Question for IT/systems managers

[somerset]

The cloud is a con to move people onto an endless monthly payment model. I'd much prefer to have the flexibilty of owning everything I run outright when I look at the budget for the year.

If you go in make sure you know how your going to get your data out again and avoid the inevitable technology lock-in.

But, and this is a big but, you get automatic and timely security and version patches and upgrades built onto your agreement, don't underestimate the importance of currency, and the time and cost overheads of managing that yourself is not sustainable in this modern business world.... disaster recovery also gets eliminated from your worries and overheads.

 

[Bozza]

But, and this is a big but, you get automatic and timely security and version patches and upgrades built onto your agreement, don't underestimate the importance of currency, and the time and cost overheads of managing that yourself is not sustainable in this modern business world.... disaster recovery also gets eliminated from your worries and overheads.

Just because an agreement says you will get timely patching, doesn't mean you will. If you control it yourself you know that you will.

Disaster recovery concerns eliminated? Really?!?

 

[beorhthelm]

... disaster recovery also gets eliminated from your worries and overheads.

if you pay for it. and schedule it, and maintain it, perform test restores etc. and what happens when the data centre is unavailable due to a problem their end, your end or inbetween? process and managment doesnt just disappear when you outsource functions, which is essentially what is being done with some cloud migrations.

 

[Gwylan]

The cloud is a con to move people onto an endless monthly payment model. I'd much prefer to have the flexibilty of owning everything I run outright when I look at the budget for the year.

If you go in make sure you know how your going to get your data out again and avoid the inevitable technology lock-in.

Well, you could have a CFO like ours who has said he wants the IT system upgraded but doesn't want any capital expenditure ....

Your point about technology lock-in is a good one though - this is a big issue that needs to be resolved

 

[Curious Orange]

Just because an agreement says you will get timely patching, doesn't mean you will. If you control it yourself you know that you will.

Disaster recovery concerns eliminated? Really?!?

Are you thinking of the following incident [MENTION=6886]Bozza[/MENTION] ?

Cloud data fiasco forces bosses to break out the whiteboards • The Register

 

[kano]

You have patches and upgrades done by technicians with no understanding of the way your business processes work or any regard for any integration points you may have with other systems. You also no longer have that technical skill in house to call upon.

Other people have already commented on the lunacy of passing your DR over to someone fans assuming it's all in hand.

Think about the systems a lot of these saas / cloud providers are replacing. Some have been in place earning their keep for 10/15 years. You think some monthly/yearly pricing model has a hope of being as cost efficient?

Don't believe the hype!

 

[somerset]

Just because an agreement says you will get timely patching, doesn't mean you will. If you control it yourself you know that you will.

Disaster recovery concerns eliminated? Really?!?

But that's the problem isn't it, doing it yourself means funding staff, staff training, overtime for out of hours management and maintenance, footprint and utility costs for your infrastructure, environmental control.

With 3rd party arrangements you have a contract with sla and Ola agreements, and thus a bit of leverage. You will obviously feel a bit of pain in Dr situations, but most reputable hosting companies have 2nd site replication.... making it less painful, assuming you have paid for that service, but that cost is significantly less than providing all that yourself.

 

[somerset]

if you pay for it. and schedule it, and maintain it, perform test restores etc. and what happens when the data centre is unavailable due to a problem their end, your end or inbetween? process and managment doesnt just disappear when you outsource functions, which is essentially what is being done with some cloud migrations.

No it doesn't disappear, but you only require local control or management roles in house, not VERY expensive techies.

 

[KRJ7]

I work for Weald Computers, Haywards Heath. We have just become only the 18th UK company to be awarded Cloud Champion status from Microsoft based on successful migrations.

Would be happy to evaluate your business suitability for free..

 

[Another Berkshire Seagull]

Cloud computing is merely a buzzword phrase which covers a myriad of different technology solutions.

Some vendors are using it a buzzword, for other vendors it's very real. I see it daily that with Azure customers can save fortunes over using on-premise IT.
Azure is making compute and storage just a commodity (like water, or electricity) with TCO's that are very hard (if not impossible) for on-premise departments to meet.

It's not an overnight thing. Most customers I work with are integrating parts of their solutions out to the cloud (so they have hybrids). As they can save money right here right now and into the future by deploying these new areas into Azure.

In many ways the current financial climate will be benefitial in the long run to the acceptance of cloud computing as companies become more accepting of the risk involved with cloud deployments vs. the money that can be saved when under today's scrutiny of spend.

Over time more and more solutions (or parts of) will deploy to the cloud. Buzzword...definately not...this is a revolution in computing.

If you've not seen Azure, check out this simple video that explains better than I can...

 

[beorhthelm]

Over time more and more solutions (or parts of) will deploy to the cloud. Buzzword...definately not...this is a revolution in computing.

are you being paid on commission...

it really isnt that much of a revolution, its a return to the old IT model of centralised systems and time share on "bureau" systems, mixed in with outsourcing. really the concept has been around ever since the internet became common, services started moving to web based access 12-13 years ago and its an evolution of that. the only new thing is the use of Amazon/Google/Microsofts vast multi-location server farms to provide the hosting over multiple sites.

 

[Bozza]

I work for Weald Computers, Haywards Heath. We have just become only the 18th UK company to be awarded Cloud Champion status from Microsoft based on successful migrations.

Would be happy to evaluate your business suitability for free..

NSC would be happy to run your adverts for a fee.

 

[Uncle Buck]

The cloud is great, as long as it is creating fibre and copper cable requirements...

 

[Simster]

NSC would be happy to run your adverts for a fee.

Friends of NSC. Coming to NSC soon? I can think of one or two people on here who ought to be paying you for the privelege if you actually got this done.

 

[Another Berkshire Seagull]

are you being paid on commission...

it really isnt that much of a revolution, its a return to the old IT model of centralised systems and time share on "bureau" systems, mixed in with outsourcing. really the concept has been around ever since the internet became common, services started moving to web based access 12-13 years ago and its an evolution of that. the only new thing is the use of Amazon/Google/Microsofts vast multi-location server farms to provide the hosting over multiple sites.

Commision...kinda, this is what I do when I'm not on NSC.

 

[Questions]

I f***ed your mother....".

I miss old Franky boy. He would have loved this thread

 

[Iggle Piggle]

Cloud is great for any business which needs to be scalable for its IT. Anything growing quickly or start up businesses will find it of use. For any established business, I wouldn't bother unless you are using an antiquated system.

Don't expect it to be cheaper either. I've never priced up an implementation for purchase and support which is cheaper by the cloud than it is to deploy physical boxes even if that is what you are led to believe.