There’s no easy way to integrate on-premise systems with the cloud or multiple clouds with each other. There is a wary sense of déjà vu among CIOs when the talk turns to cloud. Having bought a boatload of half-baked products over the years, experienced technology leaders are not easily impressed by the Next Big Thing. With outsized hype but only modest deliveries so far, cloud computing promises to move applications and systems around to whatever locations and platforms make the most business sense. Already it’s widely accepted as a fundamental, long-term shift in how IT will be delivered in the future. Yet as our cover story (“Clash of the Clouds,”) explains, there are big hurdles to clear before we stroll through the heavenly cloud gates. Those include a lack of standards, vendor lock-in and uncertainty around network uptime, security and data access. The biggest worries of all are centered on what one CIO friend calls “The dreaded ‘I’ word: Integration.” Nowhere is the picture murkier than around integration of cloud services. It’s safe to say no large company will outsource everything to the cloud, and even midsize firms aren’t likely to end up with 100 percent cloud-provided IT for quite a while. So hybrid models of on-premise and off-premise corporate systems will need to flourish. As CIO Ken Harris of Shaklee points out in our story, integration capabilities are the key to any cloud vendor’s future prosperity. “They don’t have an effective business model if they can’t rapidly and conveniently connect with customers’ on-premise systems,” he says. Shaklee already runs several software-as-a-service applications and has invested in third-party tools to integrate those systems. “I’d have to integrate them even if they were internal,” Harris notes, but the difference with cloud-based technologies is that off-site systems add in a network reliability element beyond the CIO’s control. The inner workings of cloud providers can pose another sort of problem when they cloak themselves in mystery, adds CTO Marty Colburn of Finra (the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority). In looking to move his e-mail systems to a cloud vendor, he was frustrated by one vendor’s refusal to reveal details about its own architecture. Still another tricky aspect of cloud is its potential to fuel a new kind of “shadow IT,” where users armed with corporate credit cards can easily set up systems without you knowing. For a thorough exploration of all these cloud hurdles—and a look at how your colleagues are clearing them—check out our story. And let us hear from you about the impact of cloud on your business. Related content case study Toyota transforms IT service desk with gen AI To help promote insourcing and quality control, Toyota Motor North America is leveraging generative AI for HR and IT service desk requests. By Thor Olavsrud Dec 08, 2023 7 mins Employee Experience Generative AI ICT Partners feature CSM certification: Costs, requirements, and all you need to know The Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) certification sets the standard for establishing Scrum theory, developing practical applications and rules, and leading teams and stakeholders through the development process. By Moira Alexander Dec 08, 2023 8 mins Certifications IT Skills Project Management brandpost Sponsored by SAP When natural disasters strike Japan, Ōita University’s EDiSON is ready to act With the technology and assistance of SAP and Zynas Corporation, Ōita University built an emergency-response collaboration tool named EDiSON that helps the Japanese island of Kyushu detect and mitigate natural disasters. By Michael Kure, SAP Contributor Dec 07, 2023 5 mins Digital Transformation brandpost Sponsored by BMC BMC on BMC: How the company enables IT observability with BMC Helix and AIOps The goals: transform an ocean of data and ultimately provide a stellar user experience and maximum value. By Jeff Miller Dec 07, 2023 3 mins IT Leadership Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe