Getting Started in the Nonprofit Cloud

Getting Started in the Nonprofit Cloud

#NPcloud

Richard DietzNonprofit [email protected]

@nonprofitrdwww.NonprofitRD.com/FBwww.NonprofitRD.com/IN

www.NonprofitRD.com/gplus

Nonprofit Cloudwww.NonprofitRD.com2

Our Speaker

Rich DietzFounder of Nonprofit R+D - Technology Training for Nonprofit Professionals

Rich has over 20 years' experience working in and with a wide variety of nonprofit, political, and government organizations and holds a Masters in Social Welfare (MSW) from UC Berkeley.

You can find Rich on his website http://www.nonprofitrd.com or tweeting @nonprofitrd.


Who is this session for?

1) You want to learn the basics of what the Cloud is, advantages and disadvantages, and how it relates to nonprofits.

OR

2) You are looking for material to talk to folks at your organization that may not understand the Cloud


Agenda

1. Soap Box

2. What does ‘the Cloud’ really mean?

3. Advantages & Disadvantages/Concerns

4. Future of the Cloud

5. Where to Start


Text Heavy Slides… oh no!

I promise I do not just read the slides• Boring!

Why text heavy slides• You don’t have to take notes – the info is there for you later• You can focus on the “ah-ha” moments• They will still make sense 6 months from now

Let me know what you think


Our Goals Today

•Gain a better understanding of ‘the Cloud’ and how it relates to nonprofits

•Generate ideas to get you started researching and evaluating how the cloud can impact your organization

• Encourage you to take action and test out new ideas


Don’t Panic

There is help out there

Google and NTEN areyour friends


What you talkin’ about Willis?

SaaS, Paas, Iaas,

CRM, CMS

ROI, API,

wysiwyg

Open-Source

Blah, Blah, Blah


Who is currently using the Cloud?


What Does ‘the Cloud’Really Mean?

(and why should you care)


What is ‘the Cloud’

Other definitions:• An architecture that provides scalable, Internet-accessible services.• Managed software or services that reside on the internet.• Scalable services you access through the internet.

Wikipedia says: “The use of computing resources (hardware and software) that are delivered as a service over a network (typically the Internet).”


Examples of the CloudMicrosoft Word vs. Google Docs

“Sneaker Net” vs. Dropbox


Examples of the CloudFR50 (Installed) vs. Sage Nonprofit Online

MailChimp


Now…

Who believes they are using the Cloud?


Most NPO’s are already using it

Over 90% of nonprofits are using the cloud• However, many did not realize it

Most common Cloud solutions• Email – 69%• Broadcast email – 57%• Office software – 44%• Data backup – 41%• Constituent databases – 40%

(NTEN State of the Nonprofit Cloud – March 2012)http://www.nten.org/research/cloudreport/download


Buy vs. RentInstalled software - Buy• Exchange Server – server, software, space, staff time, maintenance, upgrades, etc.

Cloud - Rent• Google Apps – free for nonprofits with less than 3,000 users.• However, still need training, support, etc.

As a homeowner, renting is starting to look pretty good to me!

Which is better? That depends!• Need to evaluate on individual basis. • With software donation programs it may be more cost effective to buy.• BUT… need to account for staff time, maintenance, downtime, etc.


Why should your nonprofit care?The Cloud can save• Time• Money• Frustration• The environment

The Cloud is great for• Sharing• Collaborating• Remote working• Scalability

* All Discussed in the following section


What criteria are important to your organization in evaluating

the Cloud?


Advantages&

Disadvantages/Concerns(Many times they are two sides of the same coin)


Advantages


Advantages of the Cloud

Cost• Save money on equipment, staff, office space, electricity,

ongoing maintenance, etc.

• Reduced need for infrastructure - economies of scale

• Lower cost of entry (upfront costs) as well as replacement costs

• Can use less powerful and lower cost clients – netbook, low end computer (internet speed is the key)

• Transfer capital expenses to operating expenses

• Easier to budget – known monthly cost, pay for what you use


Advantages of the CloudAvailability• Always on, accessible from anywhere• Great for remote/telework – no more VPN’s (Virtual Private Network)

– eg. Chicago trip

Elastic• Quickly and easily scaled up or down as needed• Only pay for resources you use

