A Three-Tiered Approach to the Cloud

Cloud strategy phrases like "cloud first" are built on a misunderstanding of the cloud and how educational institutions can utilize it. In this presentation, we will look at the structure of cloud services and propose a three-tiered approach to cloud strategy. We will also provide concrete decision guidelines for assessing each tier of service and its appropriateness to your situation. The use of cloud services is a continuum—from all in to not at all—and it takes a thorough understanding of the trade-offs to place your institution on the correct point of the scale.

Outcomes: Understand the tiered nature of cloud services * Explore the pros and cons of each tiered service offering * Propose a cloud strategy appropriate to your institution