enterprises or organizations should consideration their overall development strategy, and
build a management system to meet the operation requirements in a cloud environment.
The advantages of cloud computing include flexibility, scalability, innovation, flexible
deployment, and reduced IT capital expenditures. Before deciding to go with cloud services,
some issues need to be considered, such as the value of cloud service delivery, operations
optimization, outsourcing risk management, operational stability, and compliance. The
development strategy and management system challenge developed with these issues
include:
1.
Value of cloud services delivery:
How to align the strategy of introducing and deploying cloud services to meet the
enterprise operation needs and corporate value? How to manage the performance
evaluation and service level agreement (SLA)? How to rate and measure cloud
services?
2.
Optimizing cloud services operation:
How to optimize the maintenance, organization, and processes of cloud services?
How to measure the daily performance of cloud services? How the plan and evaluate
the capabilities needed by the cloud service team?
3.
Risks of outsourcing cloud services:
What strategic and operational factors need to be considered for outsourcing cloud
services? What is the risk and cost-benefit of the combination of using public or
private cloud when introducing cloud services? How to face and resolve cloud
outsourcing issues such as auditing and risk management, SLA measurement and
supervision, risk of vendor lock-in?
4.
Stability of cloud service operation:
How to plan for cloud service availability management and business continuity? What
is the priority of disaster operation recovery and what is the backup plan during
normal times? How to analyze the value of the investment in redundant equipment?
5.
Compliance:
What are the steps taken in protecting security, personal data, and confidential
business information? How to manage regulatory trends and the associated risks,
and adjust the company's internal policies, processes and system architecture to
cope with the regulatory requirements?
For the CEO and the management team, cloud service is not just a technology evolution, but
also a change of the business model. Thus, the strategy of information infrastructure,
outsourcing, and service delivery will have significant impact to the business. Enterprises will
