The digital revolution is now in the rear view mirror, every corporation has made the change to computer run operations. Statistics of every possible source are collected at the point of sale or site, and transmitted immediately to headquarters for analysis. The next phase of effectively using all these statistical models and analyses rests in cloud hosting servers.

Implementing a trial from a cloud hosting provider is a large undertaking. A demonstration using simulated data and programs, however, will not challenge the system adequately. To discover how well it will work, it must be evaluated under the constraints of real operations.

The fact that interacting with other agencies no longer entails sending letters or packages means near instant feedback, a tremendous increase in efficiency. But the handling of an ever increasing mountain of electronic forms, spreadsheets and databases has recreated the problems a paperwork filing system once was. Regardless the format, it still has to be stored, then found and retrieved for later use.

Since hard copy records have shifted to digital form, the notion that storage could be problematic seems insignificant. But as programs become larger and point of sale or site statistics are collected and transmitted, ever greater capacity is required. All of the machines storing it must have protection, physically and in cyber space, and they must have back-up power supplies as well. Working memory is always at a premium because the more that becomes available, the more new programs require.

In addition to the primary computer, the support system for all of these devices has to be in place. Online attacks from competition around the world and hackers desiring to make a statement mean security must be established and continuously updated. Physically, the facility must be protected and there must be a way to ensure continuous electrical support, even when power to the building goes out.

The main reason to consider a new way to handle the global connection is what it means to the work itself. Network meeting software has made it possible to share documents and files while conversing with video streaming, but the products being shared have all been completed offline. Live interaction with the applications and software online in real time is not a function of these programs.

When a group of people, each with unique expertise, work on the same problem, they do so independently, then get together to discuss future steps. In order for this collaboration to work, each member has to have the same or compatible hardware, and the data must be the same for each. As they manipulate the data, change assumptions and reach conclusions which could change the direction of the inquiry or solution, the project is modified.

For all the other members to get the updates, time must be set aside for incorporation of all the individual input, much like the old way. The premise of an innovative information technology paradigm shift is to have a central server host all the data, software and applications, and multiple remote users have access to it simultaneously or independently. Determining how much better collaboration is when there is no need to replicate original and update information is the proposed advantage for switching to cloud servers.

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