Cloud computing is getting a lot of coverage in the media and a lot of space in the slide decks presented in analyst briefings. Seemingly, however, each pundit has his or her own way of both defining and evaluating the merits of cloud computing. On one end of the spectrum, some see cloud computing as quite simply the beginning of the end of computing as we have known it. On the other end, the whole notion is being written off simply as a load of “tech hype,” the latest in a wave of media-generated frenzy that in the end won’t signify anything of lasting import. The truth, as always, is probably somewhere in the middle.

The purpose of this white paper is neither to extol cloud computing’s virtues nor to write it off, but rather to focus on what is happening today, and what some of the practical implications for today’s enterprises and service providers will be. Today, the reality is that many organizations are either using or delivering cloud computing services or have near-term plans to do so. For these organizations, there are several considerations and implications.

This paper offers an overview of some key issues organizations should be aware of before they make the plunge into cloud computing. Featuring a range of practical insights, the paper looks at some of the most pressing challenges cloud computing presents in terms of service level management, and it offers some tips for overcoming these obstacles.