Considerations for Cloud Computing Strategy

What is cloud computing? No one knows. Every one has his own definition to suite his needs.

In simple words cloud computing is an umbrella term for XaaS and virtualized IT assets, supported by Utility, Grid and Autonomic Computing in one offering. But due to early in life cycle of evolution not all cloud offering are based on Utility, Grid and Autonomic computing principles. X in XaaS has many metaphors and there also exist great divide among analysts, vendors and service providers.

Why should a CIO be interested in Cloud Computing? There are few compelling reasons.

The main benefits of Cloud computing is to shifting Capital Expenditure (CapEx) part of budget to Operating Expenditure (OpEx). Cloud computing also brings in other benefits like Out Sourcing, elastic infrastructure, etc. But as the saying goes, nothing is the perfect, Cloud Computing brings in its own challenges; Security, Privacy, Availability, control over IT assets, Audit-ability, SLA definition & follow-up, Compliance, different style of application & infrastructure architecture, Software licenses, Vendor lock-in and most important is Change in thinking.

To limit the challenges of Cloud computing also has another form called Private Cloud which is essentially cloud computing infrastructure for the enterprise. It mitigates lot of challenges faced by Public Cloud (Cloud Computing available to multiple enterprises from a IT infrastructure vendor) but introduces its own irritants like fear of obsolescence, one more layer of IT assets, change in IT staff mindset, vendor lock in and software licenses.

Keeping in view pros and cons of cloud and non cloud, I have developed few criteria for any application to be moved into cloud or not. These criteria have been divided into Primary and Secondary on the basis of weightage to be awarded when taking decision.

Nevertheless, Cloud is picking up and entering into enterprise IT scene with fast pace. To remain at the top of such situations, enterprises must have some strategy in place for Cloud computing which can guide IT department as need arises. A clod computing strategy must address:

1. Infrastructure needs at enterprise level to move to cloud – public, private and hybrid
2. How to win and modulate people and organizational support for cloud
3. Checklist for deciding for Public, Private or Hybrid Cloud
4. Check list of Dos and Don’ts for potential Public Cloud vendors
5. Reference Enterprise Architecture which provides flexibility of introducing Cloud Computing into it – Private, Public and Hybrid
6. What to be put on Cloud or what not to be.
7. How to tackle Compliance issues
8. How to tackle Security related challenges
9. How to shift from one public cloud to another
10. How to shift from public cloud to private cloud
11. How to shift from cloud to not cloud
12. Back up/fall on strategy
13. Guidelines to compute RoI and ToC

Conclusion

The Cloud Computing is going to change IT landscape like outsourcing. But to garner best of the cloud computing, any organization must have strategy which should be flexible enough to adopt evolving Cloud.