Is the so-called “cloud computing” phenomenon just another word for outsourcing? Or, for that matter, just another permutation of managed services?

I have no idea, but you can bet I’m going to be spending more time in coming months trying to figure out its potential impact on the IT distribution channel. Because, when it comes down to it, both cloud computing AND managed services are about how information technology capabilities and applications are DELIVERED to the ultimate end-user.

One of my new resources in this quest will doubtless be a new research service called “Project Nimbus” that has been launched by Heartland Tech Groups (an alliance of technology solution and service providers that I highly respect) and Channel Insider, the channel intelligence arm of the Ziff Davis enterprise technology publishing group.

Here’s a link to more information about Project Nimbus. The first “guidance” report out of the project will be delivered in early November. Among other things, it will cover the following: Developing go-to-market models, management issues and how to add value onto what is, essentially, a commodity service.

Tags: Channel Insider, Heartland Tech Groups, Project Nimbus

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 at 10:07 am and is filed under Cloud Computing, MSP, high-tech channel, managed services. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.