Getting Started in the
Nonprofit Cloud
@nonprofitrd
Rich Dietz
www.NonprofitRD.com/FB
Nonprofit R+D
www.NonprofitRD.com/IN
rich@nonprofitrd.com
www.NonprofitRD.com/gplus
Getting Started in the Nonprofit Cloud
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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
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Our Speaker
Rich Dietz
Founder of Nonprofit R+D - Technology
Training for Nonprofit Professionals
Richard 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.
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Agenda
1. Soap Box
2. What does ‘the Cloud’ really mean?
3. Advantages & Disadvantages/Concerns
4. Future of the Cloud
5. Where to Start
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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
I am a teacher, not really a presenter
•
Want you to learn and take action
Download at
www.NonprofitRD.com/Idaho
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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
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Soap Box
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Don’t Panic
There is help out there
Google is your friend
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What you talkin’ about Willis?
SaaS, Paas, Iaas,
CRM, CMS
ROI, API,
wysiwyg
Open-Source
Blah, Blah, Blah
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The Latest and Greatest…
Many folks like to focus on the latest and greatest
tools and techniques (Shiny Object Syndrome)
At Nonprofit R+D, we instead focus on the basics
and building a solid foundation
It may not be as cool or exciting initially
• But you will be better off in the long run
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Best Practices?
• A “best practice” = what works in your org
• Testing is the key,
– Much easier to do online
– If it works, do more.
– If not, try something else.
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Off Soap Box
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Who is currently using the Cloud?
(Show of hands)
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What Does ‘the Cloud’
Really Mean?
(and why should you care)
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What is ‘the Cloud’
Wikipedia says:
“The use of computing resources
(hardware and software) that are
delivered as a service over a network
(typically the Internet).”
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.
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Examples of the Cloud
Microsoft Word
vs.
Google Docs
“Sneaker Net”
vs.
Dropbox
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Examples of the Cloud
Microsoft Project
vs.
Asana
MailChimp
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Now…
Who believes they are using
the Cloud?
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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
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Buy vs. Rent
Installed 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.
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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
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What criteria are important to
your organization in evaluating
the Cloud?
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Advantages
&
Disadvantages/Concerns
(Many times they are two sides of the same coin)
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Advantages
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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
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Advantages of the Cloud
Availability
• 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
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Advantages of the Cloud
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
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Advantages of the Cloud
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
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Disadvantages/Concerns
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Disadvantages / Concerns
Cost
• 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
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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
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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
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Future of the Cloud
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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
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Future of the Cloud
New generations don’t even notice it
Salesforce.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.”
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Where to Start
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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
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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
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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
• Copy, DropBox, JungleDisk, Box.com
CRM – Constituent Relationship Database
• Salesforce.com, bloomerang.co, CiviCRM, FR50, etc.
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Researching Vendors / Software
Online 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
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Good Sites for Research
NTEN.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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For Nonprofits
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Rich Dietz
rich@nonprofitrd.com
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