A new initiative to help organisations better understand how to utilise cloud computing to support their business has been launched.
The joint Microsoft, Irish Centre for Cloud Computing and Commerce (IC4), Dublin City University (DCU), University College Cork (UCC) and Athlone Institute of Technology (AIT) programme is called the National Cloud Computing Accelerator Programme and will, over the next year, provide training and guidance for around 2,000 organisations on how to assess which cloud services are best suited to accelerate their business. Some 200 organisations will receive hands-on cloud implementation advice at drop-in clinics in Dublin, Cork and Athlone. Furthermore, an additional 500 small and medium businesses who have already adopted cloud services will be advised on how they can be leveraged to support growth.
The launch is part of Microsoft’s National Cloud Week.
"The purpose of the National Cloud Computing Accelerator Programme is to evangelise on the benefits of cloud computing for business, providing it is deployed in an appropriate, sophisticated manner," said Cathriona Hallahan, managing director, Microsoft Ireland. "Microsoft will be working with DCU and IC4 on the design and delivery of clinics which have the specified aim of broadening the reach of the cloud in Ireland. We will also be arranging for expert speakers to attend the drop-in clinics where they will advise organisations on the most up-to-date developments in cloud technology."
DCU will lead the outreach programme to 2,000 Irish organisations, educating them as to how cloud computing can aid growth. The university will be immediately expanding its existing ‘Techspectations’ programme to incorporate a new free cloud-specific training programme. The university will also be launching a new facility, MarketingLab, to provide SMEs, and specifically cloud technology companies, access to cloud and digital marketing expertise, tools and knowledge. MarketingLab will be supported by Microsoft and hardware partner HP with the latest PCs, tablets and phones.
"Acceleration of cloud computing is a national priority. Cloud computing has the potential to drive significant new job creation and contribution to GDP," said Prof Brian MacCraith, president, Dublin City University. "As Ireland’s University of Enterprise, DCU is delighted to work with Microsoft, our IC4 partner institutions – UCC’s Boole Centre for Research in Informatics and AIT’s Software Research Institute – and the other industry members in IC4 to accelerate the development and adoption of cloud technologies by Irish organisations through education, research and outreach."
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