Clouded vision

If overuse of the word ‘cloud’ is a crime, then we’re certainly guilty of it this month.

Our Cloud Services Guide describes the impact cloud computing has had on business in recent years, and inevitably will have on all businesses.

The expression ‘ the Cloud’ has been referred to ad nauseum in our story, but I make no excuse because nobody’s ever come up with a better term to describe the hosting of services online.

The impact that cloud computing is having on all size businesses in New Zealand is plain to see. I came across a good visual example of the scope of that impact in the form of a news story last November covering Zespri’s migration to the cloud. The large Mt Maunganui-based export firm had just decommissioned its physical on-site servers and migrated most of its global computer infrastructure successfully to ‘ the Cloud’ – in this case the Microsoft Azure platform.

No longer requiring physical servers to store data, Zespri now had a redundant computer room on its hands, and decided to ‘reboot’ the tired-old windowless room into a space for staff to relax or hold meetings. That space ended up reflecting a 1950s drive-in movie theatre theme, thanks to a ‘dragons den’ style pitch process where teams of Zespri employees presented ideas to a panel of judges. Add in a big smart TV and it now works as both a high-tech meeting room and breakout area.

I’m hoping this month’s Cloud Services Guide can answer some of your questions and allay any uncertainty about migrating from the desktop to the cloud. We gathered together some real experts in the cloud services space to get you up to speed.

Don’t forget to go to our website, www.nzbusiness.co.nz, to learn more about some of this country’s top cloud services on offer.

Our cover story this month profiles another of New Zealand’s outstanding entrepreneurs-cum-inventors, following our story on Andrew Wigney in April. Like me, I’m sure you’ll be impressed by the achievements of Katikati’s Simon McDonald, and the contribution he is making to both the local and national economy, as well as young Maori and Pacific Islanders.

Have a productive June, we’re almost over the half-year hump!