Cloudy Forecasts and Other
Trends in Information
Technology
Alan McSweeney
March 15, 2010
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Objectives
• To discuss the trend towards cloud computing in the
context of current and past trends and forecasts in
Information Technology
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Agenda
• Cloud Computing
• IT Trends
• Cloud Adoption
March 15, 2010
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Tired of Presentations from Vendors With Pictures
of Clouds?
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Cloud Computing as a Trend in Information
Technology
• What are the sources of information technology trends
− Surveys by trade bodies of members
− Surveys by journals and publications
− Statements by analysts
− Statements by vendors
• Which are real trends and which represent wishful/fanciful
thinking or biased?
• Which trends are relevant to your organisation, based on
operating area, geography, size, state of adoption and use
of IT?
• What happened to previous trends?
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Cloud Definition
• The use of a collection of services, applications,
information and associated infrastructure consisting of
pools of computing, networking and storage resources
• Components can be rapidly provisioned, implemented and
decommissioned and scaled up or down providing for an
on-demand utility-like model of allocation and
consumption
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What Use Are Trends?
• To the business - what is likely to be able to generate
revenue through additional sales, access to new markets
or channels or save money
• To the IT function within an organisation – what new
technologies can help in managing IT like a business and
delivering value
• To suppliers of IT services - what customers will buy,
where I should focus my sales effort, how I should
restructure my products/services to be relevant, how I
should invest in R&D
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Business and IT Concerns Regarding Information
Technology
Business Processes Delivered by IT
Systems
Cost
Continuity and Availability
Training
Competition
Regulation
Governance and Standards
Business Partners
Efficiency
Business Alignment, Management
and Control
Cost, Budget