Thinking of...Buying a Cloud Solution? Ask the Smart Questions.
Cloud Computing is a new business model that requires new thinking for our customers. How they architect the solution, how they secure the applications and how they federate their on-premise computing with the cloud are all extremely critical success factors for Cloud Computing adoption. Ian and Stephen have done a great job of exposing the questions that our customers need to be asking their cloud services vendors to ensure a successful project.
Shannon Day, Marketing Manager Software plus Services, Microsoft
www.microsoft.com
This is one of the most valuable and informative technology books for professionals that I have read. Finally the mystery of “Cloud Computing” has been solved. This is a must read for anyone in IT or in a management position within a business that is considering or wants to know the straight facts about Cloud Computing. A good common sense review of what Cloud Computing is and is not, coupled with a detailed list of questions to help you decide on the right approach for your particular needs.
Toby Tarczy, Managing Director, Cavella
www.calvella.com
This book parts the clouds on an exciting and inevitable evolution of information services and the way we work and play. It reminds all of us that the devil is in the detail and that the benefits to be realized, which are many, are won through effective planning and preparation and the effective execution of the implementation plan. Above all the book is practical, insightful and pragmatic. It will look strangely familiar to anyone experienced in managing change in systems and organizations. A valuable resource for all stakeholders as its cuts through the mystery and explains it in plain language.
David E Alexander, Managing Director, Solutions Make The Difference
www.solutionsmtd.com
Thinking of Offering a Cloud Solution? Ask the Smart Questions
The whole Thinking of series focusing on the Smart Questions is a brilliant concept. These books encourage an informed debate rather than prescribing a specific path which may not be the right one for your business. This book is an invaluable resource for ISVs. The authors have done a great job in articulating the opportunities and the challenges ISVs face in this transition to a Software plus Services world. Although targeted at ISVs, in my view, it is equally valuable for customers so they can assess the capability of their software suppliers in providing resilient and capable Cloud services.
Gurprit Singh, Director Emerging Technologies, Microsoft
www.microsoft.com
Salesforce.com, with its Force.com platform, has always believed in the power of Cloud Computing to deliver enterprise scale apps to businesses of every size. We see it every day with our 60,000 customers. What Ian and Stephen have put together is the most comprehensive list of all the questions that an ISV should answer before ‘launching into the Clouds’.
Tim Knight, Senior Director, Force.com
www.Salesforce.com
Ian and Stephen have written an insightful book that takes a refreshing research-driven approach to helping businesses understand, navigate and take advantage of this dynamic Cloud Compute market. Ask the Smart Questions provides practical advice on how to stay nimble and flexible in an ever-morphing cloud landscape and offers a paint-by-numbers Q&A session for decision makers looking to transform themselves and successfully claim a stake in the ‘Cloud pie’.
Steve O'Deegan, Managing Partner, Laurel Group
www.laurel-group.com
Ian and Stephen have created a great handbook for all software developers looking to build solutions in the Cloud. If you are a software developer planning a Cloud Computing solution, then this book should be part of your planning process. If you are a software developer who hasn't yet thought about how you will address the opportunity and threat that Cloud Computing creates for you, then Thinking of offering a Cloud solution is a great place to start and could help you to not be left behind by your peers. Whichever you are, answer the questions in Chapters 8 and 9 carefully as they are based on real world experience that has seen others succeed and fail. If you ignore any of these key questions, you will only have to answer them later and that could be too late.
Jeremy Roche, Chief Executive, CODA
www.coda2go.com
This book offers ISVs a great entry into the new world of S+S. Ever wondered how, why or what? If so then the questions in this book and the thought it provokes are for you as it will stimulate your decisions as you consider moving all or part of your business to Software+Services.
Richard Phillips, ISV Partner Manager, Microsoft
www.microsoft.com
An ISV usually realizes that moving to the Cloud isn’t optional, before they come to Navatar Group for help. The ISV doesn’t realize, however, that simply Cloud-enabling their On-Premise software won’t translate into a profitable business model. We recommend this book as a ‘must-read’ for every ISV so you can make an informed choice between selling a ‘product’ and providing a ‘service’, based on your customer needs and your ability to change. Answering the Smart Questions will provide a basis for a realistic cost benefit analysis as well as help you understand what will resonate with your customers and where you will need advice or partnerships.
Alok Misra, Principal, Navatar Group
www.navatargroup.com
Thinking of...Delivering Solutions on the Windows Azure Platform? Ask the Smart Questions
Smart Questions raises the most important considerations for evaluating cloud platforms. With such a fundamental change, there are few simple answers that can be stamped onto every firm. It is more important for IT leaders to consider their own unique environment, and this book provides the tools to conduct that analysis.
Matt Rogers, Director, Global Sales Strategy Windows Azure, Microsoft
www.microsoft.com
If you need an introduction to Azure and you've only got time to read one book, make sure it's this one. I will be recommending it to suits and jeans alike in my organization. It strikes exactly the right balance between the technical and non-technical and is an excellent primer that answers key questions at many levels in a clear and concise manner.
Bert Craven, Enterprise Architect, easyJet
www.easyjet.com
When I was at school, the 3Rs were Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic. Now, for an IT professional thinking about cloud computing, we have a new definition, “Reinforced, Remind and Revealed”. Based on an evolving set of the right questions to ask, this book seeks to Reinforce your current model, Remind you of key points and Reveal new insights. Don’t start an Azure project without reading this.
Richard Prodger, Technical Director, Active Web Solutions
www.aws.net
The potential of the Cloud is starting to be understood by enterprises. We have been delivering hosted BPM projects to Fortune1000 customers for 5 years, but now customers are asking us to provide long-term production capabilities. Our solutions are based on Microsoft technologies, so Azure seems the perfect platform. However, this is early stages for Azure and the wrong approach would be terminal for Nimbus. By offering questions that we can consider in the context of our business, rather than pre-canned answers, this book has massively de-risked our decision-making process.
Paul Linsell, Founder & CTO, Nimbus
www.nimbuspartners.com
The Windows Azure Platform is a strategic investment for Microsoft and its success is at the heart of our long-term plans. It is critical that we help our partners and customers understand the opportunities that are available, but just as importantly to manage the challenges.
Azure is part of Microsoft’s Software plus Services vision, providing partners and customers with the power of choice to deliver applications in the Cloud as well as on-premises. Microsoft wants businesses to invest in Azure because it is the right solution for them, not just because it is new.
The Smart Questions approach provides the questions, both business and technical, that you need to ask yourself so you can successfully take advantage of the power of Azure.
Alistair Beagley, Platform Strategy Advisor, Microsoft
www.microsoft.com