Transcript 2010 Technology Decision Making Roundtable

2010 Technology Decision Making
Roundtable: Cloud Computing
Google Apps vs. Live@Edu
Daryl Tilley
Director of Technology Services
Ingham Intermediate School District
[email protected]
In association with:
MACUL SIGTech
http://macul.org/specialinterestgroups/sigtech/
The Usual Suspects
• Daily use software applications
• E-mail/Calendar/Contacts
• Office Suite
 Word Processor
 Spreadsheet
 Presentation
 Database
The Traditional Model
• Microsoft Exchange or Novell GroupWise
 Server(s) in-house for domain, post offices,
transfer agents, web access, Internet agents, …
 Thick client installed on every workstation
 Web access offsite
• Microsoft Office or OpenOffice
 Application suite installed on every desktop
 Full featured thick client
The Growing Challenge
• More needs and greater demand for functions
with shrinking staffs and budgets
• Desktop support issues
 Hardware and software and users oh my!
 Upgrades and patches
• Server support issues
 Server/storage upgrades and patches
 Software upgrades and patches
 New versions of major applications
• Cost
 Licensing
 Support
Is it a Cloudy Day?
• The Cloud Computing or Software as a Service
(SaaS) Model
 Storage, servers and services all housed offcampus and belong to someone else
 Customers use the application remotely
 No infrastructure and upgrades
 Reduced licensing costs
• Danger Will Robinson!
 Loss of control
 Internet access becomes mandatory
Cloudy Office Applications
• Google Apps for Education
 Multi-user editing
 The good and bad of the web interface
• Microsoft Web Apps
 Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote “Light”
• Third Party
 Zoho
 Other
Cloudy Communications
• Google Apps for Education
 Gmail
• Microsoft Live@Edu
 Outlook Web App 2010
• Other
Does it Look Like Rain to You?
• Common Concerns:
 FERPA
 Where’s my data?
 What about this EULA?
 How can I know it’s secure?
 What if they start charging?
 How do I get my stuff back?
 What am I losing control of?
 What about backups and restores?
 What if the worst thing possible happens: the
Internet goes down!
Clouds Are so Light and Fluffy
• Take the worries off your plate:
 No servers to manage or upgrade
 No storage to watch guard
 No backups to monitor
 No software to update
 No thick clients to install*
 Less reliance on the actual desktop device
• Shift your focus to leveraging the value of
technology
Beware the Thunderheads
• Have some new worries!
 Internet Internet Internet
 No control over new versions
 No control over features
 No control over application outages
 I can see all the seams!
Is the Cloud Really Cheaper
Probably – IF you measure hard and soft costs
 TCO can be hard to calculate
 The fact that some options are FREE makes the
math easier
 What does it really cost me to manage servers,
storage, server OS, applications, patches,
updates, upgrades…
 Here is our cost calculation of in-house vs.
hosted
Google’s Cloud is Great Because:
• It’s free, it’s easy to manage and use
• Many educators already using it
• Google Labs add-ons
• Google Sites
• Google Talk
• Multi-user applications
• There’s an API for everything
• Wide mobile device support
• Innovations/improvements happen frequently
Live@Edu’s Cloud is Great Because:
• It’s free and may look like what you are used to
• Close to in-house without the worry
• Fidelity with outlook client*
• Plug-ins and integrations*
• Flexible and granular administrative options
• Office “light” applications
• Move towards a unified platform
• Command line access to server
Google’s Touch of Grey:
• Interface lacks some common features
• Web interface feels like a web interface
• Outlook as client has limitations*
• Lacks hierarchical/federated administration
• Some proxy features not there yet
Microsoft Touch of Grey:
• Outlook client is needed for some features*
• Missing some traditional features (coming from
GroupWise)
• Inability to restore individual deleted mail
Thunderstorms in All Directons
• Both Google and Microsoft have shortcomings:
 No control over new features or versions
 What happens if the Internet is down?
 What features are you giving up?
• Bottom line, you are giving up something
My Choice Seems Cloudy?
• Google Apps for Education if you:
 Don’t want/need granular management features
 Are already invested in Google apps/features
 Aren’t concerned about integration with MS
products
 Like (or at least don’t dislike) the web interface
 Feel comfortable with the support model
 Know a good programmer to use the API’s
My Choice Seems Cloudy?
• Microsoft Live@Edu if you:
 Want a lot of granular control
 Prefer the “enterprise” look and feel of Outlook
 Want fidelity between MS apps
 Are a PowerShell scripting ninja
 Want the closest thing to having your own server
Whose on Cloud 9?
• These are not mutually exclusive
• A hybrid approach works
• Live@Edu for staff and student e-mail
• Google Apps for Education for docs and sites
 Mail/Calendar/Contacts turned off
• Directory integration possible with both
Questions?