However, if I put my customer database into SQL Azure, that has a whole host of legal questions (at least, over here in the UK). It’s not *my* data I’m putting into the cloud, it’s theirs.

And that lack of clarity with how this meshes with the Data Protection Act will discourage a lot of our customers.

The cloud talk of late has IMO had one bizarre slant which is that cloud based computing is somehow a shiny new thing. Yes, there are relatively recent offereings such as BPOS/Office365 that have changed the economics of IT, but I feel that everyone talking about the cloud as a new thing are serving up an excuse that people use to put the brakes on adoption.

I hear people saying “we’re not ready to move to the cloud” or “the cloud isn’t for me.” Essentially, “I don’t want my personal information online.” How many of those people have a Facebook account, are on Flickr, or use e-mail through Hotmail or Gmail?

Sorry, that bell has rung. You’re already in the cloud.

100% agreement. I am seeing many businesses react ‘emotionally’ to SharePoint 2010 and start engaging or initiating SharePoint 2010 projects without a clear understanding of what value it is providing to them.

There are plenty of reasons it can help, but not clearly outlining them means that once upgraded you have no defined objectives or priorities to drive your new SharePoint 2010 initiatives.

Let’s hope that many of us continue to work hard at keeping the message clear and factually based. :)

We’ve had quite a few attendees here at TechEd Europe (#TEE10) ask about our products in the cloud, what it all means, whether they need to be thinking about the cloud. My answers back are generally what you and Mark have been writing about for some time — it should be about your business requirements, not what the latest/greatest technology provides.

Think about it: if you are meeting your business needs on SharePoint 2007, why change right away? If the cost of moving to SharePoint 2010, integrating your systems, upsetting your end users, and disrupting your business flow is LESS than the cost of the business you are losing by staying on your current platform, then by all means, move. But make your business decisions based on data, not marketing hype and corporate peer pressure.