The future of cloud-based technologies is pretty clear to forward-thinking security integrators. Cloud computing is really about freedom and location independence. The cloud model and its impact on the future of business are established. Software as a service is one of three major cloud architectures (platform and infrastructure being the other two) that are being embraced for both cost savings and security considerations. Surveillance as a service is a starting point.
With early cloud initiatives the cost and capabilities of network bandwidth and storage were an impediment to widespread acceptance. Today technology enables the financial justification for eliminating IT infrastructure and support costs. This shift in the usage model away from in-house IT is well underway, and the question a traditional integrator needs to ask is, “How does this impact my long-term business model?” This is an answer that needs to be grounded in reality rather then emotions. Small and medium businesses will seek cloud service providers because these businesses do not employ IT professionals, and the largest firms cannot resist the cost savings. The hybrid model (half in house / half on the cloud) is the first phase toward an almost total public cloud model (excluding limited private clouds), which will eventually prevail. The utility analogy is very accurate.