Strategy critical for cloud success

It is easy for a business to look at cloud computing and focus on its ability to reduce IT expenses. This characteristic is critical in an era when almost every business is working to save money. However, the cloud is much more than a cost-saving tool, and businesses need to approach the technology with a meaningful strategy, not just a goal to reduce costs.

That was the message of Brigadier General Steven Spano, air combat command director of communications A6 for the Air Force, when he spoke during a recent panel discussion during a recent AFCEA Conference. Spano explained federal agencies need to look beyond the cloud's ability to save money and see the complete scale of the technology to properly develop cloud strategies. His advice can also apply to businesses.

"If we're doing cloud purely to save money, we're going to fail," said Spano. "You've got to look at it as a large investment in resources, and that will be the challenge."

Spano explained that too many Department of Defense agencies approach IT as a cost center rather than a strategic resource. They look at what the cloud can do and see that IT can use it to cut costs in various systems. However, the true value of the cloud is neglected because they do not look at IT as a strategic enabler that can use the cloud to improve efficiency and innovation.

Spano also advised businesses to look past the security and privacy issues surrounding the cloud. He said these problems are really just a distraction from the real issues of trust and control that have nothing to do with the technology itself. Therefore, he said moving strategically to deploy the cloud is critical. Businesses and agencies do not need to rush to the cloud, but they should not get too far behind early adopters either.

David Drake, a technical adviser for information technology, communications and information at the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, agreed with Spano and added that cloud computing can provide improved IT agility and reduce product delivery times.

He said agencies that are simply looking at the number of databases and instances they will convert to the cloud are taking too small of a scope when developing their cloud strategy.

Lee Badger, a computer scientist in the computer security division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, added that there are still many things businesses and agencies do not know about the cloud, especially when it comes to deploying the technology at scale. Therefore, a strategic approach that focuses on getting specific technological results from the cloud will be necessary to achieve success, he said.

The U.S. government is rapidly moving to deploy cloud computing services, but a recent survey from the Norwich University School of Graduate and Continuing Studies found most federal agencies prefer the private cloud. Overall, 68 percent of respondents, all federal IT officials, said the private or hybrid cloud model is better suited to their agencies. Just 6.9 percent of respondents supported the public cloud.

"What was most striking to me was that government and higher ed IT professionals have clearly expressed their preference for private and hybrid cloud models," said William Clements, dean and professor at the Norwich University School of Graduate and Continuing Studies.

The survey also found that many federal agencies may not be taking the best strategic approach to deploying the cloud. Overall, 28 percent of respondents said cost savings are motivating their agency to deploy the cloud. If Spano is correct, these agencies could be emphasizing the wrong reasons to deploy the cloud.