Amazon's Trouble Raises Cloud Computing Doubts

A look at the week of April 25 in public advocacy for the IT channel

This week, Amazon’s cloud computing malfunction raised questions about the security and reliability of the service.  The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs plan to collaborate on a joint electronic health record. CompTIA released a new study examining the rise of green IT initiatives in corporations.

Amazon’s Trouble Raises Cloud Computing Doubts — As technical problems interrupted computer services provided by Amazon, industry analysts said the troubles would prompt many companies to reconsider relying on remote computers beyond their control. The New York Times reports that the discussion most likely will center on what data and computer operations to send off to the cloud and what to keep inside corporate walls.

Department of Defense, Veterans Affairs Take First Steps Toward Joint Electronic Health Record System— The DOD and VA together are working to develop a joint electronic health record system. According to Nextgov.com, Defense has a 30-year track record of failure in healthcare IT, while the VA has an equally long track record of success. 

Green IT Increasingly Important to Companies — According to a study released last week by CompTIA, within the next few years green IT initiatives will take on added importance as more organizations commit financial resources and develop comprehensive strategies. In 2009 only 9 percent of firms rated green IT as top organizational priority.  In 2011, that figure stands at 37 percent and is expected to rise to 54 percent in 2013 – a nearly five-fold increase from 2009, Government Health IT reports.