Cloud Computing: 5 Things No One Will Tell You

A few months ago, I was hired to produce an array of case studies for a planned book on cloud computing. In the weeks since, I've interviewed companies throughout Europe and the U.S. on their cloud strategies, and although I can't get into any of the specifics, some of the general themes I uncovered could help IT execs who are preparing for a move into the cloud.

Mind you, most of the companies I spoke with are large enterprises, an indication that cloud computing is maturing into a viable alternative to traditional corporate IT. These companies have been turning to the cloud for all sorts of reasons, and employing a variety of strategies to accomplish the transition.

Let's face it--at this point, the business benefits of the cloud are no longer questioned. Cloud computing in its various forms delivers well-documented gains in business agility, reduction in deployment costs, and improved user satisfaction. But what are some of the things we haven't been reading about the cloud?

1) Fears related to security in the cloud are greatly exaggerated. This isn't to say that security-conscious enterprises shouldn't do their due diligence about any cloud provider being considered. But the overwhelming majority of IT execs I've been talking to agree that the top cloud providers devote way more money and attention to security than pretty much any corporate IT department.

2) The real fears should be on the legal front. The bottom line here is this: There is way too much legal ambiguity when it comes to conducting business in the cloud. Laws few and far between to protect cloud customers and hold cloud vendors responsible when issues arise, and IT execs are right to want to know where the possibility of legal exposure lurks.

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Source: blogs.cioinsight.com
By: Tony Kontzer