2011: Year of the Cloud set to drive mass data centre migration
Gartner research is predicting that by 2015, at least one G20 nation's critical infrastructure will be disrupted and damaged by online sabotage.
The biggest security concerns for the coming year will be cyber-sabotage and cyber-espionage, say industry experts citing the success of the Stuxnet worm in attacking industrial control systems as a prime example of what to expect in 2011.
With the help of private cloud computing, these worries can be virtually eliminated and with the year ahead set to be the year of the cloud, mass business migration to sophisticated data centres will become inevitable. As well as improved security, cloud technologies will enable companies of all sizes to cut costs and drive efficiencies by renting their IT on a pay-per-use-basis, without the hassle of maintaining or managing their own data.
Gartner predicts that by 2012, 20% of all companies will no longer own their own IT assets. Furthermore, this research goes on to indicate that by 2015, information-smart businesses will increase recognised IT spending per head by 60 percent and consequently tools and automation will eliminate 25 percent of labour hours associated with IT services.
The emerging trend for businesses in the IT sector has been the building of data centres in response to companies who do not want to waste time and capital in building and maintaining their own.
There is no longer a need for companies to create their own data centres when they can make better use of someone else’s investment and expertise. This trend is supported by a recent report from BroadGroup indicating that business adoption of the private cloud is set to accelerate rapidly over the next five years meaning so too will the demand for data centre outsourcing, particularly as confidence in the security of the cloud increases.
How will Cloud Computing transform the way the world does business?
In a Keynote presentation delivered by Richard Quine of InTechnology, he outlined the way in which Cloud Computing will transform the way the world does business, echoing Gartner’s predictions
Here are the highlights of the presentation.
InTechnology explained that Cloud Computing has the potential to free up valuable IT resources to focus on what’s important to the business. Outsourcing important IT maintenance such as server backups, storage management, and patching leaves your IT resource free to focus on the areas that make real tangible benefits.
Cloud Computing is very much of the moment because of the general shortage of credit and capital funds. Unlike DIY IT systems, a cloud service should require minimal CAPEX, and is being considered by many organisations as a way out of their budget problems.
Drivers for cloud computing: cost and green issues
As Gartner states, IT has expanded beyond the confines of business to become intrinsic to every aspect of society. We’ve experienced a true democratisation of IT, and a market awash with mobile and context-aware computing devices. There is also the increasing importance of green IT which is now recognised as a global imperative with penalties for CO2 emissions and carbon analysis becoming the norm.
Cloud Computing has a major role to play here, because all functionality is delivered from within the network. Demand for cloud services has been driven by business requirements. The accelerated pace of server and storage virtualisation, and the exponential growth of voice services have served as two further areas of traction for cloud services. Add to this a severe lack of funding and a move towards working in smaller teams and the scene is set for Cloud Computing to radically change the way every IT service is delivered.
Enabling cloud services
Access to the cloud needs to be enabled from all locations across Ethernet and Broadband. This means that cloud based communication, applications or telephony solutions can be delivered to virtually any business location with a guaranteed quality of service.
Managed solution to solve budget constraints
The driver behind the move “into the cloud” is a shift in infrastructure ownership, and changing enterprise budgets, and the emphasis is shifting to turn-key solutions. The landscape has changed in favour of managed service solutions hosted at either the customer’s site or the managed service provider’s data centre.
The benefits to business cannot be overstated. There is no longer any hardware or software to purchase, there are no ongoing upgrade or maintenance charges and it’s a straightforward monthly service which results in dramatic cost savings.
