Technology is changing at an ever increasing pace. Just like in horseracing, it's not how fast the technology is changing, it's how the technology is changing fast. Virtually every paradigm to which we have been accustomed is fast becoming obsolete.
When I first planned to write this post, I was thinking in terms of how fast things are changing. In fact, they are changing faster than I can keep up with; and I always considered myself able to keep up with the changes in technology.
But in considering this whole topic it occurs to me that not only is the technology changing, but the whole paradigm of technology use is changing.
For example, in the beginning there was the network, with files and file shares. If you wanted to share files with another user, you had to contact the IT department, have them set up a file share with the appropriate permissions and then save your files to that location where other folks could reach them.
That whole paradigm is now gone, for two very good reasons. It can be done better in the cloud and many networks, particularly smaller ones like ours can no longer afford the luxury of file servers, redundant raid arrays, backup systems and the like.
BETTER IN THE CLOUD
Services like Dropbox, SugarSynch, Google Drive, and Skydrive (just to name a very few), are making the need for a local file share not only unnecessary, but redundant and inefficient.
One of the problems I always found in a file share was the ability of others to delete files since, of course, they had to have edit permissions. A service like Google Drive makes that impossible. Even if a user intentionally deletes a file, it can be resurrected in a matter of seconds - something that would take hours on a local file share, if, in fact, it could be done at all.
COST OF LOCAL FILE STORAGE
I remember when Windows Server 2003 came out, Microsoft made it clear that would be the last 32bit server software they would make. From that point on, if you wanted to run a Windows server you would need 64bit architecture in your hardware. Simply put, server costs, pretty much, doubled at that point.
But here's the problem. If you are going to store data locally, you need hard drives. And you need redundant hard drives and you need redundant hard drive systems. It becomes an exponentially more expensive to provide the local redundancy needed to protect files. Yes, you can back up files, but when you need a file restored, you don't want to wait for the IT department to find the correct backup tape, run the backup routine, restore the file and notify you that the file has been restored. You want the file back now!
So what you end up with is redundant hardware, redundant backup systems (local and cloud based) not to mention the power, electrical and air conditioning support systems required.
As I have (probably) mentioned elsewhere, "Once you get on the technology train, there is no getting off!"
So...at the school, we have moved, nearly 100% to the cloud. I decommissioned my last server last week. Every vital function in the network is now run on redundant, flash based systems. That means no moving parts, no need for cooling and expensive electrical backup systems. Yet, our access to technology is better now than at any point in our past.
But...it means that how we do things will change. It means learning new systems that are compatible with the new technology paradigm.
I go back to the quote I mentioned in another post. If we don't keep moving forward, no matter how difficult, we will lose out to those who are.
But in considering this whole topic it occurs to me that not only is the technology changing, but the whole paradigm of technology use is changing.
For example, in the beginning there was the network, with files and file shares. If you wanted to share files with another user, you had to contact the IT department, have them set up a file share with the appropriate permissions and then save your files to that location where other folks could reach them.
That whole paradigm is now gone, for two very good reasons. It can be done better in the cloud and many networks, particularly smaller ones like ours can no longer afford the luxury of file servers, redundant raid arrays, backup systems and the like.
BETTER IN THE CLOUD
Services like Dropbox, SugarSynch, Google Drive, and Skydrive (just to name a very few), are making the need for a local file share not only unnecessary, but redundant and inefficient.
One of the problems I always found in a file share was the ability of others to delete files since, of course, they had to have edit permissions. A service like Google Drive makes that impossible. Even if a user intentionally deletes a file, it can be resurrected in a matter of seconds - something that would take hours on a local file share, if, in fact, it could be done at all.
COST OF LOCAL FILE STORAGE
I remember when Windows Server 2003 came out, Microsoft made it clear that would be the last 32bit server software they would make. From that point on, if you wanted to run a Windows server you would need 64bit architecture in your hardware. Simply put, server costs, pretty much, doubled at that point.
But here's the problem. If you are going to store data locally, you need hard drives. And you need redundant hard drives and you need redundant hard drive systems. It becomes an exponentially more expensive to provide the local redundancy needed to protect files. Yes, you can back up files, but when you need a file restored, you don't want to wait for the IT department to find the correct backup tape, run the backup routine, restore the file and notify you that the file has been restored. You want the file back now!
So what you end up with is redundant hardware, redundant backup systems (local and cloud based) not to mention the power, electrical and air conditioning support systems required.
As I have (probably) mentioned elsewhere, "Once you get on the technology train, there is no getting off!"
So...at the school, we have moved, nearly 100% to the cloud. I decommissioned my last server last week. Every vital function in the network is now run on redundant, flash based systems. That means no moving parts, no need for cooling and expensive electrical backup systems. Yet, our access to technology is better now than at any point in our past.
But...it means that how we do things will change. It means learning new systems that are compatible with the new technology paradigm.
I go back to the quote I mentioned in another post. If we don't keep moving forward, no matter how difficult, we will lose out to those who are.