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01.17.2012

After the introduction of the cloud and mountains of releases about the many benefits it gives to businesses, there is already a growing trend. In Networking Exchange Blog, a writer talks about the next step to cloud service: Managed Cloud.

Here are some takeaways from the blog:

• Companies are realizing that managing the cloud is as cumbersome as managing an entire environment
• Managed cloud means more service, and business owners need to consider an increase in cloud service costs
• Companies want providers to take on other things like VM monitoring, alarming, patching, etc.
• A managed infrastructure lets a business focus on applications being delivered to end users, which ultimately generate revenue

Though this direction is quite different from the original definition of the cloud – where you receive resources with little to no interaction - this has to be taken into great account. Like many unpredictable occurrences, the evolution of cloud computing has started to take shape and meld with business processes.

See how the article further discusses why businesses are slowly looking for managed cloud services, click here to visit the site.

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01.16.2012

How do you associate the cloud pertinent to your business?

An article in Thoughts on Cloud discusses an argument that the cloud may be likened to ice cream – that it is only desirable when things are hot, and its popularity boost was only brought about by the slow growth in the economy.

The author of this article believes otherwise. Instead, he likened cloud computing to a super-efficient oven in winter, which is more about the baking and less on the eating. The jist of the article mainly is on how to leverage on the cloud in creating business strategies. With inputs from IBM Cloud Business Solutions manager, Dave Carmichael, the write gave some valuable points on running a commerce business using the cloud:

• Transactions need to be as efficient and scalable as possible, the cloud lets you reduce costs when the demand is low and allows for increased responsiveness when the demand is high
• Over the next 5 years, there will be a continued steady growth of cloud computing even in a “challenged” economy
• Cloud can be more than just part of commerce; it can be central to business strategies
• Cloud can help organizations build lasting customer relationships
• In weighing pro’s and con’s of using the cloud, the pro’s will eventually outweigh the con’s

The cloud, like many technology shifts, is a game-changer for many businesses – especially the small ones and the start-ups. This gives them an opportunity not only to save on costs and other resources but also paves the way for these companies to think of new ways to improve on their businesses.

This is a very useful read for small business owners as this provides and in-depth look into using the cloud for reinventing opportunities. To visit the site and read the full article, click here.

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01.13.2012

Numbers Don’t Lie, SMB’s Still Leading the Way to the Cloud

A recent article by TMC Executive Editor, Erin Harrisson, debunks the assumption that large enterprises are adopting cloud-based services much faster than small to medium-sized businesses.

A couple of research initiatives proved that SMB’s are the bigger market of cloud computing services. The article was about Cisco’s and Gartner’s separate surveys and this is the summary of the findings:

• 44% of SMB’s have full understanding of cloud services from 20% in 2009
• 45% of SMB’s already use at least 1 cloud service
• SMB’s are adopting the cloud twice as fast compared to larger corporations

Several predictions were also made:

• Half of SMB’s will spend at least a third of their IT budgets on cloud and managed services in 2012
• The number of cloud services SMB’s pay for will nearly double over the next three years

Cloud service providers are given the opportunity to offer network-based features because SMB’s are realizing the benefits of the cloud. What they need to do now is to guide SMB’s on their cloud investments and in getting through the challenges that they may encounter.

Find out more about the research results, read the full article here.

Growth On Cloud-based Service Offerings

In yet another research by Infonetics on global service providers, it showed that there is so much potential for growth and increased diversity in the coming year.

From a sample of 20 current data center operators, 70% are already investing on the technology to prepare for the anticipated demand surge. According to IHS iSuppli, the growth of the cloud market this year will be strong as well as the interaction between technology and mobile devices; and as for the more complex solutions such as Platform as a Service (PaaS), although currently only offered by a few, will be more common by 2013.

Read more about the research, visit Codestone.

US Government On to the Cloud

The US Government’s CIO, Steven VanRoekel, says that his office is leading the charge on shifting to the cloud, in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2012) as written in an article in Ibtimes.

This year, VanRoekel plans to streamline US government services to make them more citizen-responsive with the use of technology. His mentions included improving the provision of real estate information about housing in census tracts by providing access to broadband internet.

As he welcomes technological evolution such as the BYOD policy, he also stressed that it will all be facilitated along with better security management.

Still, he believes that internet-based services will improve their work efficiency quoting, “We can do our job more efficiently with technology”.

