We’ve talked extensively about cloud computing and the ways that it can benefit your small business. If you’re considering cloud solutions there are a number of providers. Amazon, Google, Microsoft, HP, IBM, VMware and others already offer cloud services. In a press release on March 24th Cisco announced that they will also be entering the cloud market. As part of our annual review for our free online inventory system and its architecture, we'll be looking at Cisco's offering. Yes, our system is free so try Stockpile today.
According to leading IT research and advisory company Gartner, cloud computing spending is projected to be the bulk of new IT spending by 2016. It’s not surprising that Cisco would like to be part of that landscape. What is surprising about the Cisco announcement is that it is a turnaround from 2010 when Lew Tucker, Cisco cloud CTO said, “ "Cisco's motto is to be the arms supplier. Cisco, right now, has no intention of being a cloud provider." (Network World, December 20, 2010) When we were rolling our Stockpile, Cisco wasn't a hosting option for our free online inventory system. Things change, huh?
Cisco’s offering will be called Intercloud and it will be an interconnected network of clouds for Internet and telecom service providers. While not directly available for small business use, Cisco’s entrance into the cloud computing market may have a ripple effect for other cloud providers. Even though Cisco's offering might not be directly available to small businesses, SaaS solution providers like us will most likely considering hosting their products and services with Cisco. In our world, this means our free online inventory system and associated products.
The March 24th press release also talks about accelerating the “Internet of Everything,” a networked connection of people, data, processes and things. The Internet of Everything is going to create a new set of requirements for globally distributed and highly secure clouds that is expected to top $19 trillion in the coming decade. Clearly the landscape is changing and it is moving at lightning speed.
The lesson to take away here is that cloud computing is not a temporary fad. It is not some new technology that is here today, gone tomorrow. The cloud computing market continues to grow and with it the benefits for all size businesses will increase. If you’re not using cloud computing solutions now, you will be soon. Why wait? Start harnessing the power of cloud computing today and try our free online inventory system.
