(Originally published in Small Business Computing, April 7, 2009) Technology insiders tend to throw around technical terms and business jargon, assuming people outside the industry understand what it all means. By its nature, technology vocabulary is often confusing and complicated, and insiders often add to t...
Tag: cloud
What is Cloud Computing, and Why Should You Care?
Whais Cloud Computing — and Why Should You Care? By Laurie McCabe March 11, 2009
Boomi Widgets–Another Step Towards Simplifying Application Integration
Over the past few years, the SaaS subscription model has given small and medium businesses (SMBs) a much easier, more affordable and manageable route to deploy and use business applications. But integrating these applications isn’t always as easy as deploying them. Although things such as Web services and service-oriented-architecture (SOA) technologies promised to alleviate the situation, th...
The Compelling TCO Case for Cloud-based business applications in SMB and Mid-Market Enterprises
A 4-year total cost of ownership (TCO) perspective comparing cloud and on-premise business application deployment
Intuit Partner Platform: Changing the Rules of Cloud Platforms with Federated Applications
Cloud platforms, or “platforms-as-a-service” (PaaS) are quickly becoming a key channel for application developers. By writing and publishing their applications to integrate with those of a major PaaS provider, such as Salesforce.com or Microsoft, smaller developers can gain instant access to a large installed base of customers. With so many vendors creating their own clouds, however, it’s easy...
What Will Social Networking Displace?
Just a couple of years ago, many people were still debating whether digital social networking was just a flash in the pan. With social media growth surging, that that debate is over. People have moved on to try and figure out where social networking is headed—as evidenced when I Googled the “future of social networking” and got 542,000 results. Now of course I didn’t read all of them, but a co...
Impressions from Sage Insights 2009
Last week, I attended Insights, Sage North America’s annual partner event. I’ve attended this event for several years now, watching the company’s attempts to create a cohesive brand and strategy across its many small and medium business (SMB) solutions. At last year’s Insights, Sage had just hired Sue Swenson
Can Standards Clear the Clouds?
With market adoption of cloud computing forecast to skyrocket, no one in the tech industry wants to be left on the ground. But, as cloud computing platforms, models and definitions multiply, they’re becoming as numerous and diverse as Mother Nature’s clouds—and just as easy for customers to get lost in. Last week, Ben Worthen blogged in the WSJ a...
Will CPAs Bring the Cloud to Earth for SMBs?
Just last week, I blogged about how some IT pundits and vendors are falling into the trap of turning the cloud into yet another confusing and over-hyped industry buzzword, and the need to bring cloud conversations down to earth for small and medium business (SMB) customers. A couple of days after I wrote this post, I had a briefing with Intacct, the American Institute of Certified Public Acco...
Six Signs that It’s Time to Bring Your Cloud Speak Down to Earth
I know its hard to believe, but industry insiders often make and drink too much of their own Kool-Aid! Unfortunately, this seems to be happening all too frequently with cloud computing, the latest in a long line of our industry’s over-hyped buzzwords. Here’s how to tell if you need to come back down earth when communicating about "t...