Cloud Business

Cloud Business Featured Article

Resolving to Create a Cloud Strategy in the New Year

As we reflect back on 2012, many advances have been made in the cloud computing space. But despite the progress that’s been made in terms of more implementations across organizations, managing cloud expectations at the C-level will be top of the list of priorities in the New Year.

While there are many considerations for shifting to cloud computing, the most significant for any enterprise is to have a cloud strategy. As more and more companies begin to deploy cloud services, proper technology, software and a well-rounded strategy become even more paramount.

This year, CIOs have gleaned many lessons about building the right cloud strategy. Enterprise software strategist Louis Columbus recently compiled a list of the lessons learned from these cloud computing planning efforts in enterprises, which include the following:

·         Cloud computing needs to mature more to take on all enterprise applications, so plan for a hybrid IT architecture that provides both agility and security. 

·         Reorganizing IT to deliver greater business agility and support of key business initiatives will be a high priority in 2013.

·         Measuring the contributions of operating expense (OPEX (News - Alert)) reductions is going to become commonplace in 2013.

·         Mitigating risk and liability through intensive due diligence needs to become any cloud-based companies’ core strength. 

The bottom line? According to Columbus, “2013 is the make-or-break year for cloud in the enterprise, and getting started on a plan will help your organization quickly cut through the hype and see which providers can deliver value.”

If you haven’t decided you are ready to start developing a cloud strategy, consider the myriad of benefits that cloud offers to businesses: optimization of mission-critical technologies, efficiency, up-time and the productivity they gain regardless of the size of the business and without the additional costs and resources of private corporate technology, to name but a few.

Want to learn more about cloud computing solutions geared specifically towards small to medium-sized businesses?  Don’t miss the Cloud4SMB Expo, collocated with ITEXPO Miami 2013, Jan 29- Feb. 1 in Miami, Florida.  Stay in touch with everything happening at Cloud4SMB Expo. Follow us on Twitter.