Cloud computing: the new normal
At some point, people stopped asking “if” they should adopt cloud computing. Instead, the questions have shifted to “when” and “how.” This seems to be true across the board, whether you are talking about consumers, businesses or governments.
In the consumer realm, for instance, we recently saw Google introduce Google Drive, which takes Google Docs to a broader definition of online storage. Google Drive lets you have up to 5GB of free storage space - you know, in the cloud.
Some immediately raised questions about whether to trust Google with your data because of the legal language the company used; then it was pointed out that not only are the fears likely unfounded, but also that Google had been using that language all along with Docs. And yes, those Docs are in the cloud, and you’ve probably already been using them for some time.
At the consumer level, you may be using other cloud services as well, without consciously seeking out cloud computing. Perhaps you use Apple’s iCloud with your iPad, or Dropbox to share files with others, or Hotmail for your personal email.
When enterprises talk about cloud, they immediately ask about security – and they should. Putting company data “out there” on the Internet can be a scary proposition, and it has to be handled well. But at the same time, cloud computing’s promises of lower cost and flexibility are compelling, and businesses are going to move something to the cloud. The momentum is undeniable.
Your users are fueling the momentum. Your users are also consumers, and those consumer-oriented cloud services I mentioned are very likely being used by your users for work purposes. Perhaps they are sharing a spreadsheet via Google Docs or moving large files via Dropbox. Why? Because these services can be extremely useful. They help your workers get work done more quickly and efficiently.
The phenomenon is similar to what we saw with other technologies, like social media. Today, there is a good chance your users are tweeting on Twitter and posting on Facebook. You can stop them from doing these things on your company’s network; you can block the sites. But they will still use these social media – either on mobile devices or at home – because connecting with people online is the new normal. Another approach is to embrace social media, put policies and guidelines in place, and let your employees help you get your company’s messages out there into the social sphere. Likewise, you can get in front of cloud computing rather than fight it.
Cloud computing is also tied to mobile computing. Cloud computing gives you freedom from location, as you can access your cloud data from anywhere you have Internet access. That, of course, is the same promise of mobile computing, and as one trend accelerates, so does the other. In a recent survey we found that this freedom was the primary driver for adopters of cloud computing.
Smart companies are realizing that these technologies can work for them if done well.
- Jeff Caruso