“Anyone who says they know what they’re doing in cloud computing really doesn’t understand the cloud,” he says. Synnex is one of the more active distributors in cloud and managed services, but Kevin Muari doesn’t believe the mystery of success in cloud computing has been solved. “Cloud computing is still foggy, but the opportunity around services dwarfs the opportunity around cloud products-perhaps by 80/20 or 70/30,” Vallee says. Where distribution helps with that is providing the support services that allow VARs and MSPs to focus on cloud delivery. Avnet’s position is that the channel’s traditional role of “value-add” will persist through the cloud era. It’s not an unfounded notion several vendors are already pushing simplified cloud services direct because there’s little need for an intermediary. “Our role is to demystify and create programs to enable cloud services,” he says.Īvnet is looking at the cloud from a “value” versus volume perspective, meaning that it sees opportunity for the channel in complex cloud services that require integration and customization. Avnet this week launched “Cloud Ready,” a program designed to inform and educate resellers about cloud computing services, operating requirements and opportunities. But that doesn’t mean that Avnet is sitting idly by.
“It’s still early, and oftentimes things don’t manifest themselves the way that people anticipate,” he said. As for that reason, he tells me that it’s too soon to tell what shape, form and function distribution and the channel will play in the cloud world. His current estimation of cloud computing is that it’s immature and evolving, albeit rapidly. When it comes to cloud computing, Roy Vallee is a bit more pragmatic and reserved than his peers. What he means by that is rather than providing the hosted infrastructure or the applications for delivering cloud computing, distribution could be the back office for VARs-providing the billing, technical support, financing and training that make cloud computing as a channel offering possible.
“Cloud computing is just a sea change that’s going to happen in and around IT, and distribution may provide the business services behind cloud and services.” “I don’t see the fundamentals changing rapidly from today,” he said to me. In other words, the role isn’t changing dramatically from the current distribution model. So what role does distribution play in that cloud world? Dutkowsky sees distribution-and specifically Tech Data-as an enabler of cloud services by providing vendors with the coverage they need to reach the marketplace and VARs with the support they need in delivering value-add services. As that happens, they will drive the types of applications and size of pipes needed to deliver cloud services. Dutkowsky extends the theory by saying that endpoint devices’ influence is growing on IT infrastructure and cloud services, since users are evolving from having a choice of what device they use to bringing their device to the workspace.
CLOUD MONEY DISTRIBUTION ANDROID
If you consider iPads, Android phones and netbooks endpoints for cloud access, the notion makes sense. In today’s IT world, the bulk of computing power is concentrated in the data center, which is sandwiched between two competing layers-consumer (user-level) electronics and “the cloud.” While conventional wisdom holds that power will shift from the data center to the cloud, Dutkowsky believes user devices will be the source of IT innovation and drive the rest of the infrastructure equation. Here’s a sampling of what four distribution CEOs had to say about the cloud computing. Not surprising, each of these chief executives has a different view of their role in the cloud, and their views are reflective of their current penetration and state of cloud computing support. That’s the question I posed to several distribution CEOs attending this week’s meeting of the Global Distribution Technology Council in New York.
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