CloudingSMEs Deliverable D2.2.4 Roadmap reflecting the SMEs

Transcription

1 Deliverable D2.2.4 CloudingSMEs FP7- No Deliverable D2.2.1 SMEs Requirements for Cloud Development, Adoption and Evolution CloudingSMEs Deliverable D2.2.4 Roadmap reflecting the SMEs viewpoint PROPRIETARY RIGHTS STATEMENT This document contains information, which is proprietary to the CloudingSMEs Consortium. Neither this document nor the information contained herein shall be used, duplicated or communicated by any means to any third party, in whole or in parts, except with prior written consent of the consortium

2 Document Details Project Acronym CloudingSMEs Grant Agreement No Project Title Deliverable Reference Number Deliverable Title Accelerating the adoption, deployment and use of Cloud Computing by SMEs CloudingSMEs--D2.2.4 Revision Number V2.0 Deliverable Editor(s) Authors / Contributors ECIPA ErasmoCorbella (ECIPA) Fabio Massimo (ECIPA) Luc Hendrickx (UEAPME) Caterina Berbenni-Rehm PROMIS) Project co-funded by the European Commission within the FP7 Framework Programme Dissemination Level PU Public Statement of originality: This deliverable contains original unpublished work except where clearly indicated otherwise. Acknowledgement of previously published material and of the work of others has been made through appropriate citation, quotation or both. Date: 8/13/2015 2/22 CloudingSMEs

3 Revision History Rev. Author(s) Organization(s) Date Changes V0.1 ErasmoCorbella, Fabio Massimo ECIPA 27/07/2015 Document Structure, Introduction Summary of previous deliverables Roadmap for cloud evolution and adoption V0.2 Caterina Berbenni-Rehm PROMIS 30/07/2015 Input and amending typos V0.3 Christine Neubauer EuroCloud 31/07/2015 Formal adjustments V0.4 Fabio Massimo Ecipa 03/08/2015 Formal adjustments V0.5 Luc Hendrickx UEAPME 04/08/2015 Input V2.0 Lorenzo Accardo UEAPME 04/08/2015 Formal Adjustment Date: 8/13/2015 3/22 CloudingSMEs

4 Abstract This deliverable presents a roadmap for the future development of cloud computing for SMEs interested in deploying cloud solutions (demandside) and in developing and roling-out cloud solutions (supply-side). The document is composed by a set of actions, each one addressing a specific problem/need, that are derived from direct contacts with SMEs (thorough workshops, surveys, interviews). The roadmap presents specific actions that needs to be implemented in order to foster the adoption of cloud computing, from activities to focus communications about cloud computing, to processes in order to foster cost effectiveness, to actions aimed at proposing standard contracts and SLAs. Date: 8/13/2015 4/22 CloudingSMEs

5 Table of Contents Document Details... 2 Revision History... 3 Abstract... 4 Table of Contents... 5 Executive Summary Introduction Results from Interactions with SMEs Vision Roadmap for Cloud Evolution Cloud Communication Cost effectiveness SLAs, contracts and procurements Comparative analysis of cloud service providers One-stop-shop and integrated cloud services Openness, transparency and vendor lock in Enforcement of EU privacy and security directives Supporting ICT SMEs and niche cloud solution development Conclusions Date: 8/13/2015 5/22 CloudingSMEs

6 Executive Summary The present deliverable aims at establishing a final roadmap that presents the actions needed to further foster the adoption of cloud computing by European SMEs and to further develop cloud services elaborated by ICT SMEs. The sphere of action of the presented solutions are the following: - Cloud communication - Cost effectiveness - SLAs, contracts and procurements - Comparative analysis of cloud service providers - One-stop-shop and integrated cloud services - Opennes, transparency and vendor lock-in - Enforcement of EU privacy and security directives - Supporting ICT SMEs and niche cloud solutions development The above listed areas of development will each contain a set of practical actions in order to achieve the results proposed in the vision for cloud computing. Date: 8/13/2015 6/22 CloudingSMEs

