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Cloud computing is scary. It changes channel business and forces solution providers to adopt new methods and models.
But the fear that the channel will be disintermediated by the cloud and that there are no opportunities for partners in a cloud computing world are straight up false, according to a panel of four cloud industry experts during the COMDEXvirtual session "Cashing In On The Cloud."
"It's obvious, this is a scary environment, but it's also true that the cloud vendors themselves have never needed channel partners more than they do today," said Jeffrey Kaplan, managing director of THINKstrategies Inc.
According to Kaplan, there are a host of opportunities for solution providers in the cloud. Whether its customer support, training, integration, consulting, industry-specific solutions or geography-specific relationships, the cloud puts the channel in great demand as end users look to navigate the new murky waters of the cloud.
It's up to the channel to demystify the cloud for clients. To remove the confusion. And to lead the cloud charge, Kaplan said.
Donald Ryan, vice president of research firm Market Probe said that research found that cloud awareness is starting to take hold, and major vendors like Amazon, Google, IBM and Microsoft have grabbed cloud mindshare both in the public and private cloud arenas.
Market Probe also found that the cloud is being used for mission critical application in production environments, with 10 percent of takers of a recent survey saying they use public cloud for critical apps in production, and 12 percent use private cloud. Additionally, 13 percent said they are using cloud in production with non-critical applications in private clouds and 15 percent in public cloud. Meanwhile, more than 30 percent of companies are considering public and private cloud plays.
"We think that these numbers underscore that the cloud is bigger than what we think," he said.
Ryan said that market momentum shows that cloud computing is gathering steam and creating opportunities for solution providers.
"The main things that these vendors can do to drive cloud adoption is to provide more definition, delineate benefits better and also define the role of public versus private solutions," Ryan said.
