MARK CUNNINGHAM | Founder, D&B Cloud Innovation Center
Cloud computing is modern computing. That’s the most important takeaway when considering cloud services for your business. It’s not a question of if you should adopt cloud services but when, and to what extent. Let’s start with the basics: cloud computing is the provision of computing services hosted externally and accessed over the Internet. Now-ubiquitous services such as Facebook, Gmail and Netflix were only made possible by the advent of cloud computing. But it’s the transformation that the cloud model brings to the workplace that is really exciting for business leaders: 1. The freedom to work from anywhere, anytime, on any device. You get lots more storage, too. 2. Software that is more collaborative by design. No more emailing around documents, lost files or outdated versions. 3. Fewer IT overheads and greater cost control. Cloud-based software tends to be delivered as a service (that’s why it’s called “software as a service” or “SaaS”) which means you pay a fixed amount on a subscription basis. 4. Better business all around. As these apps become more powerful and easier to use, the average business user is able to get more stuff done. So what are the drawbacks? Much has been made about potential security risks with storing information in the cloud. But the reality is that cloud computing is typically far more secure than the alternatives. The major cloud providers have professionally run data centres with first-rate security systems, proven policies and highly skilled personnel. It’s far riskier to carry around proprietary information on a laptop than it is to keep it in a secure cloud system. |
DAVID MACLAREN | President and CEO, MediaValet
Here’s the lowdown: cloud computing truly is the proverbial “better, faster, cheaper” way to run many business functions. If you look up “cloud computing” on the Internet, you’ll find hundreds of articles touting the same benefits, including economies of scale, reduced spending on technology infrastructure and capital costs, greater access, less personnel training and more efficient project monitoring. However, when push comes to shove, you’ll need to proceed with caution. First, cloud computing does not come in one-size-fits-all. The idea that the cloud can be used to answer all the problems and processes of an enterprise IT department is a myth – and in fact contradicts the nature of cloud computing. The diverse deployment models, such as public cloud, private cloud and even hybrid, show the cloud comes in different shapes and sizes. Companies should consider the processes they want to move to the cloud and whether a combination of those models might be the right option. Second, plan carefully – it’s worth the effort. Cloud adoption requires identification of your needs, benefits, flexibility and expectations. The first step is not to choose which cloud tools to use, but to decide what data and functions of your business should be in the cloud. Test potential systems to gain a full understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. Third, don’t take everything to the cloud at once. Start with systems that are easier to move and plan to transfer “mission critical” operations last to reduce interruptions. Migration of data should be phased in with testing. Identifying problem areas early will prevent bigger headaches down the line. Your infrastructure should be maintained throughout this process to reduce business disruption. |
ALLEN WALES | Vice-president of technology, Autotrader.ca
The cloud may seem like a risky place – but it doesn’t have to be. Moving to the cloud means that your organization won’t have to spend as much time on basic IT tasks or infrastructure, so time can be refocused on expanding your business. If you’re considering a move to the cloud, start by doing your research. Check out a wide variety of cloud providers to see what they can offer your business. You might find an unexpected solution to a business challenge. Start small. Don’t try to do everything at once. Shift one system to the cloud slowly, taking the time to understand what you’re getting into. You can scale upward from there on a schedule suited to your business. Keep in mind that the cloud may perform differently from a physical server, so take the time to run tests and make adjustments as needed. I find that the “platform-as-a-service” cloud offering is the better option for most – businesses may be surprised by how much time it saves. For instance, we adopted Microsoft Azure, a platform that helps us build and manage applications. Our first application was a single sign-on system, and since we used Azure instead of building the application from scratch, we saved three months of development time. Cloud computing is very customizable, and businesses across all industries will be able to find solutions to improve their operations. |
