Page All:
Page 1
Cloud Computing - the Potential and the Pitfalls
LONDON, October 20, 2011/PRNewswire/ --
PA Consulting Group and National Computing Centre (NCC) launch new
Guidelines
PA Consulting Group and the NCC have launched a new set of Guidelines to
help organisations identify both the potential and the pitfalls of cloud
computing. The Guidelines in the report show organisations how to identify
where cloud services might fit for them and how to deploy them in a way that
meets their business, security and information governance requirements.
Alastair McAulay, IT expert at PA Consulting Group, says: "Cloud
services are capable of delivering a long list of significant benefits.
These include cost savings; scalability; anytime anywhere, any device
availability; and resilience. But for any organisation other than a start-up
with a completely greenfield requirement, moving to the cloud also requires
careful planning, analysis and a clear business case. Businesses cannot just
muddle through and hope for the best."
Over the past year cloud computing services have moved from the limited
pilot stage to larger scale implementation. New start ups have been eager
adopters, embracing the opportunity to secure off-the-peg services that
rival those of their larger competitors but avoid the need to build costly
IT infrastructures. Small businesses can use cloud to access better service
such as data protection than they could provide themselves. However,
established IT departments tend to see the cloud as threatening to their
role as gatekeeper to IT services and providing them with a raft of
technical headaches.
Steve Fox NCC Managing Director, commented: "As organisations seek to
rationalise and optimise their IT investment, they currently view cloud
computing, server virtualisation, mobile email and storage area networks as
the most important technologies for the next two years - we are now seeing
investment in a range of complementary technologies such as virtual desktop
infrastructure, that together can offer an effective and robust solution to
creating a more flexible business."
The report highlights the particular challenges for large organisations
in integrating cloud with established infrastructures and IT departments,
especially if the solution is a direct replacement for an existing
self-provided service. The report then goes on to outline how integration
challenges can be overcome. Organisations must start:
- thinking differently, and understanding this is not business
as usual but business in an entirely new way. Traditional implementation
models will not work
- using an approach that pays attention to ensuring that
implementation is properly controlled, yet which also allows quick win
projects to be fast tracked whilst all the time ensuring that tangible
benefits are delivered to the business.
For more information or a copy of the Guidelines visit
http://www.paconsulting.com/smart
Notes to the editor
About PA Consulting Group
PA Consulting Group is a leading management and IT consulting and
technology firm. Independent and employee owned, we operate globally in more
than 30 countries and transform the performance of major organisations in
both the private and public sectors.
From initial idea generation and strategy development through to
detailed implementation, we deliver significant and tangible results. We
have outstanding technology development capability; a unique breadth of
skills from strategy to performance improvement, from HR to IT; and strong
expertise in communications, media and entertainment, defence, energy,
financial services, government and public services, healthcare,
manufacturing, transportation and logistics.
About the National Computing Centre
The National Computing Centre (NCC) helps IT decision makers deliver
effective solutions to business problems by bringing together users, experts
and vendors to share experiences and develop best practices.
Source: PA Consulting Group
For further information, please contact: Laura Hamblin on +44(0)207-333-6191 or email laura.hamblin@paconsulting.com; For further information, please contact: Michael Dean on +44(0)161-605-0855 or email michael.dean@ncc.co.uk
Cloud Computing - the Potential and the Pitfalls
LONDON, October 20, 2011/PRNewswire/ --
PA Consulting Group and National Computing Centre (NCC) launch new
Guidelines
PA Consulting Group and the NCC have launched a new set of Guidelines to
help organisations identify both the potential and the pitfalls of cloud
computing. The Guidelines in the report show organisations how to identify
where cloud services might fit for them and how to deploy them in a way that
meets their business, security and information governance requirements.
Alastair McAulay, IT expert at PA Consulting Group, says: "Cloud
services are capable of delivering a long list of significant benefits.
These include cost savings; scalability; anytime anywhere, any device
availability; and resilience. But for any organisation other than a start-up
with a completely greenfield requirement, moving to the cloud also requires
careful planning, analysis and a clear business case. Businesses cannot just
muddle through and hope for the best."
Over the past year cloud computing services have moved from the limited
pilot stage to larger scale implementation. New start ups have been eager
adopters, embracing the opportunity to secure off-the-peg services that
rival those of their larger competitors but avoid the need to build costly
IT infrastructures. Small businesses can use cloud to access better service
such as data protection than they could provide themselves. However,
established IT departments tend to see the cloud as threatening to their
role as gatekeeper to IT services and providing them with a raft of
technical headaches.
Steve Fox NCC Managing Director, commented: "As organisations seek to
rationalise and optimise their IT investment, they currently view cloud
computing, server virtualisation, mobile email and storage area networks as
the most important technologies for the next two years - we are now seeing
investment in a range of complementary technologies such as virtual desktop
infrastructure, that together can offer an effective and robust solution to
creating a more flexible business."
The report highlights the particular challenges for large organisations
in integrating cloud with established infrastructures and IT departments,
especially if the solution is a direct replacement for an existing
self-provided service. The report then goes on to outline how integration
challenges can be overcome. Organisations must start:
- thinking differently, and understanding this is not business
as usual but business in an entirely new way. Traditional implementation
models will not work
- using an approach that pays attention to ensuring that
implementation is properly controlled, yet which also allows quick win
projects to be fast tracked whilst all the time ensuring that tangible
benefits are delivered to the business.
For more information or a copy of the Guidelines visit
http://www.paconsulting.com/smart
Notes to the editor
About PA Consulting Group
PA Consulting Group is a leading management and IT consulting and
technology firm. Independent and employee owned, we operate globally in more
than 30 countries and transform the performance of major organisations in
both the private and public sectors.
From initial idea generation and strategy development through to
detailed implementation, we deliver significant and tangible results. We
have outstanding technology development capability; a unique breadth of
skills from strategy to performance improvement, from HR to IT; and strong
expertise in communications, media and entertainment, defence, energy,
financial services, government and public services, healthcare,
manufacturing, transportation and logistics.
About the National Computing Centre
The National Computing Centre (NCC) helps IT decision makers deliver
effective solutions to business problems by bringing together users, experts
and vendors to share experiences and develop best practices.
Source: PA Consulting Group
For further information, please contact: Laura Hamblin on +44(0)207-333-6191 or email laura.hamblin@paconsulting.com; For further information, please contact: Michael Dean on +44(0)161-605-0855 or email michael.dean@ncc.co.uk