To read the full article, visit Ibtimes.

Cloud Tech-Powered Automobile

On the lighter side of the CES 2012, Daily Tech writes about Mercedes-Benz’s new cloud-connected infotainment system: Mbrace 2

Packed with features, Mbrace2 will be included in select 2012 models but will be in most 2013 models.

Here are some features of the MB’s Mbrace 2:

Telematics features:

• Curfew minder
• Driving journal
• Remote horn and lights

… All of which may be accessed via an app on android or iOS-based smart phones

Infotainment features:

• Streaming internet radio
• Google search
• Facebook integrator
• Stock tracker
• Latest news headlines

The system can also be updated through Mercedes-Benz’s cloud network.

Read the full review and discover the other exciting feature of this new cloud-based auto-technology at Daily Tech.

Only Positive Outlook for the Cloud Market in 2012

How can new technologies contribute to achieving customer satisfaction? An article in Social Media Today synthesizes some insightful blog posts about the transition from transactional to personal fulfillment systems and customer engagement, and Forrester’s US Tech Market Outlook for 2012, and came up with some useful points:

• The total US ICT market in 2011 was $962B with software, telecom services and IT and consulting services as top 3 segments
• Software growth of 8.2% is projected for 2012 including ERP, middleware and SaaS apps
• Optimistic forecasts for analytics, business intelligence, cloud computing and smart computing
• Financial, professional and manufacturing services are the three industries that will dominate software purchases

Smart computing is defined as platform technologies including business intelligence (BI), service-oriented architecture (SOA) infrastructure, and virtualization. According to the article, smart computing will only happen when the other technologies are used to make customer experiences constantly positive.

What matters most is that service providers are able to follow through and be able to contribute to customer experience, engagement and creation of customer lifetime value (CLV).

Read the full article and find out the other findings of the research at Social Media Today.

Understanding the Cloud Era

“The convergence of social, mobile and local technologies is revolutionizing the way we think about enterprise information.” This is according to AIIM president John Mancini, in reference to the organization’s upcoming conference this March: Managing Information in a Social, Local and Mobile Era.

In a release by Market Watch, the conference is said to have keynote presentations by industry experts and will be covering these topics:

• Engaging customers and employees in new ways
• Transforming processes through mobile technologies
• Maintaining control in the cloud

The conference aims to equip business professionals with better understanding on the application of information assets and solutions.

Visit Market Watch to read the full press release.

Smart Use of the Cloud

A video in Small Biz Technology shows Dal Gemmell of Symantec and Raj Sheth of Recruiterbox as they talk about how the cloud can help small businesses.

As a small business owner, you should first ask yourself:

• Why am I using cloud computing?
• What are the core business objectives of the organization and how can the cloud help fulfill these objectives

Also mentioned were some tools and benefits from using the cloud, that help SMB’s in cost reduction, accessibility and ease of use. For instance, the cloud provides meaningful automation that helps businesses with their daily repetitive tasks.

In summary, SMB’s need to

• Evaluate their organization’s objectives to fins out which applications are aligned with their business objections
• Find applications that allow constant collaboration and will help them take progressive steps

Indeed, cloud technology is great, but it become the contrary if it will not save you any time or help you meet your business objectives.

To watch the video clip, visit Small Biz Technology.

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Our articles are written to provide you with tools and information to meet your IT and cloud solution needs. Join us on Facebook and Twitter.

01.12.2012

As contractors continue to look for ways to save on costs, the notion of cloud computing – and the benefits it has to offer- is becoming more attractive.

An article in Constructech said that in 2011, construction technology providers offered cost-reduction opportunities by providing Software as a Service (SaaS) and managed services for cloud computing to contractors.

This January, contractors are offered cloud-based timekeeping that gives several payment options based on access and not on standard headcount. License costs will be reduced considerably because only those users with direct access will need to be licensed, the field-based personnel can just digitally sign their time sheets making their licenses discounted.

This is a clear indication that the industry is thus becoming more comfortable with the concept of the cloud. Contractors can expect more cloud-based application from technology companies to help them minimize costs on overhead and other in-house technology infrastructure.

Keep up-to-date on the technological developments in the construction industry, visit Constructech and Construction Cloud Computing.

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Our articles are written to provide you with tools and information to meet your IT and cloud solution needs. Join us on Facebook and Twitter.