The Cloud Forecast for 2012
How the Cloud Will Affect IT in the Coming Year
Forecasts can be unreliable. Just look at the winter Minnesota is having thus far. But the prediction that Cloud computing would go viral in 2011 certainly came true, which leads to much more forecasting on how ‘the Cloud’ will affect the IT world in 2012.
For companies like ESP, going fully Cloud based, as we did in 2011, is a great option for several reasons. Primarily, it allows our employees faster and easier access to our resources from anywhere. It requires zero physical space and maintenance and support is all off site. Plus, it saves ESP a bundle financially.
The buzz is that the Cloud, whether it is in public or private form, is going to become so commonplace that we’ll finally stop hearing about it. But that doesn’t mean it will go away. If the Cloud becomes the norm, than the rest of IT is going to need to follow its weather patterns.
Developing in the Cloud
As the demand for development of new applications and services continues, development will move into the Cloud. Some companies are already developing in the Cloud. Cloud Foundry, an open source development Platform as a Service, and similar platforms, claim to make it faster and easier to build, test, deploy and scale applications.
Cloud Foundry is available through a variety of private cloud distributions and public cloud instances. It provides a choice of industry standard frameworks including Spring for Java, Ruby for Rails and Sinatra, node.js, Grails, Scala on Lift, as well as PHP, Python and others through partners. It also allows for choice of application services including RabbitMQ and vFabric PostgreSQL from VMware and MySQL, MongoDB, Redis.
As platforms like this gain ground, and the understanding that applications in the cloud will need to be different continues to grow, more and more development for the Cloud will be done in the Cloud.
Hybrid-ing in the Cloud
In 2011, using cloud computing for internal IT infrastructure gained footing as an infrastructure solution. As virtualization increases across enterprises, creating a private cloud and delivering internal applications exclusive to the business via the Cloud is desirable for large companies. However, there are many resources in public Clouds that are desirable to adapt as well.
This leads to the hybrid Cloud, which experts say will see wide implementation in 2012. Integration of several Cloud services (including Software as a Service, Infrastructure as a Service, and Platform as a Service) will be a key challenge. “Bundling” is not expected to be the future for the Cloud. Instead, it’s a pick and choose marketplace, and companies will be able to select several Cloud services that best serve their needs.
IT departments will be called upon, not only to develop private Clouds, but to make decisions on which Cloud services to use and to create plans for integrating them. A service management strategy will be essential for success in 2012 as most companies will need to manage a variety of Cloud services.
Working in the Cloud
Why has there been so much excitement about the Cloud? We are an increasingly mobile society. Smartphones and tablets have created a demand for access to everything, anywhere, anytime, on any device.
Following the success of virtualized servers, the development of virtualized clients will further progress people’s ability to work on multiple devices. Through a virtual user interface that can move between devices, they’ll have access to the same desktop and applications no matter which device they are using.
Cloud Commuting is a term you may hear a lot in 2012 as the Cloud and Cloud-driven tools evolve. Moving forward, increased awareness of mobile devices and tablet usage will continue to drive application development, web design considerations, advertising, and in general how people work.
Saving Money in the Cloud
The industry consensus is that one of the major advantages Cloud computing has over traditional servers is the significant cost savings. The Cloud is an operational expense rather than a capital expense and the substantial energy savings, are not only better for the environment, but also mean a huge financial benefit.
Savings are more substantial when opting for public Cloud options, but a private Cloud will still create savings for larger companies. If more companies adopt the government’s “Cloud first policy”, economic growth is likely to be stimulated.
Startup companies can gain footing with fewer initial costs, while large companies have more room in their budgets for other projects, like mobile application development and wireless network development.
Feeling Secure in the Cloud
Data security has always been a primary concern for the Cloud. But security has always been a concern for IT departments. In 2012, companies should feel more secure about security in the Cloud as there are tested strategies developed in 2011 that can now be implemented.
