Ari, you have many good points. Your point out the level of IT expertise generally found on a museum staff, usually quite limited (I think you were saying the same) is right on. However, I think museums large and small will have to consider rectifying that. Just because the cloud is cheap and easy doesn't necessarily mean that all technical problems are solved by passing them to someone else. If you have a collection at a museum do you stop collecting if you don't have the appropriate staff to maintain it? Probably not. In this case, as everyone goes further and further with technology it wll become a critical function to have an actual IT on staff. Even if only part-time or under contract.
For me, it is a question of looking ahead at what ordinary functions at museums will look like in 5, 10 and 15 years. The cloud is certainly part of it, but institutions will have to embrace that technology will be an integral part of their success. If it isn't already. Adam -----Original Message----- From: Ari Davidow [mailto:aridavi...@gmail.com] Sent: Friday, June 20, 2014 10:37 AM To: 'Museum Computer Network Listserv' Subject: Re: [MCN-L] Cloud Computing Some things to consider:CONIf the cloud server goes down, you have no ability to fix it. You just haveto wait.When your data is off-site with a third party you don't have control overit. You will think you do though!Having mulitple users accessing the same files at the same time can gettricky with off-site storageNow, try to work around these with your local staff when it is localservices that go down. Consider the level of expertise your organizationcan afford vs. some of the larger, reputable vendors (e.g., AWS, Microsoft,Google, etc.). Have you lost more data, or had it inaccessible longer,because of them, or because it took significant time to order, provision,and install a replacement server or piece of equipment locally?Having your data sitting in a box nearby provides the *illusion* ofcontrol, but often means that significantly fewer resources areavailable--and available more slowly--when things go wrong; and that staffare significantly less knowledgeable (and significantly more distractedfrom) routine maintenance and disaster preparedness. Other organizationsmay be different, but we never had the staff, depth of expertise, or budgetto provide a service level comparable to what we got from AWS or our SaaSvendors.ariOn Fri, Jun 20, 2014 at 11:18 AM, wrote:> Cindy-->>> You are right to ask about the advantages and disadvantages of cloud> storage. There are many bullet points on both sides!> To give a few examples of both:>>> PRO> Realtively cheap for huge amounts of data storage space> Your institution does not have to pay for continually updating> systems/hardware/software related to servers and desktop computers> Potentially very easy access from any web connection>>> CON> If the cloud server goes down, you have no ability to fix it. You just> have to wait.> When your data is off-site with a third party you don't have control over> it. You will think you do though!> Having mulitple users accessing the same files at the same time can get> tricky with off-site storage>>> When I consult on this topic with museums I will have a discussion about> how to break apart the storage data into related chuncks. Image databases> can be in the Terabyte range. No doubt you have confidential or sensitive> records which I would suggest should be stored locally. Ultimately, try not> to look at cloud storage as a "yes" or "no" question, but a way to> selectively lighten the burden of your in-house system/servers.>>> Best,>>> Adam Mikos>>>>>>>>>>> -----Original Message-----> From: Cindy Mackey [mailto:CMackey at currier.org]> Sent: Friday, June 20, 2014 09:50 AM> To: 'Museum Computer Network Listserv'> Subject: [MCN-L] Cloud Computing>> Our IT department is investigating whether it is beneficial/cost-effective> to switch all of our computer use to the cloud. Have any of your> institutions completely switched over or is it a mix of cloud computing and> onsite servers/software?Cindy MackeyAssociate RegistrarCurrier Museum of> Art150 Ash StreetManchester, NH 03104T: 603-669-6144 x137F:> 603-669-7194www.currier.orgCONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message,> including all attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient> (s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any> unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you> are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail> and destroy all copies of the original message including all> attachments._______________________________________________You are> currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer Network (> http://www.mcn.edu)To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.eduTo> unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit:> http://mcn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mcn-lThe MCN-L archives can be found at:> http://mcn.edu/pipermail/mcn-l/>> _______________________________________________> You are currently subscribed to mcn-l, the listserv of the Museum Computer> Network (http://www.mcn.edu)>> To post to this list, send messages to: mcn-l at mcn.edu>> To unsubscribe or change mcn-l delivery options visit:> http://mcn.edu/mailman/listinfo/mcn-l>> The MCN-L archives can be found at:> http://mcn.edu/pipermail/mcn-l/>
