According to this article, security, control, availability, reliability, latency, and scalability are the 5 biggest issues holding the banking industry to move towards cloud computing. Fortunately, there are answers to all of these fears. Cloud systems may actual be more secure than a bank’s data center, and companies shouldn’t worry about not having enough control over their accounts in the cloud. Cloud systems are proven reliable and easy to back up data if an issue occurs, however, just like you would not make only one copy of an important document, you should not only place your information in one secure place- always have a backup. And finally, most cloud computing systems show no signs of latency, and scalability is not an issue in cloud computing.

• Managing Tech: Separating Fact From Fiction in Cloud Computing and SaaS

The government’s acceptance could be a huge advantage to cloud computing. Not just for the advantages that the cloud can bring to the government (such as significant savings in IT), but for the acceleration of cloud computing. “Since cloud computing is a new technology that still has a lot of doubters, acceptance by the government… will definitely make the technology more acceptable to businesses and the public alike.” The government’s acceptance would lead to less hesitation for other companies to move towards the cloud.

• Can the US Government “Lead by Example” in Cloud Computing Adoption?

Nervous about switching over the the cloud? You don’t need to fully intergrate your business into the cloud if you are not yet ready. There are other solutions, such as utilizing Google Docs or Google Apps, to help you get your feet wet and try out the cloud before you switch to a major provider. The cloud does not have to be a “viable option only for those organisations able to pay for high quality bandwidth,” and many companies take advantage of these services since the cloud is still emerging.

• How to Move to the Cloud in an Emerging Market

This article is interesting because it outlines salesforce.com’s innovations through acquisitions and research and development. “Nearly 50% of all revenue at salesforce.com goes directly to marketing its services and finding new clients,” compared to competitors such as Oracle, who only spend 18%. Salesforce.com, too, has invested in many acquisitions within the past year, such as Radian6 and Heroku, showing salesforce.com’s commitment to the cloud industry and the company’s innovation. Their extensive use of sales and marketing and their acquisitions sets them apart from their competitors, ultimately labeling them as the “leader in the social enterprise era.”

• How Does Salesforce.com Keep its Edge Over Large Rivals?

Thanks to the internet, starting up your own small business is not as much of a hassle as it used to be. Thanks to cloud computing, it is now easier and less costly to grow a business using the resources that cloud computing provides. For example, it is now possible to have employees and small offices all over the world because communication costs have significantly decreased and access has increased. Now, businesses are growing at a faster rate than ever before, and we have the internet and cloud computing to thank for that.

• Cloud Computing “Allow Business to Grow Quicker”