Cloud Computing: What Is It & Why Do Nonprofits Need to Know About It?

More and more computer software applications are moving into the Cloud and away from local servers and workstations.  Small businesses and nonprofit organizations alike are trying to understand the significance of this shift, how it will affect them and what strategies they should employ to take advantage of this move to Cloud computing.  Cloud computing, an internet-based IT technology that has captured the imagination – and the investment dollars -- of companies such as Microsoft, HP and Cisco, is an important new technology that is gaining traction because of the reduced infrastructure costs and increased flexibility it can bring to small businesses and nonprofits alike. 

This 2 hour session is designed to help nonprofit organizations understand what they need to know about the Cloud. The program will describe the benefits of Software as a Service (Saas), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and online business applications, provide several application examples, and offer practical and personalized information to help nonprofits determine if investing in Cloud computing makes sense for them.

Learning Objectives
1. Know the different types of Cloud computing options and how they might benefit their organization.
2. Understand the security risks associated with Cloud computing and how to mitigate them.
3. Understand the costs associated with various Cloud computing options and how they compare to their current costs for operating their information systems.

Level
Introductory: this workshop is for anyone involved with the maintentance of the organization's computers and technological infrastructure.

Presenter
Dale Atkinson is the Chief Technology Officer for POD, Inc., a computer services firm.  In this role he is responsible for the technical direction and implementation of the Corporation.  He regularly presents training courses on various IT topics to small business and nonprofit managers and IT professionals through POD’s quarterly PODshop program, and has been a respected technical trainer for POD and state governments for more than 12 years.  Possessing a Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, he joined the organization in 1990 as one of its founding members.  Mr. Atkinson brings over 25 years of experience in managing information technology projects ranging from database and software development to network design and implementation for the public and private sectors.  Mr. Atkinson currently serves as the Principal Investigator for the Air Force Research Laboratory’s classified cloud computing initiative.