Will Cloud Security Fears, NSA Concerns Boost On-premises IT?
Concerns about cloud computing security and NSA spying will prompt CIOs to boost on-premises software spending in 2014, while potentially slowing the growth of the cloud computing market, according to new Forrester Research findings. The VAR Guy’s spin: Don’t get too caught up in this fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD). Here’s why.
No doubt, recent hacks and ongoing NSA spying controversy has caused some CIOs to rethink their cloud strategies. But let’s not overstate the situation, folks. Cloud services like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Windows Azure remain in hyper-growth mode. And the Top 100 Cloud Services Providers (CSPs), as tracked by Talkin’ Cloud, continue to gain momentum. Also of note: On-premises applications may be no safer than cloud applications, Talkin’ Cloud believes.
For channel partners, this timely debate spells opportunity. Engage with your customers to understand what workloads they plan to keep on premises, and which workloads they’d like to shift to the cloud. Explore concerns about security and privacy. Determine current and longer-term requirements in those areas. Then define an overall strategy that allows customers to easily — and securely move workloads between on-premises and cloud settings.
Either way don’t stand still. Cloud spending continues to increase rapidly — even as on-premises software sales potentially get a bump in 2014, according to Forrester.