Seize the Cloud: A Manager's Guide to Success with Cloud Computing

Cloud is here and ready to be used. It is now one of the many concepts available to organize IT, and it is here to stay. The conversation about cloud computing has turned away from pure technology, and now it focuses on the business side, the economics and the governance aspects. There are still some challenging questions around cloud, but nothing that dismisses the concept as a whole. For example, the question is no longer "is cloud secure" but more "can I use this specific cloud solution for my specific situation." And as soon as we become specific, the mist of the cloud evaporates: it becomes very clear that good concepts, services and solutions are within arms' reach for everyone. Seize the Cloud will serve as your guide through the business and enterprise architecture aspects of cloud computing. In nine chapters, and in a down-to-earth way, cloud is woven into the reality of running an organization, managing IT and creating value with technology. Along the way, the concept of business technology is introduced as a new kind of interaction between business and IT. Also, a new look at the economics of IT is described. The book strikes a positive note without turning evangelical or overly optimistic: it does not shy away from the barriers that could stand in the way of adoption. To provide a firm dose of reality, the book explores eleven cases in which leading organizations share insights gained from their experiences with cloud.