Page 153 - DCAP609_CLOUD_COMPUTING

Cloud Computing

Notes
Everyone knows that Salesforce.com is a major player providing a CRM solution in a
multi-tenant environment. Google Apps is often brought up as the main example of cloud
solutions for the consumer and small business. The main theme in cloud computing is the
reliance on the Internet as the vehicle for delivery. As data storage professionals, you are
quite familiar with outsourced hardware, software and connectivity providers such as
Level 3 Communications.
One of the main issues with shared, multi-tenancy, is that the customer's ability to truly
customize the solution is still limited. For example, Microsoft also offers a hosted CRM
solution 'in the cloud,' however, one's ability to completely customize or modify the
system is limited due to the shared database or multi-tenant environment.

However, a hybrid model is beginning to appear. While Salesforce.com offers a
multi-tenant environment, or multiple customers on a shared server, and many hardware
storage providers offer dedicated systems, a new hybrid model is combining the outsourced
hardware and software with the business application or consumer service. The new hybrid
allows customers to 'lease' dedicated servers and hosting services from one single provider.
The first example is from imc2, a large advertising agency providing strategic marketing
vision and interactive solutions for its clients, Procter & Gamble, Pizza Hut,
GlaxoSmithKline, and Diet Coke. The agency needed a web-based, collaborative solution
to manage its projects and allocate its resources. The CIO evaluated 10 solutions and
providers and chose a mid-market, web based project management solution.
Because its information technology department was in such high demand, the CIO decided
to launch the software with a hosted provider, with the ability to migrate to an installed
system.
Another main objective was to integrate the chosen solution with their accounting system,
MS Dynamics Great Plains, and their home grown expense tracking system. At first, the
CIO thought the need for integration would require an installed or on premise solution,
adding complexity and timeline of their launch. Instead they were able to find not only a
project management application provider, but also a vendor that could host a dedicated
server for them. The hosted, dedicated server option allowed the team to 'dial into' the
box and perform the integrations themselves, using Web Service APIs and the Software
Development Kit.
The hybrid offering of both a project management system and a complete data storage and
hardware environment, allowed the team to get their collaborative, project management
solution up and running rapidly, without having to wait in the IT demand queue. At the
same time it offered them the flexibility of customizing and integrating the solution as if
it were their own hardware and software. Even more compelling is that the project system
'in the cloud' is integrated with software systems behind imc2's firewall.
Another example comes from J. D. Power & Associates. Similar to mc2, their IT team was
overloaded and the research team wanted a project management solution in a short
timeframe. What's more, their IT security standards would not allow them to put a project
management solution both behind their firewall, yet still accessible to their research
consultants while at client sites. So, they searched for hosted service providers for their
project needs. Starting with a small pilot team, they initially rolled it out to the first dozen
team members. Once successful, they proceeded with a gentle worldwide roll out.
Because the company is market research-focused, all client engagements are projects,
making their project and collaboration solution a mission critical software application.
As such, they needed a fully redundant project management system. Because team members
Contd....

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