It's time to face the facts.Unlike fashion trends, which come and go at a rate nearly impossible to keep up with, cloud computing is sticking around-for good.

Cloud is no longer considered a possible solution for your infrastructure needs; it's a necessity. More companies are transitioning to a cloud platform for improved cash flow, higher efficiency, and an environment that supports growing business demands. You'll just need to keep up.

Consider your workloads functioning similar to the Internet. Just as data is made accessible between systems, your workloads would move seamlessly and securely between clouds, giving you the flexibility to work from anywhere and the capability to expand your data center. Utilizing our large network of partners, we are able to make this a reality. We call it Intercloud-a globally connected network of clouds.

Making decisions around-and the actual transition to-the cloud can be intimidating, to say the least. We certainly don't expect you to have to take it on alone. Cisco Powered partners are industry-leading cloud providers that, together, create a team of professional, trusted companies who can help you from initial planning stages, through implementation, and onward with continued management. Our unique partnerships make opportunities readily available to you that are tailored to your specific needs.

Read more about our partnerships, the Intercloud, and other Cisco cloud services in our newly released edition ofUnleashing IT. You'll find proof of the solidity of cloud, and why it's putting companies much like yours at an advantage.

Here are just a couple of stories featured in this edition:

If you had to reduce a 3-year cloud migration plan to just three months, could you do it? @CDWCorpaccepted the challenge and guided one company to a cloud environment using Cisco Powered partner @Peak_Tento host and manage it. Not only was the deadline met, it was done exceptionally well.

Cisco Powered cloud provider @ilandcloud helped a publishing company modernize and transform from an old-world book seller to a state-of-the-art digital media company. Implementing the Cisco Intercloud Fabric was a key component, enabling secure deployment into multiple clouds from a single platform.

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