“Server hugging” – the tendency of programmers to want their servers nearby like a warm security blanket –  is not unique to Microsoft.

There’s a broader and more insidious ailment that affects IT organizations everywhere: can I sleep at night if my businesses’ data is out on the cloud? Let’s call it data hugging.

Data hugging is understandable.  IT organizations are the stewards of a corporation’s digital crown jewels.  It’s in their name, it’s why they exist.

With growth comes change, and IT needs to let go of their sentimental attachments to their data’s location.  Cloud Computing is here to stay. It’s not for every byte and everyone, but it has a place in most organizations’ plans.

It’s time to set feelings aside and apply dispassionate business-based analysis to the in-house vs. Cloud analysis.