Cloud Content Management

Cloud content management (CCM) is an emerging category of software-as-a-service (SaaS) that provides a web-based platform for companies ranging from small businesses to large scale enterprises to access, collaborate and share all types of business content both within and beyond an organization. CCM combines the collaborative elements of Social Business Software (SBS) with the content focus of traditional Enterprise Content Management (ECM). Designed to leverage the seamless content delivery of the web, CCM is characterized by trackable sharing with flexible workflow and an open platform approach to integrating with other web-based services.
Overview
CCM provides a web-based alternative or add-on to traditional ECM, which is designed around desktop software and built primarily for large scale deployments. Whereas ECM services typically require IT maintenance and user training, CCM solutions - like most cloud-based services - entail little administration and training for workers familiar with web-based tools. CCM also enables users to share content beyond their organization with partners, vendors and customers.
The CCM content lifecycle is characterized by four stages: 1) capture and upload, 2) manage and share, 3) flexible workflow, and 4) organic discovery. Unlike ECM systems, CCM does not focus on document archiving or electronic discovery.
Components and characteristics of a CCM solution typically include:
* Living content library with continuous document life cycle
* Open platform for integration with other web-based services
* Secure tracking of content movement within and outside of an organization
* Organic discovery of relevant content
* Open and flexible workflow
* Fully-integrated, usage-driven search
Market
The CCM market is relatively new and is still maturing. CCM solutions in various stages of development include Alfresco, Box.net, MindTouch, Salesforce Content,, Penteon and SpringCM. As businesses continue to move processes and applications from on-site to the cloud - Google Apps and Salesforce.com are good examples - the CCM market should continue to expand. Adoption of CCM solutions is largely driven by bottom-up adoption, made possible by a user-focused design approach and low cost or freemium pricing models.
Challenges
Like all cloud services, adoption of CCM hinges on a business' comfort with storing data in the cloud rather than in on-site servers. For this reason, transparency and third party auditing are essential to the success of a CCM platform. Many large SaaS providers are SAS 70 certified, which includes regular auditing by third parties on all aspects of security - from network firewalls to authentication policies to procedures for employee termination.

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