Essential Guide
A CIO's guide to cloud computing investments
More enterprises are reaching for the cloud to spur innovation and growth. In this SearchCIO Essential Guide, learn how to maximize the business benefits of your cloud computing investments.
Introduction
With cloud computing being used by businesses across all industries and acting as a digital transformation enabler, CIOs must constantly review their cloud computing investments. They will indeed be spending more money on it: Our annual IT priorities survey of 971 North American IT professionals found that cloud services will continue to attract substantial attention in 2017, with 64% planning to increase cloud spending. And according to market analyst firm IDC, worldwide spending on public cloud services and infrastructure is estimated to grow at a 21.5% compound annual growth rate -- nearly seven times the rate of the total IT spending growth -- to reach $203.4 billion in 2020.
This Essential Guide is designed to help delve into the many facets of cloud computing investments, including cloud innovation, security, storage, application development and service provider management.
1Cloud and innovation-
Driving innovation via the cloud
Cloud computing investments are no longer just about lowering costs and improving efficiency. Cloud-based technology fosters greater collaboration across the company and cloud-based IT services also call for fewer resources, providing organizations with the opportunity to invest in other business processes and innovations within their organization. This section highlights the best practices to gain cloud visibility, the role that crowdsourcing could play in the cloud and why cloud robotics could be game-changers for artificial intelligence (AI).
AstraZeneca employs CASB technology to gain cloud opacity
Pharmaceutical manufacturer AstraZeneca is working with cloud access security broker vendor Skyhigh Networks to reduce security risks by increasing visibility into its cloud services. Continue Reading
Cloud robotics: A game-changer for AI?
At the MIT Disruption Timeline Conference, the CEO of the Toyota Research Institute explained why robots should have their "heads in the cloud" and not include computing intelligence onboard. Continue Reading
IBM turns to techies to fast-track quantum computing
Are you ready to experience the world's first cloud-enabled quantum computing platform? IBM is seeking researchers, students and science enthusiasts to explore the world of quantum computing via IBM Quantum Experience. Continue Reading
2Securing cloud data-
Assessing key risks of cloud computing investments
Moving data to the cloud comes with its fair share of risks. How safe is your data in the cloud? Are you equipped to handle a cloud failure or breach? In this section, learn about the latest tools and strategies to counteract cloud threats and protect cloud data. Also, learn about new cloud security roles, risk management best practices and steps to cultivate a cloud-security culture.
Is it time to hire a chief cloud security officer?
With hackers running rampant, cloud providers are looking for a new breed of CISO -- the chief cloud security officer. Security experts sound off on the skills needed for this new cloud security role. Continue Reading
Chief cloud security officer: A new role focused on security
Cloud computing is giving rise to jobs that never before existed. Scott Weller, CTO at Boston startup SessionM, explains how one such new cloud role -- chief cloud security officer -- can help mitigate possible attack vectors in the cloud. Continue Reading
Custom applications in the cloud pose new security threat
Research shows that custom applications in the cloud are running more critical business functions than ever, but IT security is aware of only a fraction of them. Continue Reading
For businesses, cloud security still a concern
Security experts and executives provide insights on strategies and tools that can help counteract threats to cloud data security. Continue Reading
Corporate cloud customers on front lines of data loss prevention
In this tip, information security and risk management expert Jeff Jenkins discusses the steps cloud vendors and their corporate customers must take to protect cloud data and mitigate security concerns. Continue Reading
Compliance, data security top reasons for cloud encryption
Securosis founder Rich Mogull discusses different cloud computing models and the main reasons for cloud encryption. Continue Reading
Building a security culture is an essential first step to cloud strategy success
In an era where more data is being moved to the cloud, a report shows that engaging the CISO and cultivating a cloud security culture is imperative. Continue Reading
3Cloud storage -
Tips to maximize your cloud-based storage
Will your business benefit from the use of object storage systems rather than file storage systems when storing data in the cloud? Read the articles in this section to know about cloud storage tools and applications that are best for your organization, why hybrid cloud could be the future of cloud storage and why the OpenStack platform could be gaining ground.
Collier: The OpenStack platform has gained new life
At the OpenStack Summit in Boston, OpenStack Foundation COO Mark Collier explained why the nearly seven-year-old open source software platform is far from dead. Continue Reading
OpenStack public cloud adoption faster outside of U.S.
