Did you catch the latest cloud computing news ?
Microsoft pushes through a mammoth cloud computing contract.
Keeping in line with its (global) education pledges, Microsoft is going to be using cloud computing to bring critical cloud services to 11k schools in India. The AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) is the official client of this project; this organization is serving not just India however, in a way, it will help to create better technical professionals who will likely help serve more global business interests / ventures. (We are, after all, talking about around 7 and a half million students here.) The real questions are; does this move mark the start of even more frequent philanthropic cloud computing gestures, and is this perhaps Microsoft’s attempt to build a training ground for forthcoming technologies (like cloud computing)?
There’s simply no question about it, Microsoft is a company that the entire world looks to for cues and trends. Given their track record, it’s pretty safe to say that if you are rooted in a technical industry, you can pretty much base your moves on those made by megaliths like Microsoft. This is because they generally don’t make short-sighted decisions, and have a nearly limitless budget on hand to ensure that they are not only successful, but one of the premier frontrunners in whatever venture they undertake.
If you are a business owner, board member, or manager, I shouldn’t have to tell you that it’s best to get into a new product / field / area as early as possible. Doing so gives you the “upper hand” over your competition in several ways and allows you to potentially implement newer technologies in a more timely fashion. Then there’s the issue of branding and marketability; here’s a quick test, which company do you believe in and/or respect more? The one that had the foresight and wherewithal to jump into a profitable venture before everyone else, or the company that “got to the party after everyone else had already arrived”?
Cloud computing is still relatively young, but it already has an extraordinary number of things going for it. For starters, cloud computing is really a permutation of the very concept of computing and networking. In other words, cloud computing was born of the technologies of its predecessors; it’s not as much an entirely new approach as it is a refinement or reorganization of technological elements which were already present. Additionally; computing, networking and tech experts from all over the planet are predicting or seeing trends which seem to be indicating a big shift toward widespread adoption of cloud computing. This “shift” would apply not just to businesses, universities and some governmental institutions, but to virtually every single consumer on the face of the Earth.
If nothing else, the aforementioned incentives should jump start your own thinking with regards to your IT assets, and how well prepared you (and your company) are for the next technological shift. There is of course, a rather simple and elegant solution for such a dilemma, it’ called e-learning. Through a group rate discounted e-learning program you can have your entire IT department (including all new hires) undergo cloud computing certification and training. The best part is, since these courses are deployed online, your employees won’t have to interrupt their already busy work schedules in order to complete their programs. Likewise, these classes can be accessed / viewed on virtually any device (including tablets and smartphones). What’s more, some programs even bundle the certification test costs along with other packaged items (it’s quite a value for employers and employees alike). By having your IT workers engage certification in cloud computing you are protecting your company’s assets as well as providing your employees with extremely valuable career skills (which they will probably come to greatly appreciate).
Everyone’s doing it; giving in to (justified) technological peer pressure
Perhaps the biggest concern for most organizations is figuring out when they should begin attempting to adopt cloud computing (entirely or in part). While a full transition to cloud computing might not be possible for some enterprises at this time, those with true technological savvy are at least considering adding individual (a la carte) cloud services to augment their current capabilities. The simple fact of the matter is that there are oodles of individually deployable cloud services which can and will transform the way you do business (for the better).
An organization like Microsoft invariably understands the importance of not only utilizing emerging cloud technologies, but also how promotion of them can further enable and revolutionize business for the entire IT industry. Once you reach “the top”, and the world is your “oyster”, so to speak, you can either use your tidal wave of success to crush everyone underneath you or perhaps take a more benevolent and altruistic approach to the way you conduct future business. Luckily for us, Microsoft has taken a more generous approach in the manner in which they conduct their business. This recent move that they have made in India, in which they are using cloud computing to reinforce education, confirms that they are committed to the betterment of humanity and the overall continued progress of technology.