In these tough economic times it has become rather common to hear upper management ask questions such as, "I've read about that cloud computing thing. Why aren't we using the cloud instead of buying so many servers?" But is the cloud ready? The answer is, as any good engineer would tell you, "it depends." The cloud is already recognized as a great alternative for Internet sites, hosted e-mail, scalable storage and on-demand computing needs. Those who have embraced the cloud for these purposes say it offers exactly the kind of computing they need, when they need it and at a reasonable price with no commitments. Projects are implemented faster and IT is better prepared for unpredictable traffic patterns, spikes or last minute "emergencies." But while the benefits of cloud-based hosting are compelling, there is still resistance.rnResistance to the cloud comes primarily from two fronts: IT pros who are used to managing their own hardware, and business executives who fear the cloud as an unknown and insecure world where everybody's data is intertwined with no boundaries or safeguards.
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