Description: Cloud computing can save businesses money and make them more productive. But Canadian companies have been slow to adopt this mature technology, partly due to security and privacy concerns.
Source: theglobeandmail .com
Date: Feb 9, 2012
Still, data security and privacy are the two biggest challenges in cloud computing, Mr. Prakash says. Because Canada has strict data privacy laws, many companies are waiting for the federal and provincial governments to finish standardizing policy when it comes to the cloud. “Having clear policies around cloud computing is going to dictate the rate of adoption,” Mr. Prakash says.
Security is as big a concern for companies that keep information in their own data centres as it is for those that use cloud services, he notes. Before moving to the cloud, it’s important to think carefully about what data belongs there and to choose the right provider. Read Rest of Story
Questions for discussion:
- Why has Canada been slow to adopt Cloud Technology?
- Do you think Canada is poised to adopt and utilize Cloud Technology in the future? Why? Or Why not?
Brittney Rainforth
Canada has been slow to adopt cloud technology because Canadians are being cautious with the new change. Because the cloud is still so new and fresh, many of the bugs have not been detected and fixed. Canadian companies are nervous about getting caught in an information scandal. No company in their right mind would want a scandal to occur because they did not protect their customer’s information.
I feel that Canada will begin to use the Cloud more and more. However, the timing and the circumstances must all be in order. For instance, Canadian companies will want to know that anything they put up on the cloud will be completely secure and only accessible to those who have permission to the information. At this point in time, the Cloud is just not there yet. Companies do not know whether they can trust the cloud just yet. Once the bugs have been worked out, and Canadian companies know that they can trust the Cloud, they will use it. And they will use it because it makes life much more productive, and allows for employees to access information from the Cloud anywhere. Life will be much simpler and companies are all about getting as much done, in the least amount of time. The Cloud will help them accomplish this.
Kelsey Roberts
While Canada has been slower to adopt and utilize in the cloud computing trend, it will likely be necessary of Canadian organizations in order to keep up with competition from other countries, such as the States we are long into the mature technology. As with all new technologies, it takes time for individuals to understand the concepts of them, and trust in their security measures. Which has been the main factor holding Canada back from jumping on the band wagon. With strict data privacy laws, Canadian organizations have been hesitant before engaging in cloud computing, for the shear idea that your information is in a “cloud” and essentially the open public. Before these companies adopt and utilize the technology, security measures will need to be tightened and types of information shared in these clouds must be kept to data that should be shared and made public knowledge. In my personal opinion though, cloud computing as already moved quickly into the lives of many Canadians, and will likely grow in popularity quickly.
Rachael Brown
Cloud computing technology is interesting because it allows companies to save money and increase productivity. Saving money and increasing productivity adds value to the company and, in turn, provides incentive for companies to use cloud computing. Cloud computing saves companies money by offering one application that allows workers to login to an online service that hosts all the programs an employee needs to complete their job. Therefore, instead of installing software on each computer you’d only have to load one application.
According to the article, the 75% of U.S. companies have already adopted or considered adopting cloud computing compared to 29% in Canada. Apparently this lag is due to security and privacy concerns. In Canada, federal and provincial governments have yet to finish a standardized policy on cloud computing. The article predicts that once the policies are in place the rate of adoption will skyrocket.
In my opinion Canada is always one step behind the U.S. in most matters in general. We always seem to follow what the U.S. is doing for a variety of reasons. As soon as Canada has a standardized policy on cloud computing I believe that companies will follow suit.
Laura
Canada has been slow to adopt Cloud computing because of it’s strict privacy laws, as stated in the article. Secondary reasons may include a lack of understanding of the technology, and perhaps resistance to change, as is very common in many businesses presently. Employees in particular and hesitant to accept changes within their work parameters, and often times that resistance can prevent companies from making seamless cost saving transitions into better, more streamlined technology. Apparently, many businesses in Canada are waiting for legislation that clearly defines the laws behind Cloud computing and privacy before they adopt the technology. That being said, it makes sense that once the rules have been clearly defined and released to the public, that a boom in Cloud computing will be seen in Canada. Therefor, yes, Canada is poised to adopt and utilize Cloud computing in the future, and hopefully it will happen sooner rather than later, as the cost saving properties of this technology could potentially improve businesses and increase value – creating production, thereby helping the economy. If not, American businesses that provide the same services and products as Canadian businesses will be at a distinct advantage because of the large costs they save as a result of the cheapness of cloud computer. This could definitely hurt Canadian businesses.
Jay Retzlaff
According to this article the reason that Canada has been slow to adopt this cloud computing technology is because they are cautious about the security and privacy of the clouds. Canadian companies do not want to move most of their private information to the cloud because they don’t want it to get hacked or lost. If sounds like they are afraid of the problems that may come with this new technology. As for Canada to adopt cloud computing in the future, i think we would be stupid not to. If Canadian companies don’t get on the cloud computing band wagon then they may fall behind with technology. Cloud computing is one of the most revolutionary technologies advances that has come out recently. If Canada doesn’t get their foot in the door then they may fall behind. As soon as their is some kind of bill passed about using cloud computing i think that will motivate Canadian companies to jump out and start using it. With the whole statement that it tool 10 years to move from IBM to Microsoft, i believe it will be a different case in this situation. It certainly will not take that amount of time. Larger companies will jump into using the cloud sooner than you may think.
Trevor Armstrong
Canada has been slow in adopting cloud technologies because of political laws – data privacy laws. As mentioned in the article, corporations are waiting for these laws to be updated/finalized before committing to purchasing the required infrastructure.
While Canada may not be poised for an all-in adoption of this technology yet, I feel that this adoption may be needed. Cloud computing is a much less expensive way to centralize data for company employees, and for Canadian Corporations to stay competitive in a global economy, they need to utilize these technologies.
Trevor Armstrong
(accidentally hit reply before I was finished…)
Also at a local Canadian level, because our population is spread across such a large area of land and companies have locations in many different cities, cloud storage is even more beneficial – as it allows them to access data quicker and easier.
Regardless of the timeframe for finalizing Canadian privacy laws, some progress is still being made for Canadian Companies to Utilize cloud storage/computing – Bigger companies (IE. Microsoft) allowing Canadian Corporations to store their data to a domestic cloud, rather than servers located in the USA. This greatly helps management of Canadian laws by having our data stored in our country.
Darren Fletcher
Canada Is lacking in the adoption of this new technology obviously because of privacy laws but mostly due to security. This was mentioned in detail in this article. Change is hard to adopt especially when there is a standardized way of doing things inside of organization that does not include cloud computing. When you through around all the negative misuses that may result from cloud computing than one can expect the majority to wait until their issues are satisfied.
Dennis Zhong
Do you think Canada is poised to adopt and utilize Cloud Technology in the future? Why? Or Why not?
I think Canada will adopt and utilize Cloud Technology, because thats the worlds’ trend. Like US, the Cloud technology have already well develped. And if most organization have use the Cloud technology. Canada will need to catch up. Government currently might thinking about the security issues, but i think cloud technology will came sooner or later.
Dave B.
I think its pretty easy to see why Canadians are so apprehensive to try the new cloud technology. Some people feel safe knowing their files are locked away on a safe hard drive right beside them rather than floating endlessly in a “cloud” they cannot see. I don’t think Canadians value privacy more or less then other countries but the fact that there are no real trusted security for these clouds filled with our personal data is more of a nightmare then a fuzzy warm dream. Perhaps when the technology is more polished and secured that everyone will accept it not only the lagging Canadians because it is a great innovation in computing.