Microsoft Aims SharePoint To The Cloud

With the latest release of SharePoint in early 2013, Microsoft pivots in earnest from conventional software to subscription cloud services. In SharePoint 2013, clients will find a new architecture for modern Internet applications, mobile-first apps, and cloud deployment. The changes introduce new opportunities to gain value from SharePoint but also will cause a short-term hit in developer productivity, availability of expert consultants, and strategy with regard to cloud, mobile, and social. The many enterprises using SharePoint must now decide whether or not to extend their investments into new application scenarios, architectures, and deployment models — as well as whether or not to adopt additional SharePoint workloads. The opportunity for a fundamentally better knowledge-worker user experience exists, but SharePoint is not the only game in town. Here's what CIOs need to know to succeed with SharePoint 2013.