In this blog I will discuss highlights of the learnings and insights we are gaining from the academy sessions taking place around the world. But I would like to start by offering the mentioned Cloud Academy primer. You can download it as PDF here. It is also available for free in ePub format at Smashwords.com for use in your Kindle or other eReader and at the Apple iPad iBookstore.

The Primer provides a structured overview of what Cloud Computing is and what the potential benefits and risks are. In addition it explores how Cloud Computing will impact IT management and IT's role in the organization as a service provider.  It also looks at the risks of Cloud Computing. Risk is consistently cited by CIOs and CFOs as the largest obstacle of cloud computing for their organizations. In this primer we consider the risks in areas such as availability, privacy and regulatory compliance. The booklet explores some of the reasons why organizations want to implement Cloud Computing, to name just a few: cost-savings, increased speed and flexibility and higher performance. It looks at how the Cloud delivers against these expectations and debates its long term viability.

The Cloud Computing Primer also examines various Cloud types such as Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS) and Platform as a Service (PaaS). Virtualization, a critical component of Cloud Computing, will be covered in detail while the final chapter of the Cloud Computing Primer looks at the the future and the impact of Cloud Computing on the IT organization . It can be used as a reference and overview tool for anybody who is affected or will be affected or is simply interested in Cloud Computing. No prior in-depth knowledge is required.

I hope you enjoy the content. If you would like to follow me on twitter please follow @gregorpetri