7 1 Introduction The CloudingSMEs project intends to foster the development of cloud computing and particularly its adoption by European SMEs. The specific goal of is to understand and document the needs of SMEs regarding cloud computing (both from the demand and the suplly side), in order to develop a vision about the future development of cloud computing. The presented vision should be realized through specific actions, described in a proposed roadmap. Deliverable contained the first draft of this roadmap, based on the results achieved during the CloudingSMEs project and the actions taken in order to collect information about SMEs needs in terms of cloud computing, which are the following: Review of the state-of-the-art on SMEs wishes and preferences regarding cloud computing; Organization of workshops for SMEs communities Collection of requirements through questionnaires Interviews with representatives of national and sectorial SMEs organisations and analysis of their publications in the field of cloud services; Elaboration of the vision for the development of cloud computing This deliverable is structured as follows: Section 2analyze the results from interaction with SMEs, updated with the latest results Section 3 summarizes the vision, based upon which the roadmap has been elaborated Section 4 presents the proposed roadmap in order to achieve the mentioned vision Date: 8/13/2015 7/22 CloudingSMEs

8 2 Results from Interactions with SMEs As part of the project, CloudingSMEs organized different workshops in various European countries and collected a series of questionnaires in order to understand the comprehension of cloud computing among SMEs and their needs, as well as to comprehend problems and needs of ICT SMEs that offer/would like to develop cloud services. The main conclusions derived from these actions are the following For end-user SMEs: They have a limited ICT knowledge, resulting in a poor comprenhension of cloud computing. There is a urgent need of raising awareness among the SME community. SMEs need neutral and objective information and assessment about the cloud providers services in the broad sense, in order to be able to evaluate a possible migration to cloud solutions and to compare different vendors offerings. The need to have support and information on security and data protection, as well as in understanding cost issues and management of changes linked to the migration to the cloud. For ICT SMEs: They need assistance in positioning and communicating theirs products in the market, especially at an international level Fair and equal market conditions should be established, in order to facilitate competition for small and medium-sized enterprises with big actors and multinationals. Laws about data protection should be harmonized and simplified, in order to reduce the burden for ICT SMEs for implementing all directives They need financialsupport to develop new cloud solutions They need assistance for the formulation of contracts and SLAs agreements, as weel as for implementing cloud standards and certifications. Based on these results, a vision for the future development of cloud computing was elaborated. Date: 8/13/2015 8/22 CloudingSMEs

9 3 Vision The vision about the development of cloud computing is based on the results obtained from the analysis of interactions with SMEs. The most critical axes for cloud development identified by the CloudingSMEs project are the following: Vision regarding cloud communications: the need to raise cloud awareness within SMEs, but also to make communications about the cloud more targeted, substantial and effective. To achieve this goal, communications have to be made simpler and easily understandable; there should be a focus on business benefits of cloud computing, instead of technical ones; finally, there is a need of certifications that can formalize and standardize the cloud computing knowledge. Vision regarding cost effectiveness: the need to asses, prove and credibly document cost benefits of cloud computing, making hidden costs transparent and prominent to facilitate SMEs decisions. Vision about SLAs, contracts and procurements: the needs to simplify and make SLAs, contracts and procurements easily understandable for SMEs with standard terms and conditions more balanced in favor of SMEs. Vision about one-stop-shop and integrated cloud services: the need to consolidate and further establish integrated one-stop-shop services that will provide multiple cloud functionalities and based on a pay-as-yougo model. Vision about openness, transparency and vendor lock-in: the need for SMEs to have open contracts which provide the possibility of migration of data to another cloud provider as well as transparency of the cost structure and quality measurement. Vision for enforcement of EU privacy and security directives: the need to strict apply privacy rules and to provide SMEs with structured knowledge in a simple way. Vision for supporting ICT SMEs and niche cloud solution development: the identification of opportunities for ICT SMEs in terms of niche cloud products and services. The following roadmap will give practical solutions to all relevant questions in order to achieve the proposed vision. Date: 8/13/2015 9/22 CloudingSMEs

10 4 Roadmap for Cloud Evolution According to the elaborated vision, the following crucial points for cloud computing were defined: For each proposed sphere of activity, some practical actions are proposed. Date: 8/13/ /22 CloudingSMEs

