Last week, Apple announced it’s new iCloud service – which will allow users to store their music, photos, apps, iBooks and Contacts in a cloud system (in Apples massive data centres) and sync them to all of their Apple devices, saving space on their iPods, iPhones and iPads, which will automatically pull the data from the iCloud.

Overnight Cloud Computing has become a buzz word for the general public. However, Cloud Computing has been on the agenda for a while for any CEO of companies with large IT systems and IT Service Management Frameworks (such as ITIL).

Why use Cloud Computing?

Cloud promises reduced hardware, software, operations and resources costs, access to your network no matter where you and what hardware you are using, better performance and maintenance.

It is for these reasons, especially the cost cutting reasons in these austere times, that many business managers are tempted to move their IT systems over to cloud. Technology site www.gartner.com recently predicted “by 2012 twenty percent of companies will own no IT assets.”

How Can Cloud Computing Change the IT Industry?

I remember before I went freelance the Head of Finances saying to me I was in a dying job, because Cloud Computing would make me, and all IT System Administrators, redundant. It is certainly a concern. Cloud is in its infancy at the moment but in a couple of years it has the potential to change the face of IT as we know it.

So should we start training for a new career or is the IT Department always go to be an invaluable part of a business as they are now?

I do not think so. I am certain my role will change, with an emphasis on programming and development, but I do not think companies are ready to get rid of their IT Department just yet.

What are the limitations of Cloud Computing?

One of the main concerns on Cloud is security. Any time data is taken off site there is always the concern that it could get lost, damaged or stolen. Only recently we’ve had in the news Sony, Lockheed Martin, Sony Ericsson and Nintendo being hacked and having data stolen. The threat of being hacked is always there, whether your servers are onsite or outsourced, but many users will fear a lack of control over their data and whether those who maintain and monitor said data can be trusted to do a good job. If you have your servers onsite, with a dedicated staff, there is control and a sense of comfort that you know just who is looking after your data.

Another concern for some is the issue of privacy. Cloud Computing in theory could allow data and activity to be monitored with much greater ease. For smaller businesses I doubt this will be of any concern but for larger corporations moving over to Cloud it certainly will be.

So – Will Cloud Computing Change IT Forever?

As I mentioned earlier, Cloud Computing is still in its infancy and its success is still hard to predict. However whether it is successful or not in the short term it is certainly a long term paradigm shift that will impact IT as we know it. I’m unsure if we’ll see Cloud explode to prominence in its current form but I am sure we will continue to see elements of Cloud, such as centralised software installations, grow and evolve. We will certainly see more Cloud usage within the home user sector, such as iCloud. Like all technological advancements throughout history once discovered it cannot be forgotten.

But my main reason for my belief in job security, one that every IT Support member can relate to, User Error. One of the criticisms of Cloud is its complexity and a great number of those I support struggle with their IT Systems as it is. People will always need someone to guide them whether it be a small issue or the big ones. This will never change so there will always be a need for an IT Department.

Written by guest blogger Richard Lovell

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