Is HP Missing SMB Opportunities By Focusing On Enterprise-Level Cloud Computing?

HP Cloud Computing Highlights

  • Launches new research facility in Singapore
  • Co-Authors security threat study with the Cloud Security Alliance
  • Launches New Cloud Computing design services
  • Avoids using Cloud Computing to short-circuit Data Centre managers
  • Needs more SMB services to balance its enterprise approach

HP, like other systems vendors, is pursuing an investment strategy in the area of Cloud Computing. As often its strategies start with trying to meet the internal needs of its most demanding large customers. While there are many smaller players looking to extend the usefulness of self-service applications and ‘x as a Service’ for small and medium companies, HP wants to help its customers build private Cloud Computing facilities. In particular it has made three separate announcements recently.

HP Launches Cloud Computing Research Facility In Singapore

HP labs announced last week that it was opening a new research centre in Singapore to address developing data centre architecture, Cloud Computing services and sustainable practices. It joins the Service Automation and Integration Lab (SAIL) in Palo Alto and the Automated Infrastructure L (AIL) in Bristol. Together they will work on ‘Cirious’ – HP vision for creating an enterprise Cloud software platform.

In the new lab HP will be investigating the use of multiple electricity sources from solar, bio-fuel and the normal grid to make significant cost and carbon footprint reductions.

HP And The Cloud Security Alliance Publish Cloud Computing Study

HP joined forces with the Cloud Security Alliance to publish a peer-review of 29 organisations and their attitudes to the adoption of Cloud Computing to coincide with the RSA 2010 conference. It found that security and data loss, both accidental from internal breaches from partners and end-users and malicious from malware attacks, botnets or disgruntled employees were concerns for companies adopting Web services.

HP Launches Design Service For Building Private Cloud Computing

HP also recently announced new offerings which include its Cloud Discovery Workshop, Cloud Roadmap Service and Cloud Design Service. These are addition to its pre-existing services which include Cloud infrastructure and service design, security services, its Adaptive Infrastructure maturity model, its Matrix-based Cloud support services, IT shared services consulting and its installation and support services for extreme scale-out infrastructure.

Some Conclusions – HP Avoids Enterprise Disruption Associated With Cloud Computing, But May Miss Out On SMB Developments

In these latest moves HP is addressing the security, implementation and long-term product developments for Cloud Computing. When talking with David McCann of Microsoft the other week he reminded me of the political dimension of the subject – of how vendors are using Cloud Computing as a way of selling to business executives in large organisations, short-circuiting the IT shop in the process. I’m please to see that HP is avoiding that approach. However by working on these high cost investment areas and planning to meet the needs of its largest customers it is missing the take up of Cloud Computing by SMBs, which is the fastest growing area of the market at the moment.

Do you agree that there is a political element to the sale of Cloud Computing to different types of executive? Do you think HP could do more with SMBs? Let me know by commenting on this article.