The Perfect Storm Behind Cloud Computing – Hybrid IT

By guest author Michael Proper

[The biggest growth in cloud computing will be in hybrid clouds (from 13% now to 43% in three years) according to a recent study by SandHill Group in which they surveyed more than 500 IT executives. Another survey by Evans Data finds an even higher adoption rate among IT developers, suggesting that the hybrid cloud model is set to dominate the coming IT landscape. Given the interest and practicality of hybrid clouds approach, we are trying to uncover some of the untapped opportunities in the hybrid service provider Market and more for our 1M/1M readers through our ‘Thought Leaders in Cloud Computing‘ series and this guest column by Michael Proper. >>>

Smart Manufacturing With Cloud Computing (Part 2)

By guest author Shaloo Shalini

Continuing the discussion, Eyal Altman says, “Now that we have this Force platform to work on, with all these applications that are built for this environment, we are in the process of deploying a new application for customer on-boarding process using Salesforce. It’s more efficient than how companies on-board customers traditionally. Earlier, a salesperson would be required to visit a prospective customer. In order to open up a new account, they would have to give them forms to fill in, and customers would be required to fax their credit references. Then someone in our credit department had to call in those references, and then they would have to validate those. Contrast this with the new cloud-based process – Elkay deploys an application called Forseva, which operates on the Force platform. It does all these steps required for credit validation automagically via Web pages. It is a credits and collection automation application that integrates right into salesforce application. With this integration, all the workflows at Elkay are done right through Web pages. As part of on-boarding a new customer, the salesperson at Elkay simply e-mails the prospective customer a link into the online credit form. Once the customer fills out the form and submits it online, Forseva can do automated credit checks with the credit reporting agencies, and the Elkay workflow for customer on-boarding just moves through in an automated fashion. That is one of the examples of a traditional process that was moved to the cloud and it improved business efficiency.” >>>

Smart Manufacturing With Cloud Computing (Part 1)

By guest author Shaloo Shalini

In producing our series Thought Leaders in Cloud Computing (TLCC), which involves interviews with CIOs and top executives across industry verticals, we are finding that cloud computing is rapidly moving from early adopters to mainstream organizations. According to IDC, cloud computing adoption is growing at over six times, as compared to the rate of growth of traditional IT. It has become one of the top priorities of many CIOs in terms of strategic considerations. In an interview with Eyal Altman, director of strategy at Elkay Manufacturing Company, we shared some insights on how the manufacturing industry is rapidly evolving and reaping the benefits of cloud adoption today, moving into an era of smart manufacturing with the new agile, scalable, and efficient business practices seamlessly replacing traditional manufacturing business models. >>>

Talent Management Continues To Consolidate

The talent management sector continued to consolidate the past quarter as Salary.com was acquired by Kennexa, Learn.com by Taleo (NASDAQ:TLEO), and YouCalc by SuccessFactors (NASDAQ:SFSF). I earlier suggested Salary.com as an attractive acquisition prospect for Taleo or SuccessFactors, the leaders in the talent management sector. >>>

Thought Leaders In Cloud Computing: Sanjay Mirchandani, CIO of EMC (Part 7)

By Sramana Mitra and guest author Shaloo Shalini

Sramana: Sanjay, is there anything else I should have asked you in the context of EMC and cloud computing? Is there anything you wanted to discuss or highlight?

Sanjay: At EMC, we are far along in our journey into cloud computing, and I’m going to be bold and urge folks to think about cloud computing adoption as a journey. It is a journey that is moving quickly, but it is after all a journey; not everything comes together at exactly at the same time. There are a lot of opportunities to add value in this space, whether for entrepreneurs, integrators, partners, or however you want to categorize it. Cloud computing is changing several paradigms at once – how we do things, how fast we do things, and so on. Things such as the desktop and client experience that we treated in a very traditional way for so many years are changing as well. It has been challenging, too, with virtualized desktops, smart devices, and what have you. >>>

Thought Leaders In Cloud Computing: Sanjay Mirchandani, CIO of EMC (Part 6)

By Sramana Mitra and guest author Shaloo Shalini

Sramana: In the context of the cloud, we were discussing some of the key issues that EMC is trying to address. Let me help you understand my question. Entrepreneurs build companies by solving problems; I think the best companies are built when its people are solving a problem and know how they can get to a customer. What I am trying to see here is whether you can help our entrepreneurs by providing them with specific insights and pointers on areas where there are problems so that they can look into solvingsuch issues in the domain of cloud computing. >>>

Thought Leaders In Cloud Computing: Sanjay Mirchandani, CIO of EMC (Part 5)

By Sramana Mitra and guest author Shaloo Shalini

Sramana: Which are some of the emerging, cutting-edge thinkers from the vendor community who you believe are starting to take the cloud out in altogether new directions? Ten years ago, salesforce.com was the vendor that was taking this movement in a new direction, and it has matured into a strong company since. Do you see any similar vendors on the horizon that are really pushing the envelope? >>>

Thought Leaders In Cloud Computing: Sanjay Mirchandani, CIO of EMC (Part 4)

By Sramana Mitra and guest author Shaloo Shalini

Sramana: The next topic that I would like to bring up in this discussion is security. What is your perspective about security in the cloud?

Sanjay: Security has always been on the top of CIOs’ minds. It will continue to be the top priority and needs to be on the top. In terms of security in the cloud, I think there is a fundamental shift in the way we approach security. Historically, we have bolted on security into our canvas, into the landscape. Every time there is a vector exposed, we have bolt on some level of security with it, and that is how the industry has evolved. With the cloud, I think we have a chance to build security into the cloud infrastructure as opposed on bolted-on security. So, fundamentally, I think the way technology is evolving in clouds, security has been plugged through right at ground zero so to speak and built in as opposed to being bolted on. >>>