Cloud Starts to Have Major Impact on Latin America IT
September 16th, 2011
By Dan Berthiaume
Latin American companies are increasingly taking advantage of the operational and cost efficiencies provided by cloud computing, to the potential benefit of both themselves and North American outsourcing partners. Two research studies provide insight into what appears to be a major trend in Latin American IT architecture.
Lepeak: Clouded thinking
By Stan Lepeak, KPMG
The potential benefits of cloud have been loudly touted by both pundits and providers, and much of the discussion has centered around the inherent challenges and risks associated with issues such as security and data privacy. Yet, there has been less focus on the practical enthusiasm of the average buyer organization towards cloud, or the skills and capabilities the typical firm has in place to address cloud opportunities and challenges.
The Nearshore has reason to smile, says Atul at Neo Group
By Dan Berthiaume
The US outsourcing market for IT infrastructure appears set for strong growth, and Latin American providers are in an ideal position to capture much of this business. Despite what it characterizes as “modest buying intentions,” a March 2011 Forrester Research report predicts the overall outsourcing market in the US will grow 6.8% to $101 billion for 2011. Help desk, convergent telecommunication/network management services and data center management services are among areas where the largest percentage of infrastructure outsourcing growth should occur.
What Do Standards Have to Do With Nearshore Vendor Management?
July 14th, 2011By Joerg Stimmer
The main drivers for Nearshore services delivery are well known from many sources. More experienced, outsourcing customers expect their service providers to deliver more value, e.g. increased transparency and flexibility – at even lower costs. This requires innovative solutions.
By Daniel Viveiros
Recently, I looked at the rise in popularity of cloud computing amongst software developers in Nearshore engagements. But questions still remain as to the cloud’s security and reliability, and what the future holds.
Despite the benefits of cloud development in the speed and cost savings it can offer to clients’ businesses, many still view it as too unstable and unreliable to be trusted to host their infrastructures. Though their concerns are, I believe, somewhat warranted, I also believe that with the right considerations and planning, companies can clear this mental hurdle and start leveraging the cloud for their Nearshore projects.
The key to leveraging the cloud is to be smart about how you approach it. It’s not something you can just dive into, and it should be approached in the same way as any other considerable IT investment– with a backup plan in place. Clients need to prepare …
Baradello: "The Cloud and Nearshore go hand in hand"
By Patrick Haller
You can count on one hand the number of professors across the Americas that are teaching the subject of Nearshore Outsourcing at the university graduate level. One of those people is Carlos Baradello, Associate Dean at the School of Business and Management, University of San Francisco,whose mix of corporate, engineering and academic experience puts him at the center of some of the most important discussions focused on the future of the Nearshore ‘movement.” With deep business and academic connections in tech hubs like Cordoba, Argentina; Guadalajara, Mexico and Silicon Valley, Baradello has a unique perspective on the market – and usually he doesn’t hold back from sharing his views.
Cloud Catches Fire in Brazil, but Pricing is a Mystery
April 20th, 2011By Dennis Barker
Cloud computing is picking up steam in Brazil faster than in any other Latin American country. But there’s currently some confusion and uncertainty about the real cost of using cloud-based services. Some customers are seeing bills that are higher than what they expected, according to research by IDC in Brazil.
SaaS and Web 2.0 vendors have to engage on a local level to be successful. One U.S. company turns to Argentina for help.
By Josette Rigsby
Cloud computing has enabled many software-as-a-service (SaaS) and Web 2.0 vendors to rapidly gain the capacity to have a global presence. But many providers mistakenly assume that expanding to a new market, like Latin America, is as simple as having a language translation button on their website. It is not.
Microsoft to Start Selling Windows Cloud Services to Businesses
March 23rd, 2011By Sharon Pian Chan
Taking a step deeper into the cloud, Microsoft will start selling Windows and computer management as a cloud service for businesses.
The service, Windows Intune, launches Wednesday in 35 countries at the Microsoft Management Summit, which started Monday in Las Vegas. Intune represents another evolutionary leap by Microsoft, taking the company from selling software in boxes to offering software delivered remotely from the cloud — large data centers Microsoft runs.
Last year, Microsoft launched Azure, a cloud platform for software developers. Later this year, it will start selling Word, Excel and PowerPoint as a cloud service called Office 365.
Microsoft said cloud services will free up time businesses now spend managing software upgrades and patching security holes.
Windows Intune is expected to cost $10 to $11 per user per month. The monthly service fee includes a license to upgrade to Windows 7 Enterprise edition. Microsoft is also …
Remote Infrastructure Management: Maybe Not as Sexy as Cloud, RIMO Still has Bright Future
February 22nd, 2011
Cloud does not negate the need for remote outsourced IT management – and the Nearshore has a special role to play
By Josette Rigsby
Recent industry analysis suggests that demand for remote infrastructure management outsourcing, RIMO, is increasing. Driven by aggressive budgets and growing technology demands, leaders are finding newer, more efficient ways to operate. RIMO is a multi-billion dollar market; and, the growth is expected to continue. However, optimism about the RIMO market is not universal.
