20 #CloudWisdoms

Since I started to twitter and blog I’ve published #CloudWisdoms. They’re ones which crossed my mind from now and then. They’re in different forms, some of them as Q’s and some of them maybe a bit “author novice”. From 1 – 20 in no special order more than a time line; please enjoy and hope you just think of one or two in the future when you think of cloud.

Pst….sccchhh…but…sometimes I kind of repeat and sometimes I really don’t know what I mean…#10…Sorry… ;) But; I haven’t modified one of them.

So…here goes:

#CloudWisdom 1-5

- Those who understand the customers´ pains and needs and who can act the organizer to meet these have an excellent position.

Cloud Washing…does it REALLY matter

Look at it from another perspective… The customers’ perspective. Does cloud washing really matter then?

I’m working at a Nordic IT outsourcing provider and have together with them delivered IT as a Service since 1997 (I'm now more on my own: MMind.se). I’m personally very into cloud services and how and why companies should adopt it. I’m also very into how IT service providers (cloud or “classics”) should think to give customers value and increase efficiency to become more productive. Therefor I’m not only talking cloud.

When I, with the option of three different subjects, asked what readers wanted to read as my next post they all (3…hm…well) pointed at Cloud Washing with the comment that it is important that people become aware of washed cloud services. The post was published in the beginning of this week on Know Your Cloud as Cloud Washing – Don’t End Up Washing Your IT with False Clouds. Though; from the beginning my intention was to talk about whether the washing of a service to a “cloud service” really matters as long as it kills customer pains.

#CloudWisdom 19

Ok, so you've adopted a cloud washed service:

No rush. If the service works well and you don’t have big plans for your business, take it easy but don’t make new investments or enrollments within the service. Start scanning the market and grab the pure cloud service when you find it.

#CloudWisdom 11

Read a post on HP Blogs 'Cloud washed by wrong information' by Christian Verstraete (@christianve)

I don't like WishClouds or Cloud washed services, because I can't see the point, but try not to nitty gritty review others cloud services.

My #CloudWisdom 11;

If you want to spend time judging clouds; prefer acquit before condemn. And ask yourself: what is a pure cloud service?

Quite fun "fog attack"

A driven and strong article about cloud by Brian Katz: 'Cloud Schmoud – Why no one really cares'. Quite fun too. ;)

Break out:

"People are talking about cloud as the next big thing that will solve all your problems. You need to save money, use the cloud, you need to secure your data, use the cloud, you want to make it easy to access your data use the cloud. It’s all bullshit. If you use cloud for any of these reasons and you don’t understand your fundamental business problems that you are trying to solve then all you’re doing is spinning wheels.

It’s time to start focusing on what you are trying to accomplish and less on whether you have the latest greatest thing. No, that doesn’t mean that cloud computing is irrelevant; on the contrary, it has a huge intrinsic value if it is used properly. But as a good friend of mine, George Reese, recently pointed out on Twitter, let’s stop calling it cloud computing and just call it computing. Does it really matter where it takes place in the grand scheme of things? Let’s spend a little less time waxing philosophical about Cloud or Big Data or whatever comes next and start looking at the best tools to allow you to solve your business problems and all the issues that accompany them."

Sorry but I really love when people cut the crap. :)

I don't totally agree with all this but it kind of gets to the point and the important thing; kill customer pains!

At least; do care about the customer and enjoy your weekend!

A foggy sky

Recently and continuously a lot of tweets, articles and discussions circulates which are about or end up in the definition of cloud services and what differs them from other IT-services. Only last week I participated in two… I think we all could see this discussions coming sooner than later…

Reasons:
- Customers and even the customers with good knowledge of IT get confused – where do all the clouds come from?

- IT professionals haven’t decided, taken or know their position inside, outside or with the cloud.

- There are more clouds in the sky than it should be and some of them are not clouds.

…and the offer in the cloudy sky gets unreasonably foggy and drowned.

Almost everyone in the IT business try to use the definition cloud on their products and services with the goal to become a cloud service provider. One good example; At VMworld last week every single one of the about hundred exhibitors did have cloud written somewhere on their booth. Though many do it not everyone offer “pure” cloud services. Some of them most probably offer services for or to support clouds or they might even create wishclouds, either by labeling new or re-labeling existing non-cloud services and products.

Why?

Because we don’t know what we are talking about! But most possible; because of the almost insane focus from the big IT providers and media we think our business won’t survive if we don’t put a ‘cloud’ to the service or product offered. And that is so totally wrong.

Cloud itself is not hype but it’s definitely a media- and service provider’s hype. So you will survive even if delivering non cloud IT services. They are needed and will still be needed in the future.

To do:

- IT professionals have to focus to tell the true story. Don't add a cloud definition on the service if not it easily can be defined as a cloud service – don’t make wishclouds.

- There's no need to be ashamed of delivering IT services without “a cloud” or without a cloud definition. Explain how your service adds value for your customer.

Creating wishclouds; it’s bad for the cloud market and it’s bad for your own business. It’s like when you hear good music and it becomes a one hit wonder; you like it a couple more times but soon you get fed up.

Make a long lasting hit of your cloud service, the service supporting the cloud or the non-cloud service. But do it properly and correct; If it isn’t a cloud service don’t call it a cloud service. Then it will be much easier to keep offerings apart and the sky reasonably cloudy and we will not get fed up on the definition.

#WishCloud, my own tag and definition of IT services not to be defined as cloud. They only have a little ingredient of cloud but the provider wish and claim it to be cloud anyway.