https://www.channelfutures.com/wp-content/themes/channelfutures_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2020 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
Channel Futures
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2020 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
    • Newsletter
  • REGISTER
  • MSPs
  • VARs / SIs
  • Digital Service Providers
  • Cloud Service Providers
  • CHANNEL PARTNERS ONLINE
 Channel Futures

From the Industry


Has the Channel Been Cloudwashed?

  • Written by Thinking Phone Networks Guest Blog
  • August 14, 2014

Considering the fact that every technology vendor these days has something it terms of a cloud offering, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find the "true cloud" in many of them. The term "cloudwashing" comes to mind when trying to determine which cloud methodologies are real and which are simply rebranded attempts to put traditional software into a data center.

Considering the fact that every technology vendor these days has something it terms of a cloud offering, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find the “true cloud” in many of them. The term “cloudwashing” comes to mind when trying to determine which cloud methodologies are real and which are simply rebranded attempts to put traditional software into a data center.

Most of the companies and vendors responsible for implementing software in enterprise or corporate IT environments—companies that many of us in the IT world refer to as value added resellers (VARs) and managed service providers (MSPs)—are susceptible to this scam because they have been largely dependent on hardware and software manufacturers to create innovative technology, which they then deploy to customers. Since IT manufacturers today feel they are behind if they don’t have a cloud solution, many of them have tweaked their traditional software to be “virtual ready,” put it in a data center and proclaimed to the world that they have a cloud offering.

True Cloud Is the New Technical Economy

Cloud is not simply moving software into a data center and presenting the costs of necessary hardware in creative leasing terms. True cloud is an entirely new technical economy that starts to remove redundant areas of technical overhead through virtualization and lessens resource overhead by eliminating unnecessary hand-off points between the application and the enterprise user.

In more relatable terms, it’s like taking a direct flight rather than one with multiple layovers and connections. Yes, the plane ticket may be a little more expensive, but think about the savings in time, planning and resources (no lost “luggage” along the way). All of these factors add up to even more savings than what would have been saved on a plane ticket with multiple stops. The same is true for businesses that seek to be more efficient. In a true cloud environment, efficiency spreads and spreads, creating a sprawl that benefits both the general corporate worker and the corporate bean counter.

‘Cloud’ in Name Only

Unfortunately, for businesses that seek to integrate relevant technology (for example, VARs and MSPs), the benefits can be harder to find. The vendors these companies have traditionally called upon are simply placing their software (and all accompanying processes and potential points of failure) somewhere else, then slapping a sticker on it that says “CLOUD!”

Fortunately, I work for a company that “gets” true cloud communications. If you are a VAR or an IT integrator and the manufacturers that you sell, support, and validate are essentially equipping you with a solution they claim to be cloud, but all of the hoops you have to jump through seem disturbingly familiar, you may want to take a step back and see if you have been cloudwashed.

Cary Bush is Thinking Phone Networks’ director of Partner Solutions. Guest blogs such as this one are published monthly, and are part of Talkin’ Cloud’s annual platinum sponsorship.

Tags: Cloud Service Providers Digital Service Providers MSPs VARs/SIs From the Industry

Related


  • SMB cybersecurity
    SMBs’ Cybersecurity Risk Awareness Is Rising
    The majority of SMBs would switch MSPs for the right cybersecurity support.
  • cloud data
    Your Cloud Data Is Protected, But Is It Portable?
    Why flexibility and containerization are the new must-haves for cloud data.
  • office 365
    How to Improve First Call Resolution with Microsoft Office 365 Service Tickets
    Here are some tools and strategies for improving the rate of FCR with Office 365 service tickets.
  • SaaS
    Tactics for Selling SaaS Backup
    Here are three ways every MSP can portray the value of SaaS Backup to their customers.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your Channel Futures account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Top 4 Benefits of an RMM System
  • Rethink Endpoint Protection in 2021
  • 2020: The Year of the Triple
  • 2021 Cybersecurity Predictions

Galleries

View all

New, Changing Partner Programs: AWS, Tech Data, Avaya, Verizon

January 11, 2021

Industry Perspectives

View all

The Importance of Being Security-Centric

January 22, 2021

Cyberattacks: Threat Hunters Conquer Unpredictability with 3 Measures

January 21, 2021

The Right Data Migration Tool Helps Schools Move to Cloud During COVID Crisis

January 19, 2021

Webinars

View all

Who’s Behind the Mask? Hacker Personas Explained

January 26, 2021

Your Network Perimeter Has Changed

February 18, 2021

How Managed Hosting Providers Thrive with the Alternative Cloud

February 24, 2021

White Papers

View all

Why Subscription Business Model

January 15, 2021

The Ultimate MSP Guide to Sales Efficiency

January 14, 2021

Eight Reasons Why MSPs Need IT Industry-Specific Sales Tools

January 14, 2021

Upcoming Events

View all

Channel Partners Virtual

March 2, 2021 - March 4, 2021

Channel Partners Conference & Expo

November 1, 2021 - November 4, 2021

Videos and Fastchats

View all

FASTCHAT: How SOAR Eliminates Security Challenges and Elevates Service Provider Revenues

January 6, 2021

Happy Holidays from Channel Partners & Channel Futures!

December 21, 2020

FASTCHAT: How Old, Unpatched Technologies Are Creating New Security Threats for MSPs and Their Customers

December 3, 2020

Twitter

ChannelFutures

.@exabeam, @VulcanCyber, @ntti3, @Vectra_AI, @Lookout and @valtixinc give high marks to @POTUS' federal… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 22, 2021
ChannelFutures

Judge sides with @AWScloud against #Parler; @SADAsystems gets AI-centric board member; @EnsonoIT, @navisite get… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 22, 2021
ChannelFutures

2021 may be the year of the #security-centric #MSP @BarracudaMSP #remoteworking #ITsecurity #dataprotection #RMM… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 22, 2021
ChannelFutures

Adding #AIOps and #AI-driven WANs will help IT administrators move forward, says @MistSystems.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 22, 2021
ChannelFutures

Microsoft taps @tybryson as corporate VP @msuspartner group @julwhite heading to SAP, @anderson to @Qualtrics.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

January 22, 2021
ChannelFutures

#MSPs can inject predictability into #threathunting @Sophos #cybersecurity #ransomware dlvr.it/Rr4ffV https://t.co/Bztc2Yxwvc

January 22, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@RiskBased report shows decrease in #databreaches, jump in exposed records in 2020. dlvr.it/Rr4fcW https://t.co/PYiDMiJFbt

January 22, 2021
ChannelFutures

Legal experts say @VMware's #lawsuit against @nutanix's new CEO holds little weight. dlvr.it/Rr48FJ https://t.co/oLxPhgvgAt

January 21, 2021

MSSP Insider

Newsletters and Updates

Sign up for The Channel Report, Channel Futures Update, MSP 501 Newsletter and more.

Live Channel Events

Get the latest information on the next industry-leading Channel Partners event.

Channel Partners Online

Want more? Find more channel news and analysis on our sister site, Channel Partners.

Media Kit And Advertising

Want to reach our audience? Access our media kit

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • Channel Partners Online
  • Channel Partners Events
  • MSP 501
  • MSSP Insider
  • IoT World Today
  • Webhostingtalk

WORKING WITH US

  • Contact
  • About us
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter

FOLLOW Channel Futures ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X