Technology Brief: The Cloud-Connected Management Suite

IT isn't about to change — it is already changing. Businesses that once depended entirely on IT to deliver services now look to a mix of internal IT and external service providers to meet their needs. If a department manager wants to implement a cloud-based email marketing tool, she orders it with a credit card online. In a manner of minutes she can be up and running on the new system. She doesn't feel the need to ask permission, because she is not adding any machines or installing any software. She is just solving a business problem—one that needs solving right now.

Does this situation sound familiar? Flexibility to respond quickly enables the business to stay competitive. Unfortunately, this same flexibility results in a loss of control. IT, charged with maintaining the sanctity of corporate networks, data, and applications, no longer knows all of the services that the business is using. Controlling this environment is becoming more difficult, and it is getting worse as more and more services become available. There must be a better way.