THE OFFICIAL BLOG OF THE SBS "DIVA"

Let see which do I want....

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/146570/adobe_launches_hosted_services_adds_flash_to_acrobat.html

A vendor that has a steller track record in security vulnerabilities that I'm sure will have the same wonderful security in mind when they offer hosted solutions, or

http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/readwriteweb/~3/303164548/silverlight_on_hp.php

Or Silverlight as part of the HP decrapifying process that I'll be looking out for now.

Oh I'm sure the Scobles of this world will say that I'm sticking my head in the sand just not embracing the change that will come whether I like it or not but in reality it's just those of us that are decision makers that wait for the Scoblism to wear down a bit and see what vendor shakes out and how this will really land.  Most of the folks that I see touting the benefits of the cloud are cloud vendors in the first place.  Google and Microsoft have the most to lose and gain in this cloud war.  So forgive this jaded decison maker who's heard "this is the latest thing since sliced bread" a few too many times, lived through the .dot com, and the Novell and the Lantastic and the punched cards who waits to see what shakes out. 

Personally I think the issue with the cloud makers is that they need us up there more than we need them.  Why do I say that?  The good enough problem.  On premises Cloud players can't upgrade and force change.  Once you are cloud engaged, the upgrades and changes and deployments and ...whatever is on their schedule not yours.  So in that respect it's smoothing out the revenue stream for them.  Monthly subscriptions are a lot better than project based upgrades on my schedule, isn't it?

But the key element is can the workflow of the firm fit with the technology ...any technology... you are looking at.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=25350815-5c57-441a-b7fb-329ff5fe14b3&displaylang=en

What servers must remain?

It may be necessary to retain some of your existing e-mail environment after migrating your users to Exchange Online.

Does the organization have workflow dependencies or mail-in database functionality that requires that certain e-mail servers must remain?

Have you identified and are you familiar with every application that is involved in sending e-mail? Understanding what applications send mail is critical to minimizing e-mail transmission problems. Although administrators may be familiar with the Exchange Server e-mail system and other systems that are part of the overall message flow, what applications are sending e-mail and where they’re sending are generally not well documented.

When you start retiring servers, or if you are trying to resolve odd e-mail addressing problems, you may discover an issue with a rogue application that is sending messages in a non-standard way.

Look at the business.  Look how the work goes through the firm.  And will that work with cloud based solutions?  For small agile workgroups and project groups, probably yes.  For every firm, in every way, I'd argue not.  They key here is understanding if the business workflow can work in the manner in which you are proposing it will work.

Making the right decision means you take the time to understand that business workflow in the firstplace.