Cloud Computing

So what’s the first step? Go to Amazon and start reading up, Thickins recommends. The site provides demos and online training that makes it possible for IT-literate people to figure out many of the basics on their own. And it costs very little to experiment.

The experts advise turning to a trusted vendor or consultant and getting their advice before making a bigger commitment to a cloud service. “There are a number of cloud platforms out there today, and I guarantee the number is going to explode in the next 12 months,” Baker says. “All of these clouds, they all have their pros and cons, they all have their unique capabilities. It’s not the case that one cloud is going to meet the needs of all businesses.”

If Flyspy were launching today, Metcalf says, he would have spent more time finding a good management tool, such as the one offered by EnStratus. “There’s a lot of moving pieces. It’s almost like spinning plates on a stage, and they help with that,” Metcalf says. “That would have helped us. At the time, they weren’t far enough long in product development. But these days, they’re getting to be pretty robust and easy to use tools.”

As Flyspy gains altitude, Metcalf expects a lot less turbulence now that his company is in the clouds.