The "cloud" and what it can do for your business

When someone talks about joining “the cloud” are you puzzled? What is it, what does it do and what does it mean for the future? Some believe the cloud is a major step in the evolution of the Internet. Others say that, without a doubt, cloud computing will play a huge role in the design, reliability and speed of corporate websites. Many are convinced that, within the next five to six years, most computing services will be delivered from the cloud. Still, for many small business enterprises, cloud computing is an abstract concept. To learn more, read the article "Still foggy on cloud computing?" in the September 2011 issue of CAmagazine online. 

The Top Ten Tech Issues

The Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants (CICA) Information Technology Advisory Committee conducts an annual survey of the most important IT issues facing the profession, which provides interesting insight into the prevalence and impact that technology has on businesses. While some topics come up every year, the relative importance of several issues changes from survey to survey.

This year was no different. Information management rose to the top spot from No. 3, pushing last year’s No. 1 issue, legislation and regulatory compliance, to second place. The impact of the recession, No. 2 last year, fell to No. 10 in this year’s survey, while new and emerging technologies rose to No. 3 from No. 5. (To learn more, read the article "The Top Ten Tech Issues" in the September 2011 CAmagazine online.)

PwC Thought Leadership Highlights

Every month, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) delivers a range of Thought Leadership materials that explore key business issues affecting companies around the world. This month the focus is on a variety of issues that address the following questions and more: What's the key to successful business innovation? What are the implications of the proposed FASB/IASB revenue recognition changes? How are businesses adapting to the changing needs of their talent? What's next for nuclear power? (for example, see View:Striking the innovation balance).

Also, experience the popular 10Minutes series on your iPad, now enhanced with new multimedia. With this inaugural issue, 10Minutes on the CEO Agenda, explore the eight pressing questions facing CEOs today, hear about the challenges directly from business leaders around the world. 10Minutes on the Cloud discusses how cloud computing can go beyond cost savings to offer a way to improve innovation and organizational agility, provide better customer engagement, and harness resources to focus on business imperatives.

What's Next: Stay ahead of the future

What’s Next is a trends report offering clear, concise and non-sensationalist commentary on trends in society, business, science & technology, government and the environment. Each issue covers trends across twelve sectors and speculates about future risks and opportunities. The current issue of What’s Next is available free of charge on an online basis. Readers might also like to check out the Top Trends Blog.

Cloud computing - advantages and issues to consider

Cloud computing — providing Web-based services to the public using networks, servers, data warehouses, software applications and Internet services managed by a third party — is an attractive option for companies that view investing capital in computing infrastructure as inefficient. These companies can move their computer processing to a virtual environment, ensuring that costs are more closely tied to the services offered and minimizing their fixed costs. Cloud computing has many advantages. It can be adapted to the size of the business and quickly implemented, and it is transparent in terms of costs and can deliver services that are not available internally. Nevertheless, an organization needs to consider a number of issues before switching to cloud computing. (Read the May 2010 article "Cloud Computing" at CAmagazine online.)

Accountants Head to the Cloud

The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is pushing to accelerate adoption of cloud solutions among its 350,000 members, focusing especially on small and midmarket companies as well as CPA firms. The AICPA's first official endorsement of a cloud vendor, payroll-solutions provider Paychex, came several years ago but it has rolled out more such partnerships with increasing frequency, including with bill.com for invoice management and payment in 2008, financial management and accounting software maker Intacct a year ago, and tax-automation supplier Copanion at year-end 2009. The pitch is that the cloud offers a steep drop in information-technology costs, since applications are hosted by the vendors and provided on demand, rather than via physical installations or seat licenses. (Read the article "Accountants Head to the Cloud" at CFO Magazine online and review the white paper 10 Questions to ask about Cloud Computing.)

CFOs Gravitate Toward Cloud Computing

A majority of CFOs at US technology companies are using cloud computing platforms in some capacity, according to a survey by BDO Seidman. The survey found that 90% plan to maintain or increase their current cloud computing use this year. Cost and increased scalability were the top reasons for using cloud computing applications. (Read the article CFOs Gravitate Toward Cloud Computing, Clean Tech at WebCPA online.)

Using Google to improve communications, collaboration and security

Google is changing the way that people communicate. Although many organizations aren’t ready to discard out-of-the-box software, there are many advantages to computing “in the cloud.” Web-based tools from companies such as Google offer cost-effective solutions (often free), better scalability, easier collaboration and enhanced security. Many businesses are starting to make the switch to Internet applications without suffering any major technical setbacks. (Read the article 5 Tools to Googlize Your Business at Open Forum.)

IT Security Predictions for 2010

Researchers from IBM and Sophos shared their thoughts on what the security threat landscape will look like for enterprises and consumers alike in 2010. Their predictions run the gamut from threats to social networking sites to an increase in attackers targeting hosted services. (Read the online article IT Security Predictions for 2010.)

New technologies that help businesses monitor social media

Companies are increasingly turning to new technologies to monitor comments made about their products on social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook. The applications can be used to respond to customer complaints and for product development research. The applications also have marketing uses, with businesses getting involved in conversations about their products and industry. (Read the article Tracking A Million Conversations: New technologies that help businesses monitor social media at Forbes online.)

Experts discuss ways to make cloud computing innovative

Cloud computing, once seen as a way to cut costs, is now being considered as a way to increase innovation. Companies need to think beyond simply running the same systems in the cloud as they have in their data centers. The value of automating business processes is decreasing, even though it is cheaper to run IT in a cloud. (Read the article Innovation, Not Cost, New Cloud Battle Cry at Information Week online.) It is also important to note that cloud computing can leave companies vulnerable to hackers. The damage that can be done is best demonstrated by a massive Google outage this year that was caused by hackers attacking the firm's cloud-computing infrastructure. (Read the article The Curse of Cloud Security at CSO online.)

Cloud computing starts to deliver for businesses

Back in 1990, Bill Gates said that the PC industry would put information at people's fingertips. Nearly 20 years later, cloud computing is starting to deliver that promise. A growing list of big-name companies is bringing to the market hardware and software that open the door to the use of cloud computing to give businesses the information they need, when they need it and where they need it. (For more information, read the article "How Cloud Computing Will Change Business" in BusinessWeek.)