• Server sitting idle vs. Cloud resource expanding as needed• Rapid deployment

Sharing and Collaboration• A hallmark of the Cloud – it’s built in



Innovation• Upgrades and new features included

• MailChimp and Mobile• Cheaper and easier to keep up with latest trends

More Green• Less infrastructure (servers) - less toxic materials used and dumped• Shared data centers more efficient, less power needed (green

datacenters)• Client computers don’t need as much power so

you can keep the older computers



Disaster Planning• Backup / Recovery• Availability• Hurricane Sandy

Security• Usually the #1 concern.. but it’s an advantage, too• Cloud vendors usually have higher security

• Physical security of hardware• Updates and patches• Better encryption• Multi-site backups and file sharing


Disadvantages/Concerns


Disadvantages / ConcernsCost• Cost is usually per user

• At a certain point it may be more cost effective to buy

• May end up paying for more than you need• Choose your plans wisely

• Cost of converting and training on new system• Glorified phone book (Salesforce.com)

Availability• Need an internet connection… and a good one!• Relying on their data centers (example from Sandy)• However, good vendors can usually do better than on-premise


Disadvantages / Concerns

Less control• Less input and control to customize and add features• Service Level Agreements (SLA’s)

• Termination, copyright, ownership of data• They are in control

• Make your own backups and store offline

Trust and viability of provider• Google Apps – ok. Joe’s Attic Apps.. not so much.• Have other used it, been around for awhile, understand nonprofits?

Updates• Vendor updates automatically, can cause issues/errors


Disadvantages / Concerns

Security• Download Donny Shimamoto’s work (Security and Risk)

• Search “nten Donny Shimamoto cloud”• Control of data – confidentiality, privacy, loss of data• Weak link is often times security practices in the organization

Regulatory Compliance• HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)• PCI-compliant (Payment Card Industry) • Check vendor certification / part of research phase


Future of the Cloud


Future of the Cloud

More and more movement to the Cloud• Increased options and competition, lower prices over time• Greater complexity in choosing the right solutions

Easier remote and telework options• Great way for nonprofits to get great talent• A benefit of working at your org


Future of the CloudNew generations don’t even notice itSalesforce.com Chief Scientist – JP Rangaswami

Asked if Cloud computing is real:

“Do my children know any different?” (The answer, by the way, is that they don’t.)

“My children appear to have no interest in hugging physical things in order to make them feel good.”

“…we recognize the cloud today more by its absence.”


Where to Start


Where to start

Not a Panacea• Still need to make sure it fits your needs

Start where you are• The Cloud is not all or nothing• Test one area, then move on to others with experience• Many have a free version or free trial period for testing• New project? Look to the Cloud as a possible solution

Talk to accounting about the Cloud• Budgeting for the Cloud• Capital vs. Operating expenses - ramifications


Where to start

Think Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)• May be “cheaper” to do some things the old fashioned way

• Software and hardware donations• But… make sure to account for staff time, maintenance, downtime, etc.

Training is the key• Vendor resources a good start• Don’t spend the money if you are not going to fully utilize• Example – Salesforce.com as glorified phonebook


Where to start - Services

Email• May be great place to start• Big wins and cost effective

• Google Apps, Office 365, Zoho, etc.

Backups / File Sharing• Fairly easy setup• Vital area that most organization ignore.. until it’s too late• DropBox, JungleDisk, Box.com, JustCloud

CRM – Donor Database• Constituent Relationship Management• Sage Nonprofit Online, Salesforce.com, CiviCRM, etc.


Researching Vendors / SoftwareOnline reviews / Ask colleagues and friends• People who are using a product are a good resource

Do features match YOUR needs?• No reason to pay for features you will not use• Which tasks are you planning to test?

Be clear about what you want and expect• When you assume …..• Contract terms, support services, and training

Viability of vendor• Will they be here in 5 years?• Commitment to the nonprofit sector


Good Sites for ResearchNTEN.org• Where the nonprofit technology community meets.

Idealware.org• A nonprofit, provides thoroughly researched, impartial, and accessible resources about software

to help nonprofits make smart software decisions.

TechSoup.org• A nonprofit with a clear focus: providing other nonprofits and libraries with technology that

empowers them to fulfill their missions and serve their communities.

Google.com


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www.NonprofitRD.com

Q & ADownload the Slides:

www.slideshare.net/sagenonprofit

Learn more about Sage Nonprofit Online:www.sagenonprofit.com/sagenonprofitonline

Sign up for updates:www.NonprofitRD.com

Richard DietzNonprofit [email protected]

@nonprofitrdwww.NonprofitRD.com/FBwww.NonprofitRD.com/IN

www.NonprofitRD.com/gplus

Getting Started in the Nonprofit Cloud

Technology

Transcript of Getting Started in the Nonprofit Cloud