Friday, December 16, 2011

Cloud computing enables cost savings

Joe McKendrick of Forbes Magazine recently wrote an article in which he suggested that cloud computing may be a shot in the arm our economy needs. His premise is that "cloud computing enables cost savings - because companies can access technology and applications on-demand on an as-needed basis and pay for only what they use."

Mr. McKendrick's goes on to write:

  • Cloud computing is paving the way for the "loosely coupled company" ...Most of these services will be passed through as cloud services, both from within the enterprise and from outside.
  • There's nothing stopping companies that are adept at building and supporting their own private clouds from offering these services to partners and customers beyond the firewall. Amazon was an online retailer that began to offer its excess capacity to outside companies.
  • As Chris Sacca, a software start-up investor and former Google executive, put it: "The biggest line item in [software start-up] companies now is rent and food.
  • Cloud computing is essentially a form of micro-outsourcing. The old model of outsourcing - in which multi-million-dollar contracts to run data centers or build platforms are awarded - is giving way to much more fine-grained, incremental approaches.
  • As we ponder unemployment and underemployment in our economy, the availability of cheap cloud computing may be laying the groundwork for a start-up boom, the likes we have never seen before.

VRP Consulting recently met with Joshua Katzele, Project Manager with Critical Power Exchange in Spokane, Washington. In speaking with Joshua, he reinforced with us that Critical Power Exchange has participated in the rapid transformation of businesses moving their brick and mortar data centers to the cloud where they "can access technology and applications on-demand" is Critical Power Exchange. CPE specializes in providing turn-key solutions based around data center consolidations and relocations.

Critical Power Exchange has seen an explosion in the data industry with many companies making the move from standard "brick-and-mortar" data centers to localized "cloud" service based centers. Cloud based services allow companies to divert capitol to other important avenues of long term growth such as research and development. Cloud computing also allows companies to diversify and change with technological advances quickly, efficiently and with a small upfront capital investment.

If your company is planning to move your data center to the cloud, then get in touch with Joshua at: joshuak@criticalpower.com

VRP Consulting, like CPE is in the forefront of the Software as a Service (SaaS) revolution. Over the past 5 years, VRP Consulting has been an industry leader in the development and deployment of Cloud based SaaS solutions on the Salesforce and Microsoft platforms for such companies as Salesforce.com, Cisco Systems and Facebook.

Examples of VRP's cloud based development, integration and support capabilities include:

  • As a software development capabilities partner to Rogue IT, VRP Consulting was one of only 30 firms selected recently to participate in a pre-release software developer pilot program by Salesforce for their new Force sites technology.
  • Looking to create a custom application for a boutique Napa winery that could manage three-tier trade sales operations, Rogue IT came to VRP with a request for software product development using Salesforce.com platform technologies. VRP provided Rogue IT with the GreatVines platform, an application created entirely in Apex, the Salesforce proprietary platform language, and which operates entirely in the cloud.

If your goal as a business owner or IT Manger is to:

  • Create greater agility within your company, with less reliance on legacy IT assets.
  • Access technology and applications on-demand on an as-needed basis and pay for only what they use.
  • Create a start-up business with a technical solution that is easy to implement and reduces initial costs and ongoing outlay.

Then look to the cloud.

Look to VRP Consulting to create, develop or integrate your successful business in the cloud. From System Integration to Custom Software Development, VRP's partnerships and flexible use of offshore development and local personnel can be a very productive and cost effective solution for your organization. For your data migration and cloud based applications give VRP Consulting a shout at 415-871-1855.