Industry pundits would love you to think so. I however have some concerns about the cloud and it’s ability to solve all the problems our clients are faced with without creating new bigger problems. If you would like to see more about what really is behind the cloud and things you need to considerthen you need to come along to the talk I am doing at the Kerio Partner Event in Sydney this Tuesday.
I don’t qualify as much of an industry pundit, more as a biased cloud dude.
Fact: All big software companies are developing and building stuff for the cloud. I don’t mean just Microsoft and Google but Apple, Sony, Amazon, Oracle, IBM, etc.
What’s dangerous, and is a prolonged matter of ignorance with SMB consultants, is just because the cloud is “complicated” and doesn’t clearly “spell out how I make money like I do selling Windows 7 workstations” it ought to be ignored. And the longer that attitude is taken (of doing lots of work for a very small number of clients) the bigger the distance becomes between consultants ability to compete with the likes of Microsoft, etc.
At this point, the bar is really low and everyone can get on. But it takes having an open mind and thinking about business, not geek stuff. For what it’s worth, I’m certain most people are doomed.
See http://www.vladville.com, the “Death of a Services Salesman” DoaSS series for more information.
-Vlad
I think the cloud is here to stay. I do however have my deep concerns about cloud providers and the role we have as trusted advisors for the client. Imagine for a moment the role of the trusted advisor who brings his clients onto cloud systems and then the cloud providers data centre floods… How do THEY (the IT Provider) deal with the recommendation of vendor X as a cloud provider when ALL of their clients are down?
I’m trying to make people stop and think for a moment before deciding the cloud is the answer to everything. To open their eyes before they go for the margins only…
There is no doubt the ‘Cloud’, or should I say the ‘Storm Cloud’ is coming. However IMHO, the IT consultant now has more choice of what solution is best for the client. Personally, I am currently allocating half-a-day of my time each week to reading, researching and thinking about the Cloud, my business model and my customers. Recently at the Microsoft Partner Board meeting in Sydney we agreed this about the Cloud : ‘Don’t Panic, it won’t happen overnight, but start getting YOUR Cloud story ready, because soon customers will be asking “What about this Cloud thingy, do I need some?”, so you need to have your response ready!
Stu Applegate SBS-MVP
Sales Director
Business Computing Australia
Stu,
The cloud is here to stay… for now… My concern Stu is that resellers are not considering the options. They are following like lemmings to the cloud without recognition that maybe the cloud is NOT the best solution for ALL their clients. Maybe the cloud is not even ready for their clients. That is the thing… people need to assess this, not just follow blindly.