As a Microsoft Certified Partner, we get the inside scoop on the latest and greatest technology trends. The most recent buzzword is Cloud Computing.

So what is cloud computing? Wikipedia describes it as “Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices on demand, like the electricity grid.”  You can read more here.

Is this something new? I don’t think so.  We’ve actually been developing software for the cloud since 2001 -  developing for this enviroment is 2nd nature to us. I actually find it hard to develop traditional client/server applications that require some sort of installation. All we require our customers to have is a computer with access to the internet and have a modern web browser to tap into our software.

IDC (a premier global market intelligence firm) believes that by 2014, around a third of all new business software purchases will be delivered by the cloud. According to Robert Mahowald of IDC, “By 2012, nearly 85% of net-new software firms coming to market will be built around providing their product as a SaaS service, and around 65% of new products from established ISVs will be delivered from the cloud by 2014.”

It looks like the SaaS space is going to get crowded over the next few years – so spend time dilligently researching options and what company provides the best combination of technology and services to meet your organization’s needs well into the future.