve more efficient, scalable, and environmentally sustainable IT infrastructure.
Technology leaders have confirmed these points of view with Eric Schmidt, Chairman and Former Chief Executive for Google®, calling cloud computing the ‘defining technological shift of our generation’!
In my next article we will look at whether or not today is the right time to move to the Cloud.