Providers in the Asian and European markets are turning to OpenStack to run their public clouds. Forrester analyst Lauren Nelson discusses why it's not happening stateside. Continue Reading
Cloud applications: Object storage vs. file storage
In this tip, Marc Staimer, founder and senior analyst at Dragon Slayer Consulting, discusses the various advantages of object storage systems over file systems when it comes to storing cloud data. Continue Reading
Cloud storage FAQs
In this video, storage analyst George Crump discusses where cloud storage is most useful, whether object storage is necessary to gain the benefits of the cloud, how to integrate cloud into your environment and the benefits of multicloud environments. Continue Reading
Why hybrid cloud is driving the future of cloud storage
The appeal of cloud storage services has forced storage hardware and software vendors to provide ways for customers to access data externally, in a hybrid cloud model. Find out about the options involved. Continue Reading
Maximizing your cloud-based storage
Analyst and consultant Mike Matchett provides tips to get the most from cloud-based storage devices -- and explains why a company's data storage manager can be of help. Continue Reading
4Cloud data management-
Cloud-based analytics: Understanding benefits and risks
Cloud data management provides benefits like accelerated technology deployments and reduced costs associated with both system maintenance and capital expenditure. Read the articles in this section to understand the benefits as well as the risks associated with cloud-based business analytics and how data center best practices translate to the cloud.
Cloud-based technologies to empower digital business
Law firm Mayer Brown predicts more companies will adopt cloud services to assist their digital business efforts and to reduce costs. Continue Reading
What CIOs can learn from the Amazon cloud outage
In the wake of the Amazon Web Services Simple Storage Service outage, industry watchers offer pointers on how CIOs should react to and prepare for future disruption. Continue Reading
Cloud-based BI risks and best practices
In this tip, data management consultant David Loshin identifies the risks associated with cloud-based data warehousing and business analytics and explains how to protect against them. Continue Reading
Adoption levels of managing and analyzing data in the cloud remain low
Find out why some businesses are enthusiastic, while some are hesitant when it comes to doing big data analytics and BI in the cloud. Continue Reading
5Deployment models-
Public vs. private vs. hybrid cloud: What's best for your company?
Are you cloud-ready? Which cloud model is best for you? Whether you choose public, private or hybrid cloud, knowing your options and business needs are vital to cloud success. This section highlights the good and the bad aspects of a multicloud strategy, some basic cloud considerations and a cloud comparison to help you decide which model best suits your organization's needs.
Integration key to multicloud management
What makes a company multicloud? Judith Hurwitz, CEO of Needham, Mass., consulting outfit Hurwitz & Associates, explains it's about integrating, connecting and optimizing your on-premises and cloud IT operations to perform as one unit. Continue Reading
The pros and cons of a multicloud strategy
With multicloud strategies quickly gaining popularity among organizations, analysts at market research outfits Gartner and IDC weigh in on its benefits and drawbacks. Continue Reading
When thinking of creating a private cloud, start with why
A private cloud requires lots of money and the staff skills to pull it off. Before you get too far along the road to private cloud, you need to seriously consider the value it would bring and whether public cloud could suffice. Continue Reading
Evaluating the cost of private cloud development
A Forrester Research study found that public cloud business is booming. But what does the future of private cloud look like? Find out the challenges and high costs associated with building a private cloud. Continue Reading
6Strategic cloud decisions-
How to maximize your cloud benefits
Of the several cloud benefits, cloud inventory management helps in reducing costs and security risks. Negotiating a sound cloud contract also helps mitigate risks associated with the cloud. With more organizations making cloud computing investments, this section highlights the best practices for cloud inventory management and determining metrics that reap maximum benefits from cloud computing investments, and provides tips on the factors that need to be considered before negotiating terms and conditions of a cloud contract.
CIO's role in cloud inventory management
For an effective cloud inventory management, a CIO's first step is to build better relationships with the company's decision-makers. Continue Reading
Employ better metrics to fine-tune your cloud-first strategy
Determining the benefits of a cloud-first strategy is difficult in large, complex IT environments. But there are metrics available to help CIOs. Continue Reading
Three cloud roles that can help CIOs drive business success
In a recent webinar, Gartner analyst Donna Scott detailed the three cloud roles that CIOs need to fill in order to gain cloud benefits: one for forming strategy, one for implementing that strategy and one for budgeting. Continue Reading
Software-as-a-service CIO seeks more than colocation from cloud and managed services
Read how one company weighed factors in the decision to move from colocation to cloud and managed services. Continue Reading
CIO peer review essential in cloud contract negotiations
CIO and CTOs weigh in on what to consider during cloud contract negotiations, including cloud provider liabilities, cloud exit strategies and the importance of CIO peer review. Continue Reading
7Glossary-
Expand your cloud vocabulary
Before you start making cloud computing investments, get a handle on basic service-related cloud computing terms. Let this glossary be your guide.
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