11 4.1 Cloud Communication Due to the lack of objective information on cloud computing, both from end-users and from ICT SMEs, targeted actions should be taken in order to facilitate the comprehension of cloud services. The most important recommended actions for cloud communication are: Simplify the communication towards SMEs Raise awareness in the context of digital transformation Information targeted for SMEs Simplify the terminology Scope on business and cost benefit Easily understandable guidance Relevance of certifications/standards Simplify the communication towards SMEs Date: 8/13/ /22 CloudingSMEs

12 4.1.2 Raise awareness in the context of digital transformation Information targeted for SMEs Date: 8/13/ /22 CloudingSMEs

13 4.1.4 Simplify the terminology Scope on business and cost benefit Easily understandable guidance Date: 8/13/ /22 CloudingSMEs

14 4.1.7 Relevance of certifications/standards 4.2 Cost effectiveness Regarding this aspect, we considered the following spheres of action: Clear business and cost benefit Transparency about hidden costs and how to assess Justification of cost benefits and changing factors Facilitate SMEs decisions Date: 8/13/ /22 CloudingSMEs

15 4.2.1 Clear business and cost benefit Transparency about hidden costs and how to assess Justification of cost benefits and changing factors Date: 8/13/ /22 CloudingSMEs

16 4.2.4 Facilitate SMEs decision 4.3 SLAs, contracts and procurements According to the identified needs of SMEs, both from the demand and from the offer side, we propose the following actions in terms of: Simplify SLAs and contracts Adapt balanced SLAs and contracts in favour of SMEs Date: 8/13/ /22 CloudingSMEs

17 4.3.1 Simplify SLAs and contracts Adapt balanced SLAs and contracts in favour of SMEs 4.4 Comparative analysis of cloud service providers The vision regarding the implementation of this point foresees to compare services and cloud providers in terms of: Functionalities Features Reliability Contracts Costs Date: 8/13/ /22 CloudingSMEs

18 Here is the action taken/to be taken in the future Date: 8/13/ /22 CloudingSMEs

19 4.5 One-stop-shop and integrated cloud services The vision, based on the results of CloudingSMEs, is about further developing, building and establishing integrated one-stop-shop services with a pay as you go model and that can provide multiple cloud functionalities. The proposed actions to achieve this goal are the following: 4.6 Openness, transparency and vendor lock in The vision foresees the creation of open and transparent contracts with: Clarification of Data Migration Strategy (portability) Transparent declaration of cost structure for core services and related services Support for quality measurement (tools and services) Date: 8/13/ /22 CloudingSMEs

20 This can be achieved through: 4.7 Enforcement of EU privacy and security directives SMEs have to comply to a set of rules related to cloud computing, both European and national ones. We propose what follows in terms of: simplification of rules for SMEs and establish strict privacy and security rules Simplification of rules for SMEs Date: 8/13/ /22 CloudingSMEs

21 4.7.2 Establish strict privacy rules Establish strict security rules 4.8 Supporting ICT SMEs and niche cloud solution development ICT SMEs need support in order to identify opportunities, in different business sectors and in different regions Date: 8/13/ /22 CloudingSMEs

22 5 Conclusions The use of cloud computing as an integral part of the businesss activities is not yet accepted by the SMEs community. SMEs are moreover struggling to understand the overall terminology related to cloud computing, as this one is often too unspecific and not clear, especially when it refers to daily business operations. Furthermore, operation related to issues such as legal compliance, data privacy and security assessment are often unaffordable for most SMEs in terms of knowledge, but also of recources. The impact and proposed advantages of cloud adoption are not yet convincing, due to lack of evidence and reference implementation. Finally, the scenario of vendor lock-in, provider bankruptcy, service interruption are not yet addressed in a significant way. Clouding technology is far from Client Server and Data Center based technology, thereby European ICT industry is struggling to migrate from former software environments (Windows based software, client/server software, Mini computer software...) to clouding software. Due to the the fragmentation and the smaller dimension of the National markets, European software houses have less risorces than American or Indian SWs and could be expelled by market. European Commission and National Countries should be aware that European ICT Industry does exist and should be endorsed. Date: 8/13/ /22 CloudingSMEs