Deriving Long-Term Benefit from Cloud Computing

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One surprising aspect of cloud computing is that for almost all companies, migrating to the cloud turned out to be a longer and harder process than they assumed. Of course it’s possible to reduce implementation time by proper planning and foresight, but in the overall change cycle it’s not of much magnitude.

In fact, the truth is that cloud computing does take time – both in migrating and getting up to speed. But before you start feeling let down, understand why it is so.

  • Cloud as a paradigm: Cloud computing is not, as many businesses look at it, just another name for putting things online. In fact, much like the many software development models that changed the industry fundamentally, cloud computing is a paradigm in itself. And any shift in paradigms can’t be made overnight without damaging the business workflow.
  • Lack of capable vendors: If cloud computing is new for enterprises, it is new for the vendors too. Its easy setup and rapid scalability might have resulted in myriad choices and many vendors, but people who understand the finer details of cloud computing are still scarce. This lack of process maturity leads to increased migration and running time.
  • Poor processes: Last but not the least culprit is poor existing processes. Businesses who don’t have a flexible process model in place and want to move to the cloud soon hit a blank wall. Eventually, they have to redefine their priorities and strategies, and only then think of migration.

Looking at cloud computing as a platform migration methodology helps in better understanding its impact and scope.