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Cloud Computing: Useful tool, or

water vapor?

August 4, 2010

National Association of Bar Executives

Michelle Murrain Director of Engineering, OpenIssue, LLC

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Talk Overview

•Definitions •How did we get here? •Examples •Advantages and Disadvantages •Implementing Cloud Computing

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Definitions

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Definitions

•“Cloud” computing is the situation where resources (storage, processing, display) are contained offsite and accessed through the internet

•“Cloud” computing is a buzzword •“Cloud” computing could be called just as easily “Internet” computing

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How did we get here? •Cloud computing depends on the following components: • Cheap hardware • Open Source operating systems and services

(web servers, etc.) • Open Standards allowing easy data flow

• In earlier days, we had the mainframe - but it was a silo

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Examples

•There are many different cloud companies - and many large companies have cloud computing efforts

•Cloud computing is the hallmark of Web 2.0

•Both public and enterprise examples

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Examples, cont.

•There are 3 basic “cloud” flavors: •Cloud Services •Cloud Servers •Cloud Software

•Some Cloud providers (especially Google) provide a mix

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Examples, cont. •Services:

•Email, Files, Calendaring •Servers and Storage:

• Iron (but virtual) •Backups

•Software: •Productivity •Financial •Fundraising

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Google

•Google pretty much only exists in the cloud

•Google Apps (Services and Software): •Cloud Mail, Calendaring, Collaboration Tools, Productivity tools

•Versions for public as well as enterprise

•Very popular among organizations

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Amazon

•Different kind of cloud provider

•Provides server resources •Provides Unix and Windows servers •You install and configure for your own needs

•Provides easy scalability •Inexpensive storage

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Salesforce.com •Salesforce.com is Software as a Service

•Originally a Salesforce Automation and Customer Service tool - has now become much more broad

•Different versions with different capabilities

•Increasingly popular in nonprofits •Development platform for web-enabled databases

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Advantages of “The Cloud”

•Servers and Services: • No hardware to service • No hardware to buy • No hardware to break • Lower electricity bills • No need for WAN • Ease of integration with other cloud tools

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Advantages of “The Cloud”

•Software • No custom software to maintain • For Commercial Software: Costs are

comparable (or lower), but without hardware and hardware maintenance costs

• Integration with other cloud tools is easier

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Disadvantages of “The Cloud”

•Internet access required (cut off from mission-critical data/functionality if there is no internet access)

•Doesn’t integrate with on-premise tools well

•Security compliance must be investigated

•Data is not in-house

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Other issues

•Security of data kept in the cloud can be both less secure, and more secure than data kept on-premises.

•Weigh software license fees with monthly Software-as-a-Service fees

•Weigh hardware maintenance costs against monthly server CPU/Storage costs

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What’s next?

•Implementing Cloud servers, services, or software is very much like implementing any technology change in your organization: • What are the points of pain? • What are the needs of users? • What is the budget? • Will the proposed solution get the job done?

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Overall Comments

•“The Cloud” is just water vapor - don’t buy the hype - don’t just move to the cloud because it’s the next big thing.

•That said, Cloud servers, services, and/or software might be a good solution to particular points of pain.

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Overall Comments

•If you are looking for a specific technology change (like a new CRM/Donor database, or a new email service, new data storage needs) don’t forget to look carefully at the Cloud options

•At this point, there are cloud options for every mission-critical technology function that an organization needs.