News of Interest: Everything You Want to Know About Cloud Computing

We wrote about cloud computing on July 5, 2010.  What's happened since then?  Plenty.

Recent IDC cloud research shows that worldwide revenue from public IT cloud services exceeded $16 billion in 2009 and is forecast to reach $55.5 billion in 2014, representing a compound annual growth rate of 27.4%.

Learn everything you need to know about cloud computing to bring your business up to speed -- from new business models to the biggest cloud opportunities to how organizations can keep up with new architectural paradigms and offer more flexibility with less customization and more integration -- it's all here.

IDC Cloud

Illustration credit:  IDC Cloud

Posted by:  Women Presidents' Organization Chicago

Article of Interest: Should Your Business Be in the Cloud?

At a recent WPO Chicago downtown II chapter session, one of the questions that came up was: "Will cloud computing impact your business model now or ever?"

The answer: What is cloud computing?

According to Wikipedia:

Cloud computing is Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices on demand.

Think along the lines of Google Docs (particpate in our test here), Google Gmail or Scribd (example of how I use it for my business) but take it further to consider the implications of its use in other aspects of business.

For example, consider cloud workplaces, cloud research projects or cloud peer groups (we already experience this among WPO Chicago chapter members by using common links through Google Docs where everyone can share, network and edit critical documents).

Needless to say it's something to track and monitor closely as it grows in popularity. You don't want to be caught off guard should our world become more cloud-driven.

The big question we will leave you with is this: Should your business be in the cloud?

Learn more here.

Posted by: Women Presidents' Organization Chicago