State of Cloud Computing: Locking in Migration Cost  describe
the imageWhile migrating to the cloud is ultimately intended to
reduce costs and make it easier to run your business, not
following the right steps at first can lead to the exact
opposite. Ultimately, it is the risk of downtime, security of
your data, and objectives of the cloud service vendor in
question as your enterprise nurtures this ongoing relationship.
A Statement of Work (SOW) should be developed from the start,
with a focus on objectives, tasks, and deliverables. The SOW
should also cover details on project management in a fixed price
model.  A vendor often presents a special deal if an
organization like yours signs a contract immediately. Signing a
proposal is not the same as signing an SOW, as most proposals
simply outline the services to be offered. These also do not
break down the cost of services or list acceptable performance
criteria. A proposal is just a legally binding contract, which
could put your organization at risk if the ser