Whether it's from the board of directors, the CEO, or a business unit leader, CIOs are getting hit with cloud computing questions. What are we doing with cloud computing? Shouldn't we do more? What's our cloud strategy? Here's one attempt at a script for how to reply. 1. Not everyone's in the cloud. It might feel like the whole world has leapt to cloud computing, and left us behind. But consider these numbers. Dr. Dobb's and Forrester recently surveyed 1,021 developers 
and found about 4% currently deploying apps to the cloud. Just 4%. Information Week's Outlook 2010 research found 10% of companies doing some kind of cloud computing (meaning online CPU, storage, etc., but not including software as a service), and another 5% absolutely planning to do it. Both those data points to a clear reality: cloud computing--when defined as buying computing power by-the-drink IT from a third party--is in very early adopter stage. Not to say we should dismiss it. That would be a serious mistake. Interest is soaring not be cause we CIOs are gullible chumps falling for the hype, but because the capabilities are improving quickly and the potential gains are enticing. A year ago, just 31% of InformationWeek readers expressed a positive view of cloud computing, in the sense of either using it, planning to, or feeling "more likely" to use it given the poor economy. This year, 46% take one of those positive views of the cloud. Fifteen percentage points is a big move in a year. Cloud computing has momentum and mindshare for solid reasons, even if it's more interest than adoption today.
For Further: www.informationweek.com/news/global-cio/security/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=222300303
and found about 4% currently deploying apps to the cloud. Just 4%. Information Week's Outlook 2010 research found 10% of companies doing some kind of cloud computing (meaning online CPU, storage, etc., but not including software as a service), and another 5% absolutely planning to do it. Both those data points to a clear reality: cloud computing--when defined as buying computing power by-the-drink IT from a third party--is in very early adopter stage. Not to say we should dismiss it. That would be a serious mistake. Interest is soaring not be cause we CIOs are gullible chumps falling for the hype, but because the capabilities are improving quickly and the potential gains are enticing. A year ago, just 31% of InformationWeek readers expressed a positive view of cloud computing, in the sense of either using it, planning to, or feeling "more likely" to use it given the poor economy. This year, 46% take one of those positive views of the cloud. Fifteen percentage points is a big move in a year. Cloud computing has momentum and mindshare for solid reasons, even if it's more interest than adoption today.For Further: www.informationweek.com/news/global-cio/security/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=222300303
