Internet service providers (ISPs) need to sell more than just broadband or risk being viewed as nothing more than a dumb pipe, says Steve Briggs, executive commercial head at iBurst.
Speaking during the ITWeb Cloud Computing event held at The Forum in Fourways, this week, Briggs said iBurst has begun investigating the business case for cloud computing.
He noted there are a number of motivating factors driving the adoption of cloud computing today. “Globalisation and the uptake of e-commerce has levelled the playing field and lowered the barrier to entry for cloud computing.”
He added that workplace requirements have changed. “Mobile technology and broadband networking have created new technology challenges for business, which cloud computing is poised to address,” explained Briggs.
Changing economic and ecological conditions are another motivating factor for the uptake of cloud computing, he argued. “The recession as well as fuel costs have forced companies to re-evaluate their budgets.”
Automation factor
Based on these factors, Briggs said iBurst is motivated to move into the cloud both from an internal perspective as well as to add value to the company's client services.
Discussing the reasoning behind the decision, Briggs said: “Cloud computing helps cut down on costs, and costs are directly proportional to requirements.” He stated that cloud computing helps businesses become mobile as employees are able to access work-related information from anywhere. This in turn leads to increased efficiency, he added.
According to Briggs, cloud computing is highly automated and businesses do not need to set up teams to handle system updates and backups. “Automation is one of the biggest attractions of this technology,” he opined.
Briggs explained that the automation factor of cloud computing also frees up internal resources, which can then be allocated to other high-priority work.
Regardless of the many motivating factors driving the uptake of cloud computing, Briggs stressed it is not an easy exercise, and companies must do their homework before embarking on the cloud computing route.
“Check your vendor claims and do not be a guinea pig for some start-up,” he advised. “Go with a vendor with a good track record of sustainability.”
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