Acronym

If you attended the 2009 Technology Conference hosted by ASAE & The Center, you heard a lot about what term “cloud computing.” Discussion focused on what the term means (buying access to software and services downloadable via the Internet from a third party rather than trying to purchase and run everything yourself), whether its odd name should be altered to clarify its definition, and what its potential may be for cost savings and improved technological performance at associations, especially small to mid-size organizations.

I ran into this article, titled “No Man Is an Island: The Promise of Cloud Computing, Knowledge,” in the always-interesting Knowledge@Wharton e-newsletter this week and want to share it. The tech wizards quoted believe that organizations of the future will almost all operate with “the cloud” because of what they perceive is better security, dramatic cost savings, and current fatigue regarding the constant IT “rat race” to keep up with ever-evolving technology.

I’m interesting in learning whether any associations are actively incorporating cloud computing into their IT strategies. Please post here for more discussion.