As we all know, the conventional way of creating an IT environment is to get servers, hardware, licenses and to install the software. This is a time-consuming and expensive method, requiring various infrastructure demands and lengthy deployment cycles. This wholly IT internal model may be common, but IT as we see it these days is being replaced by newer technologies. Because of cloud computing, the IT industry has taken a major turn recently. We have made innovations, and now there are several ways to virtualize IT techniques and to access the required applications on the Internet, via web-based applications. This means no IT expenses for hardware or servers.
This utility-based and service-oriented IT model is not a basic hardware or software market anymore. Currently, suppliers can offer email apps, production systems, safety options, storage as well as backup facility, to simply name some of the IT components that can be shifted to the cloud.
But how do software designers and IT decision-makers adjust themselves to this trend? How is the traditional IT industry influenced by these newer available technologies?
- Traditional IT jobs are being changed, as new-found skills and specialties are progressively demanded. Before turning to the cloud, the IT technicians will require to fully understand the benefits of cloud computing and how it can be incorporated into the existing business model. Concerns such as safety and maintenance should be discussed upfront with the cloud computing vendors, and in addition, a good IT department will have to supervise the migration and the ongoing relationship with the cloud supplier.
- The IT Infrastructure will be significantly changed, as more applications are being relocated to private or public clouds. Ways of creating and delivering applications will have to be adjusted by the Software developers.
- The demand for IT support staff is decreased, thus reducing the expense with desktop support. However, a new requirement is created, which is training the employees to work with and understand the new systems and applications.
- The struggle to preserve the data is also diminished. However, we also lose physical control of the data when we move it to the cloud, as it is stored in the vendor’s data center. Even If buyers might not be comfortable with this reality, they should realize that data in the cloud can be safer than being in-house. This brings us to our next point.
- Security: Business cloud providers that propose a complete cloud solution have security specialists on staff managing the applications, along with security options included. A best-practice approach is to store the data in additional facilities to ensure that it’s safe. I believe this is better than do-it-yourself.
- Highly customizable software: The Majority of the software that firms use is not “cloud-ready”. This is where the software developers create the code specifically designed for the cloud. Also, cloud providers should make their best in making this transition easy. However, the necessity for the IT department troubleshooting reductions, when the applications are SaaS.
It is said that cloud computing is about shifting the interest from physical resources (IT resources and capital expenses) to efficiency and utility. At last, cloud computing lets companies, concentrate on accomplishing what they know best, and not on paying a lot of money and spending time on IT processes. It is believed that the enterprises which cannot adjust to this trend are going to face significant economic and business disadvantages.