As more and more services in the company come from the cloud, its dependency on cloud providers will grow, another reason why a close look should be taken at the situation in advance. Many cloud computing providers offer test phases over a number of weeks during which the services can be tried free of charge. Users should take advantage of this phase to compare the operation of the systems as well as their technical compatibility: the more similar the local and cloud variants are, the more easily the affected employees will be able to make the transition between them. Additional evaluation criteria include the reputation and reliability of the cloud provider. In particular, cloud services bearing the label “beta version” in their title are frequently not yet suitable for professional use in companies. If, on the other hand, mature cloud services are used, it is most probable that companies will already be able to profit from the numerous benefits which cloud computing offers.   

Recommendations for cloud providers   

The changes in user requirements such as greater dynamism, rising cost pressure and, above all, the new technological possibilities in the form of increasing virtualization which can ­result from cloud computing make it possible for cloud providers to address new target groups and to serve their existing target groups better.   

New target groups such as very small companies and start-ups, for whom the one-off acquisition costs of a software program or a server infrastructure were previously prohibitive, can now be won over as new customers with the flexible, demand-oriented billing methods of cloud computing. From the viewpoint of specialized cloud providers, there is an opportunity to realize scaling effects when providing their services. The business model becomes especially lucrative, as shown in the example of the Amazon services EC2 and S2, when it involves resources which have to be maintained for the company’s own business purposes anyway. Cloud computing can in this case result in better utilization of capacities in one’s own infrastructure.   

Users of cloud products will, initially, go to the cloud ­primarily for applications (software as a service) which do not require deep integration into their own corporate processes, databases, and IT environment. Nevertheless, they will expect guaranteed service levels and compliance declarations concerning the handling of corporate data for these applications as well.