In addition, regulations for data security in public Clouds will come more strongly into play. It is projected that the Cloud will soon be generally considered more secure than traditional IT infrastructures.
Job security has been another area of concern as the Cloud grows. While there has been speculation about job loss due to the Cloud, in the last three months approximately 10,000 jobs that included cloud computing skills and experience as requirements were posted. While the automation the Cloud provides reduces the need for some traditional IT jobs, it also creates a new need for IT professionals with cloud-specialized skills.
Preparing for Cloud Accumulation
Like any good Minnesotan, you have your boots and winter coat on standby for the chill that is about to set in and the imminent snowfall that will likely stay through March.
You should likewise prepare for the continued growth of the Cloud. Companies will be looking for candidates with Cloud technology experience and certifications. Microsoft and HP, among others, are launching cloud-specific certifications, and employers are beginning to ask for them. If you’re not working in the Cloud in some capacity yet, look for ways to get training and experience so you can capitalize on the high demand for Cloud technology skilled IT professionals.
And, so you can do work on your mobile devices this winter, stock up on touch technology gloves. The snow and cold are just around the corner.
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ESP's Annual Movie Event
and Toys for Tots Donation Drive
In December, we wanted to show our appreciation to our placed IT pros and consultants for their work this year and hosted a private showing of The Muppets at the West End in St. Louis Park. Click here to see a slideshow of this year's event.
As part of that event, we invited our guests to contribute unwrapped toys for the local Toys for Tots Drive.
About Toys for Tots:
The U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program collects new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distributes those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community. The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.
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January 17, 2012
Volume 2, Issue 1
In this Issue
Cloud Forecast 2012
Toys for Tots Donations
Movie Event Slideshow
Bits & Bytes from ESP:
Bits & Bytes from ESP
Follow ESP on LinkedIn and Like us on Facebook
We're using our LinkedIn and Facebook profiles to share information with you related to ESP, the industry, and jobs. Follow us on LinkedIn and Like us on Facebook by clicking on the icons below.
 
Get to Know ESP
Denise Morelock, Business Development Director
Denise manages client relationships for ESP and works closely with our consultants, once placed on projects, to ensure things are going well for both parties. She enjoys gradually getting to know an individual and eventually partnering with him or her to achieve success.
The latest tech gadget to enter Denise's household is the Samsung Galaxy II and there are many cool features and functions yet to discover. One of Denise's resolutions for the new year is to enjoy quality time with her husband and son, while honing her toddler negotiation skills.
Read more about Denise and the rest of the team at www.esp.com.
ESP's 2011 Salary Survey
Each year we monitor and analyze hiring trends, including compensation and benefits, in order to best serve our candidates. Look for our 2012 salary coming out soon, and in the meantime, check out the 2011 salary survey and see the median low, median, and median high salary rates for your position.
Our annual salary survey presents data compiled from ESP’s recent placements, as well as national and local research.
Candidate Comment of the Quarter
“My recruiter has been excellent to work with, both on this opportunity and in the past. He is good at presenting opportunities that are a great match for me.”—Matt, Sr. Java Developer
...View more candidate testimonials.
From Our Blog
You can’t exactly prepare for a question like: “Would Mahatma Gandhi have made a good software engineer?” ...continue reading
Our blog is an informal place for ESP to share what we know about Twin Cities employment trends, hot IT jobs, and other tidbits we think you'd find interesting.
2011 in Review
Here's a few of the things that made us proud in 2011:
In 2011, we placed 26% more IT pros in great permanent jobs (compared to 2010) AND had 66 new IT consultants start in contract or contract-to-hire positions.
In February, ESP's president, Bob Hildreth, published an article in Upsize Minnesota, weighing the pros and cons of contract-to-hire for employers.
In May, ESP ranked 4th in Executive Search Firms by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.
 In October, ESP was recognized as one of the fastest growing private companies in the Twin Cities, ranking 12 in The Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal's Fast 50.
We look forward to working with you in 2012!
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