Recently-published Saugatuck research provides Saugatuck’s clients with an in-depth analysis of how new offerings are expanding the capability of Cloud IT to include workloads previously considered not appropriate for Cloud.

We offer insights into two categories of workloads:

The new PureSystems packaged server offerings from IBM spotlight potential benefits from systems-level integration that Saugatuck outlined almost two years ago as key for enterprise Cloud development, deployment and management (800MKT, Cloud Selection: Acquisition of Integrated Systems, 28Oct2010). A new Strategic Perspective for Saugatuck CRS clients offers the PureSystems Patterns offering as an example of how enterprise IT orgs can save on integration testing and enable redistribution of IT staffing.

There are potentially significant constraints and limitations, even challenges to gaining such benefits, including the economics of legacy vs. new hardware and systems; it’s not all beer and skittles by any means. But as is examined in the Strategic Perspective, Saugatuck expects significant growth in the range and number of such systems being developed, sold, and used - and we project that the amount of staffing required to deploy and maintain infrastructures will shrink over time. Even a relatively small decrease in the resources required for integration testing and maintenance can yield relatively large increases in manpower available for new business solutions.

Recently-published Saugatuck research provides Saugatuck’s clients with an in-depth analysis of how the profile of the IT organization affects the selection of Cloud-based business solutions. We offer insights into two types of IT organizations – tactical and strategic – and suggest customers pursue a hybrid “tactically-strategic” approach.

We urge all types of IT organizations to understand that emerging solutions such as Cloud Analytics/BI/Big Data have both tactical implementation considerations as well as implications for long term business process improvements.

Recently-published Saugatuck research provides Saugatuck’s clients with a deeper analysis of the user perceptions of the benefits and the concerns associated with Cloud-based business solutions. Besides illustrating the results of our recent worldwide survey, we offer insights into the survey results which identify two types of IT organizations:

1. 1.Some are operating as cost centers and are primarily focused on satisfying tactical needs with concerns focused on traditional implementation issues.
2. 2.Others are looking to Cloud-based business solutions for strategic effects and have concerns focused on longer-term issues.

We urge both types of IT organizations to understand that emerging categories of solutions such as Mobile Device Management, Cloud Analytics/BI/Big Data, and Social/Collaboration software have both near term implementation considerations and broad-reaching implications for long term business strategy.

Recently-published Saugatuck research provides Saugatuck’s Cloud vendor clients with TCO considerations and suggestions for accelerating Cloud adoption. In addition various factors are explained for users to consider when evaluating potential costs of Cloud offerings. These factors include:

• Average utilization of the Cloud infrastructure
• Economies achievable by large Cloud providers
• List prices versus negotiated discounts for large/aggregated workloads

Our research has shown that users do not consistently consider these factors during evaluations and consequently do not gain an accurate projection of the costs of Cloud offerings.