In our continuing series of posts on common myths on cloud and how they affect your company’s cloud strategy:

Myth #3 – Cloud Computing requires a increased headcount and extensive retraining
While this myth is commonly held since many people fear the technical nuances involved in cloud, in fact, once an application is successfully ported to the cloud and integrated with legacy internal systems, the headcount required to maintain that application should significantly decrease. This can allow IT asset reallocation to line-of-business projects. Many companies further eliminate additional initial deployment headcount via partnerships with a seasoned professional services firm.

Want more info now? Register to download the complete white paper from the Armada website.

[Coming next week - Myth #4: Every application should reside in the cloud]

Today we continue our series on common myths on Cloud Computing and how they can impact your company’s cloud strategy.

Myth #2 – Cloud Computing necessitates a compromise in security and reliability
Networks long ago ceased to be physically isolated structures. Interconnectivity with other companies and to the Internet guaranteed that even private networks became connected with public infrastructure. The resulting need for the measures required to maintain packet security including firewalls, encryption, Multi-protocol Label Switching (MPLS) remain consistent within leading Cloud vendors. Additionally, by sharing the costs entailed by providing increased physical security measures such as stringent access control, guard stations, monitored security cameras, alarms, cages, and strictly audited procedures and processes, smaller companies may actually enjoy enhanced security using a reputable cloud vendor.

The cloud can increase cost-effective reliability as well by providing built-in redundancy that scales along with the application and requires no additional capital expenditure. As a company’s server space needs scale in the cloud, their back up scales with them. When servers are shed, the requirement for effective back up can also be downsized. This “pay for only what you need” approach helps ensure that companies do not incur a lag in reliability from the process of scaling their servers.

In fact, once an application is successfully ported to the cloud and integrated with legacy internal systems, the headcount required to maintain that application should significantly decrease, allowing IT asset reallocation to line-of-business projects. Many companies find that eliminating additional initial deployment headcount can be achieved through partnership with a seasoned professional services firm.

Want more info now? Register to download the complete white paper from the Armada website.

[Coming next week: "Myth #3: Cloud Computing requires a increased headcount and extensive retraining"]

Wading through the hype surrounding cloud computing and cloud professional services can be daunting. The challenge is to decide if cloud computing is right for your company and if so, which applications are the best fit for “the cloud.”

One place to begin is by evaluating some common myths about cloud computing. In this series, we will explore five different myths about cloud computing and how they may be negatively impacting your company’s cloud strategy. The complete paper is available for download on Armada’s website.

Myth #1: Cloud Computing will save you money in all cases
While a savings in both capital expenditures (CapEx) and overall operating expenditures (OpEx) cost are a common occurrence in effective cloud projects, one of the true, main drivers for migrating an application into the cloud is that it enables increased business nimbleness. By using the engineering resources of a cloud vendor to manage server infrastructure scaling, a company is able to focus their internal resources more squarely on engineering efforts that differentiate them from their competitors.

[Coming next week: "Myth #2: Cloud computing necessitates a compromise in security and reliability"]

At The Armada Group, we help clients understand transformative technology issues like cloud computing and virtualization. We collaborate with clients to develop and implement business and technology strategy that takes advantage of the latest methods for delivering services to internal and external customers.

Through our work, we see trends emerge across our client base. One of the strongest trends we are seeing today is the pressure on technology executives to consider other alternatives to traditional IT infrastructure investments. There is increasing pressure for technology executives to justify the acquisition of new, on-premise technology assets. There is also increasing resistance to funding initiatives that result in customized, on-premise solutions to support the business.

Technology executives are frequently having to respond to the hype surrounding cloud computing and virtualization. While there are many benefits to the cloud, it’s not as easy as it appears. Therefore, as information and the claims associated with cloud computing amplify, a clear coherent strategy is required.

Armada advises our clients to develop a cloud computing and virtualization strategy with the following components:

• IT strategy and business alignment
• Applications review for fit with virtualization and cloud
• Governance & security considerations
• Cost/benefit analysis
• Business and technology impact analysis
• Change management review
• Detailed cloud roadmap

Are you being asked for “cloud alternatives” to your technology infrastructure investments? How are you responding and what are the results?