Technology changes so fast that if I was ever sequestered for a court case for more than 1 year, I would have to change careers or start over. There are so many changes that happen on a daily basis that it is mind boggling. I have seen professionals come and go and only a few have remained in the tech industry. It is those that have the keen ability to be one step ahead to reinvent themselves are the ones that are thriving. I personally love the fast-paced, ever changing field; and I use it to my advantage. It keeps me fresh and set apart from my competition. Most would see this as a negative aspect to their career, but I see it as an opportunity.

I recently wrote about “Cannibalization” and the willingness for companies to engage purposely in it. It is a necessary evil to survive in this industry. As invincible as Microsoft may have seem to be in the early 2000s, they are showing signs of a big company that have lost their agility. They are getting hit from all fronts… the Open Source community, Apple, Android, Google Chrome, Amazon are just a few names. Getting slapped around the past 6-8 years, Microsoft has become a company with an identity crisis. Just look at their latest products… Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012. What is it???? Are they a business solutions company or are they a consumer products company? Is it a PC or a tablet? Is it a server or a desktop? This should be interesting where Microsoft will go. Will they be able to reinvent themselves or go the way of the typewriter?

There are a few game-changers that come along in technology that disrupts “life” as we know it. Where we are today, there is a disruptive technology called the “Cloud”. The “Cloud” sounds dark, but it is a shining star. It is a game-changer, a breath of fresh air in this economy. The “Cloud” is really nothing more that remote computing. It is the details of what they each cloud company offers is what sets them apart. Remote computing or telecommuting is the earliest form of cloud computing. In the mid 80s there was “PC Anywhere” and dial-in using RAS (Remote Access Servers) servers. Then came dedicated remote sites usually hooked up via dedicated T1s and ISDN lines. Then came the Internet… Al Gore changed everything. This opened up many more possibilities with IP tunneling and encryption. With mobile and tablet computing, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) is the preferred MO (Modus Operandi or Method of Operation) for end user computing. Cloud technology has been around for a while, but it just never really caught on. The skies just dark with some serious Cloud offerings. Driven by a tight economy, it is all about the bottom line. Companies that once thought about buying servers and building out data centers are now looking at paying a monthly subscription for the same computing resources but without the burden of managing it. What does this mean for the traditional IT guy with tons of certifications and experience? They will find themselves outmatched and outwitted if they don’t reinvent themselves. For those looking to get into the tech industry, this is good news. The cloud is a great entry point as it is starting to take off. IT is revolving door. There are just as many experienced folks leaving (voluntary and involuntary) as those who are getting into it. So if you are a veteran like me or a newbie trying to get in, this is a great time to do so. The future looks cloudy and it is good.