Growing pains accompanied cloud computing into maturity

Posted July 1, 2011 at 6:58 pm by Arjan de Jong in Cloud Computing.

A global survey, commissioned by Avanade, shows nearly 75% of questioned C-level respondents uses a form of cloud services; a 25% growth compared to Avanade’s 2009 survey. Of companies not yet using cloud services, 75% indicates they will start doing so in the near future.

The adoption of cloud computing by businesses is mainly fed by CIOs using this technology to gain business advantage, with increased flexibility, improved efficiency and lower costs. Plus, it simplifies IT operations, according to managing directors.

Signs of maturity

The survey defines three signs that indicate the maturing of cloud computing.

• Increased investment in means to secure, manage and support cloud computing
• Growing adoption and preference of cloud services
• New role for cloud computing as a means to generate returns

Companies also have matured at using cloud services and they now invest in security solutions and people to ensure successful implementation of cloud computing. 64% says they invest in training of new and current employees to increase their expertise of cloud computing technology.

Preference for private cloud

The survey shows companies prefer the use of private clouds when business critical internal activities and customer services are concerned. Besides, some industries need to comply with certain laws and regulations where data cannot leave the local data centre.

43% of respondents currently uses private cloud and another 34% indicates they will start doing so in the next 12 months.

IT department loses grip on control

Compared to private clouds, public cloud services keep on getting cheaper, faster and easier to implement. Because of this, the IT department loses grip on the control and management. One in five managing directors indicates it is impossible to manage all cloud services within their organisation. Reason of this problem is that one fourth of companies do not have a central system for tracking and identifying their IT cloud service providers.

1 in 5 respondents admits having bought a cloud service without consulting their IT department. Although 60% of respondents has a corporate policy to prevent such purchases, 29% indicates no agreements have been made on how to act in such a situation, and 48% says only a warning will ensue.

Lack of communication between departments

The biggest challenge lies probably with the declaration of a fourth of managing directors that there is no open communication between departments and departmental heads who may be involved in buying and implementing their own cloud services.

According to the survey, there are several reasons why some employees buy cloud services without consulting the IT department:

• Easier to buy cloud services yourself
• Takes too long through the IT department
• Company policy prohibits use of certain cloud services

Preventing proliferation

Nowadays, anyone with a credit card can buy a public cloud service without the people responsible for data security knowing about it. This often happens because of strict laws and regulations or the lack of a clear internal policy. This can lead to proliferation of (internal) used cloud services.

There are steps an organisation can take to prevent proliferation of cloud services.

• Define and communicate a clear and central cloud computing strategy.
• Carry out an internal cloud audit to determine which cloud services are currently being used and identify possible gaps regarding laws and regulations.
• Create a migration roadmap for an overview of which cloud services need to be cut short and which services can be brought to the cloud. See also Jitscale Cloud Migration Guide
• Inform employees regularly on the danger of “illegal” cloud services and adapt the policy when internal wishes and needs change.

Defining a clear strategy, and its consistent implementation and execution, enables companies to use cloud services maturely without any worries on security issues and proliferation.