GM headed to the Cloud with Google Apps

I am a huge proponent of getting email out of the server room and into the cloud. If email administration isn't part of your core business - then let it go. Too many IT directors think that their job is to maintain a death-grip on every technology used at their firm. These technologists can be hurting your business from a financial and technological standpoint. The cost savings on hardware and software can be significant - with or without the elimination of full-time resources. From a technology end - I have encountered very few IT staffs who maintain the latest patches and updates to their email environments, leaving security holes wide open, which puts the entire organization at risk. Many executives who I speak with are rightfully concerned about email security in the cloud - and I always ask them to audit their existing environments.

Then there is always the added cost of bringing in a third-party partner to assist with repairs, architecture, updates and integration.

Cloud-based offerings aren't bullet proof, so check your SLA.

General Motors is ready to sign a deal to move its 100,000-plus workforce to Gmail and Google Apps

If it really does happen, it will be a huge move in moving desktop and productivity apps to the cloud. Gmail is already replacing many on-premise email systems, particularly at colleges and universities.

For its part, Google claims at least four million businesses already subscribe to its apps, which include email, calendar, and document collaboration. It can be assumed that these businesses also subscribe to services offered through the Google Apps Marketplace, which offers everything from accounting & finance to project management tools. Read more at www.zdnet.com

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