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Cloud Computing October 2012 . Cloud Computing Agenda. What is it? Reference Point by Decades How Cloud Computing Works Uses for the Cloud Time and Investment Business Justification Future of the Cloud Questions. What is it?.
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Cloud Computing October 2012
Cloud Computing Agenda • What is it? • Reference Point by Decades • How Cloud Computing Works • Uses for the Cloud • Time and Investment • Business Justification • Future of the Cloud • Questions
What is it? Cloud Computing is any computing function which is hosted over the Internet, instead of on personal servers, hard drives or software programs that have been physically installed.
Reference Point by Decades • 1970’s – Service Bureaus and Mainframes • 1980’s – PC introduced – Spreadsheets • 1990’s – PC based ERP and Tax Prep Software • 2000’s – More 90’s and Early Business Internet • 2010’s – Cloud Computing and Mobile
Cloud Make-up FRONT END • The interface the user interacts with that is provided by the software service BACK END • This is area where the software is stored that the user cannot see and is referred to as the “Cloud”
How Cloud Computing Works A small number of computers out on the Internet that act as a huge number
Cloud Computing Technology • Three key technologies that Cloud computing rely on: • Broadband Internet • Distributed Technologies • Platform – agnostic programming languages (i.e. Java)
Uses for the Cloud • Storing Data • Computer System Access • Redundancy • Communication • Leisure
Time and Investment • Rapid Implementation Time • Initial Deployment • Adding New Users • Adding New Modules • Low Implementation Cost • Servers • Licensing
Business Justification There has been a 700% increase in the number of servers worldwide within the past 15 years.
Business Advantages • Reduction in Use of IT Resource Requirements • Easy Storage and Maintenance • Improve Internal Communications • Accurate, Real-Time Information • Drive Sales
Business Advantages (cont’d) • Understand the Customer • Improve Customer Relationship Management • Use Resources Elsewhere • Better Business Tracking • Cut Cost
Concerns about the Cloud • Security • Reliability • Cost • Newness • Connectivity
Responses to Concerns • Cutting Edge Technology • Top Tier Equipment • Employee Knowledge • Resources • Redundancy • Disaster Recovery • Encryption • Employee Oversight
How Do You Do It? • Chrome / Amazon Approach: Pay for bandwidth, power and storage. • ASP-type model where licenses and servers are rented. • Wholly-owned software and server environment: Renting only time on Servers.
Types of Business Applications • Product Information Dissemination • Design and Manufacture Support Requirements • Inventory and Production Control • Accounting and Payroll Functions • Quality Assurance and Control Constraints • Packaging and Shipping Tracking • Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
Focus on the Following • ERP – Enterprise Resource Planning (accounting, distribution, project, manufacturing, service) systems • Portals – for CPA firms and others • CRM (customer relationship management) solutions • Office and Business Applications – spreadsheets and word files • Budgeting and Forecasting
ERP Applications • NetSuite (www.netsuite.com) • SAP Business By Design (www.sap.com) • Carillon ERP (www.carillonerp.com) • Sage (www.sage.com) (AccPac, MAS90, Peachtree, others) • Microsoft Dynamics (www.microsoft.com/dynamics) • Intacct (www.intacct.com) • Acumatica (www.acumatica.com) (hosted or on premise) • Intuit (www.intuit.com) • Freshbooks (www.freshbooks.com) • Plex (www.plex.com) (manufacturing solution) • xTuple (www.xtuple.com)
Portal Software • XCM Solutions. Endorsed and sold by CPA2BIZ (AICPA) (www.xcmsolutions.com) • CCH Incorporated (www.cch.com) • ShareFile (www.sharefile.com) • SmartVault Corporation (www.smartvault.com) • Thomson Reuters (www.cs.thomson.com) • Microsoft (www.sharepoint.com)
CRM Applications • SalesForce.com (www.salesforce.com) • Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online (http://crm.dynamics.com/en-us/home) • Microsoft Dynamics CRM (http://crm.dynamics.com/en-us/home) • Sage CRM (www.sagecrm.com) • Sugar CRM (www.sugarcrm.com)
Office and Business Apps • Microsoft Office 365 – Exchange Online (Business Productivity Online Suite), Sharepoint, Lync, Office • Google Docs – missing Sharepoint features • GruntWorx – Paperless Tax Workflow Solutions for documents • Confirmation.com – secure online confirmations • Intacct Financial accounting and client write up • XCM – Firm – Wide Workflow Automation • Apptix Email Solutions – business-class email platform
Future of Cloud • Interaction through mobile platforms (i.e. smartphones, netbook computers and tablets) • Improvements in software infrastructure that will allow for increased power in Cloud computing services • Maturity in deployment of Cloud based security and reliability
iCloud • Announced in June, 2011. The typical Apple phenomenon occurred – many users thought it was new and first. • iCloud stores your content and wirelessly pushes it to all of your devices. And because it seamlessly integrates with your apps, everything happens automatically. • iCloud is about storage and syncing, versus streaming, real-time (like Google Chrome will be) • The business revenue to Apple will remain with the Apps. The Apps store is where Apple makes it’s revenue. • 1st 5GB is free. $20/year for 10GB, $40/year for 20GB