How the Cloud is Changing IT as We Know It

Cloud technology changes how companies manage their IT infrastructure; instead of managing their own servers and storage farms, they rely on cloud providers to maintain those resources. The implications of this change go beyond simply how hardware is provisioned; it affects everything about how companies develop, deploy, and support their applications.

Data Center Role Changes
Companies that no longer run their own data centers may no longer need staff who specialize in narrow areas, such as storage architects. But that doesn't mean they don't need staff paying attention to data center concerns. Instead, they need staff who can understand multiple aspects such as storage, networking, and security, as well as evaluate the cloud provider's offerings to make sure they meet the company's needs.

Developer Role Changes
Developers who write applications that will run in the cloud may need to learn new APIs specific to the cloud provider. Because applications that run in the cloud need to be able to scale up and run on multiple independent servers, developers must now design applications with this in mind. Security becomes an even more important aspect of application design, especially when data from within the corporate network must be transmitted to a cloud application. Because cloud providers charge for the resources you use, developers need to start paying attention to how much memory, CPU, and storage their applications require.

Operations and Support Role Changes
Operations and support teams, including DevOps, will need to learn new methods of monitoring applications that run in the cloud. They will also need to learn new methods for deploying applications to the cloud. Teams that are used to having full access to their servers to investigate issues will need to adapt to the limited access granted by the cloud provider.

Technology Management Changes
With the growth of the cloud, the IT team isn't always driving technical change. Business departments that appreciate the cost savings of cloud computing are forcing their technology teams to adapt. Technology managers need to communicate effectively with their business partners, to clarify the benefits and risks of cloud computing, and ensure that technology choices continue to support the business needs.