| Over last couple of years, cloud computing has | | | | Private vs. Public Cloud: What type of cloud one |
| become one of the most promising IT solutions. The | | | | should select? This is a relatively complex decision as |
| promise of cloud computing is quite clear, reduction | | | | compared to previous two. There are many factors |
| of operational expenses by maximizing the utilization's | | | | that play a part, core vs. non-core application, |
| of IT infrastructure. The utilization rate going from | | | | security & privacy concerns for the application, |
| single digit to 60-70% is not uncommon using | | | | governance issues, size of organization, growth of |
| carefully designed cloud solution. | | | | company (and so supporting IT infrastructure). It has |
| In order to achieve such goal, what are the | | | | been observed that lot of companies are adopting a |
| experiences and patterns that are emerging from the | | | | hybrid approach. The hybrid approach certainly |
| early adoption of cloud computing? The adoption of | | | | provides lot more flexibility to an organization. In |
| cloud computing can discussed from many | | | | general, companies that are smaller in size tend to |
| perspectives. So even to discuss emerging trends, it | | | | lean more towards public clouds as it provides them a |
| makes sense to keep the same level of discussion. | | | | low capital expenditure solution with options to grow |
| Client side vs. Server Side Virtualization: The growth | | | | rapidly. Companies that are sensitive towards security |
| of cloud computing on server side has been a | | | | and privacy tend to adopt private clouds. |
| spectacular 1000% over last one year. On the other | | | | Approach towards Cloud Adoption: It has been |
| side, desktop virtualization seems quite negligible. This | | | | observed that the approach towards adopting cloud |
| makes perfect sense as the server side | | | | cannot be piecemeal. An organization cannot look at |
| infrastructure remains stable and is heavy on | | | | one project and try to optimize it. By taking that |
| investment. | | | | approach, operational cost of that project might |
| Core vs. Non-core Applications: Most of the | | | | become lower but overall cost of the organization will |
| applications that are moving to cloud computing in the | | | | become higher. It is critical that one looks at the |
| first wave are non-core applications. Not that core | | | | portfolio of projects an organization is undertaking as |
| applications cannot be or should not be hosted in | | | | a holistic program from cloud enablement perspective |
| virtual environment, it's where you start with cloud | | | | and then drives the execution plan from there. |
| computing. Most of the organizations are starting with | | | | Change in IT Department: All of these selections, |
| non-cores applications first. Once they see value and | | | | different approaches are certainly changing the IT |
| become confident of cloud computing, even core | | | | departments. IT departments are becoming heavier |
| applications get moved to cloud as concerns such as | | | | on skills like strategic planning, business analysis, |
| security, privacy and governance get resolved in | | | | project management and quality assurance. |
| early pilots. | | | | |