2010 Technology Decision Making Roundtable: Cloud

Computing Google Apps vs. Live@Edu

Daryl TilleyDirector of Technology Services

Ingham Intermediate School Districtdtilley@inghamisd.org

In association with:MACUL SIGTech

http://macul.org/specialinterestgroups/sigtech/

The Usual Suspects

• Daily use software applications

• E-mail/Calendar/Contacts

• Office Suite Word Processor Spreadsheet Presentation Database

The Traditional Model

• Microsoft Exchange or Novell GroupWise Server(s) in-house for domain, post offices,

transfer agents, web access, Internet agents, … Thick client installed on every workstation Web access offsite

• Microsoft Office or OpenOffice Application suite installed on every desktop Full featured thick client

The Growing Challenge

• More needs and greater demand for functions with shrinking staffs and budgets

• Desktop support issues Hardware and software and users oh my! Upgrades and patches

• Server support issues Server/storage upgrades and patches Software upgrades and patches New versions of major applications

• Cost Licensing Support

Is it a Cloudy Day?

• The Cloud Computing or Software as a Service (SaaS) Model Storage, servers and services all housed off-

campus and belong to someone else Customers use the application remotely No infrastructure and upgrades Reduced licensing costs

• Danger Will Robinson! Loss of control Internet access becomes mandatory

Cloudy Office Applications

• Google Apps for Education Multi-user editing The good and bad of the web interface

• Microsoft Web Apps Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote “Light”

• Third Party Zoho Other

Cloudy Communications

• Google Apps for Education Gmail

• Microsoft Live@Edu Outlook Web App 2010

• Other

Does it Look Like Rain to You?

• Common Concerns: FERPA Where’s my data? What about this EULA? How can I know it’s secure? What if they start charging? How do I get my stuff back? What am I losing control of? What about backups and restores? What if the worst thing possible happens: the

Internet goes down!

Clouds Are so Light and Fluffy

• Take the worries off your plate: No servers to manage or upgrade No storage to watch guard No backups to monitor No software to update No thick clients to install* Less reliance on the actual desktop device

• Shift your focus to leveraging the value of technology

Beware the Thunderheads

• Have some new worries! Internet Internet Internet No control over new versions No control over features No control over application outages I can see all the seams!

Is the Cloud Really Cheaper

Probably – IF you measure hard and soft costs TCO can be hard to calculate The fact that some options are FREE makes the

math easier What does it really cost me to manage servers,

storage, server OS, applications, patches, updates, upgrades…

Here is our cost calculation of in-house vs. hosted

Google’s Cloud is Great Because:• It’s free, it’s easy to manage and use

• Many educators already using it

• Google Labs add-ons

• Google Sites

• Google Talk

• Multi-user applications

• There’s an API for everything

• Wide mobile device support

• Innovations/improvements happen frequently

Live@Edu’s Cloud is Great Because:

• It’s free and may look like what you are used to

• Close to in-house without the worry

• Fidelity with outlook client*

• Plug-ins and integrations*

• Flexible and granular administrative options

• Office “light” applications

• Move towards a unified platform

• Command line access to server

Google’s Touch of Grey:

• Interface lacks some common features

• Web interface feels like a web interface

• Outlook as client has limitations*

• Lacks hierarchical/federated administration

• Some proxy features not there yet

Microsoft Touch of Grey:

• Outlook client is needed for some features*

• Missing some traditional features (coming from GroupWise)

• Inability to restore individual deleted mail

Thunderstorms in All Directons

• Both Google and Microsoft have shortcomings: No control over new features or versions What happens if the Internet is down? What features are you giving up?

• Bottom line, you are giving up something

My Choice Seems Cloudy?

• Google Apps for Education if you: Don’t want/need granular management features Are already invested in Google apps/features Aren’t concerned about integration with MS

products Like (or at least don’t dislike) the web interface Feel comfortable with the support model Know a good programmer to use the API’s

My Choice Seems Cloudy?

• Microsoft Live@Edu if you: Want a lot of granular control Prefer the “enterprise” look and feel of Outlook Want fidelity between MS apps Are a PowerShell scripting ninja Want the closest thing to having your own server

Whose on Cloud 9?

• These are not mutually exclusive

• A hybrid approach works

• Live@Edu for staff and student e-mail

• Google Apps for Education for docs and sites Mail/Calendar/Contacts turned off

• Directory integration possible with both

Questions?