Organisations should embrace cloud computing because there is very little to fear from the technology.
So says Fabio Taddei, Fujitsu Services' business solutions consultant, who notes that the technology has been around for many years in various forms.
Although there are some valid concerns, cloud computing is a field in which substantial development is taking place and many organisations are now investing and entering, he says.
Cloud is not a fad, he points out, it is here to stay and it will play an increasing role in assisting organisations optimise their IT investments with a specific focus on delivering better services at lower costs.
In order to understand the attitudes and challenges around cloud computing, and to ensure the solutions being offered to the market are both compelling and relevant, ITWeb and Fujitsu are running an online cloud computing survey.
Taddei says the survey intends to gauge South African opinions of and receptiveness towards cloud computing.
It will investigate how mature the South African cloud computing market is and where cloud computing can add value to business and IT operations as well as what concerns surround the adoption of cloud computing, he points out.
According to Taddei, organisations need to look at cloud computing as they do several other aspects of their business. “By embarking on cloud computing initiatives, they can refocus their business efforts on their core business (in much the way that they outsource many of their business services), removing costs and administrative overheads from what is largely a business utility,” he says.
He adds that increased awareness of the implications and requirements of cloud computing means companies are now more receptive to the concept and are looking to optimise the value of their IT investments.
He says one of cloud computing's key challenges is loss of control. “Companies loathe having to decentralise their information and are fearful of losing control of their business and data.”
However, Taddei believes challenges will diminish as case studies increase and more information becomes available on the benefits of cloud implementation.
While bandwidth cost and speed remains a challenge in SA, these issues are being addressed with increases in bandwidth and better infrastructure, he explains.
The survey, which opened yesterday, will run until 4 July on ITWeb. The respondents stand a chance to win a Fujitsu M2010 notebook.
The results of the 2011 Cloud Computing Survey, together with the winner of the prize draw, will be published on ITWeb. An e-mail will be sent to all respondents notifying them when the results announcement takes place.
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