Featured Article from Software Licensing

Cloud and cloud technologies have evolved through a number of phases. Nowadays, we talk about moving to the cloud, or running in the cloud, or storing information in the cloud. The cloud has even moved into the consumer device market, where anyone can purchase a device to hold their digital items and store it in the cloud with the push of a button.

This mysterious “cloud” lives somewhere at the end of an Internet connection, and while it seems to be all the hype these days, it is far more complicated, albeit useful, than the consumer electronics storage device. The cloud, overall, still requires management, and that’s where businesses may fall a bit confused.

According to OpenView, the global cloud computing services market is expected to hit $127B by 2017. That’s because the growing recognition of economic and operational benefits and the efficiency of cloud-computing model promises strong future growth.

The numbers are there, and the trends are evident, but the bigger picture doesn’t discuss cloud management strategies. Cloud management strategies typically involve numerous tasks including performance monitoring (response times, latency, up-time, etc.), security and compliance auditing and management, and initiating and overseeing disaster recovery and contingency plans. So yes, the cloud is great, but it comes with responsibility.

Cloud management is the practice of end-to-end supervision of the cloud environment by an organization, cloud service vendor or both. It ensures that the cloud computing services are delivered and operated in the most optimal form.

Although the customer or end user is also responsible for their part, cloud management is primarily a vendor end process and includes every task that directly or indirectly affects the cloud environment.

The folks at Flexera Software will be presenting on this topic in a webinar called “Getting Your Arms Around the Cloud,” which will talk heavily about cloud management and provide the ins and outs of getting the most from your cloud investment.

While the cloud is an invaluable tool, learning to manage it properly will yield its best benefits.