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Posts Tagged ‘cloud computing’

Google Offers An Easy Out With Data Liberation

November 24th, 2009 by Erin Posted in Software Development | No Comments »

Want to bail on Google?

If you’re sick of their products and services, the company is making it super easy for people to pack up their data and go.

Enter the Data Liberation Front.

This ingenious – and unconventional – software was designed by Google engineers whose sole mission is to make it easier for users to move their data in and out of Google products – essentially liberating them.

Is this an odd business strategy?

Yes, but it’s brilliant at the same time.

Given that most – if not all – of us move among the cloud, data portability has become a key issue – especially for small business owners who rely on Google’s cloud services.

Brian Fitzpatrick, a Google engineering manager, explains:

We want people to try our software, and if we’re going to encourage people to put data in the cloud and use more cloud-based apps, it’s important to show that it should be easy to get that data out as well. I want more people to think about this. It’s an important thing, and most people don’t think “I want to get my data out,” until it’s too late.

There’s even been a hint of a new feature that will give users the ability to export all of their Google Docs files in a single, downloadable zip archive.

I’m sorry, why do we need MS Office again?

Thank you Google for giving me an “out” should my relationship with you end in divorce.

And most of all, thank you for having my back.

My back up data that is.

 Tags: cloud computing, data liberation, google small business, Software Development

Cloud Computing For Business– The Good and The Bad

May 19th, 2009 by Erin Posted in Business | No Comments »

Everyone’s working in the clouds these days.

Having access to web-based business functions is, well, downright convenient.

But even though everyone’s using it – no one really knows what their using.

Case in point:

My colleague took an inner-office poll last week, asking everyone if they knew anything about “cloud computing.” Most everyone looked at my colleague, shrugged their shoulders, and said it was “some sort of IT thing.”

Cloud computing, when applied to business, is having computer applications – such as payroll, accounting, sales management, data backup, even word processing – hosted on a Web-based service rather than on a desktop or server computer.

If you use a web-based email program (like Yahoo Mail, Gmail), you are using a form of cloud-based computing. Your email data is stored on the Web.

Sounds simple enough, right?

Wrong.

As sweet as it sounds to be riding the Web-based clouds of cyberspace, there are advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing.

Tech columnist at Hartford Business, Rhonda Abrams, offers up this:

Cloud Computing Advantages:

- Always have the latest upgrade, without paying extra.

- Predictable costs, usually a low monthly subscription.

- More features than you could devise yourself.

- No internal tech staff required.

- Can access and use from any computer with a fast Internet connection.

- Information secure and backed up.

- Reduces need for an office computer network.

- Easy to learn and use.

Cloud Computing Disadvantages:

- Need fast, reliable Internet connection.

- Ongoing monthly cost, even when you don’t use it.

- Privacy concerns, especially if you’re not careful.

- If the company goes out of business, you may lose your data.

As you can see the advantages of cloud computing outweigh the disadvantages, even the all-important privacy issue.

 Tags: cloud computing, virtualization, web based applications, web based business