I started my career in late 90s selling Microsoft Application Platform that included the servers and the developer tools. One of the most common customer objections that I used to handle was \u201cvendor lock-in\u201d. Every time I pitched MS SQL Server or Visual Basic, the immediate concern from the customers was getting locked into the Microsoft platform.
\nA decade later, \u201cVendor lock-in\u201d still remains a hurdle that the technical sales rep has to go through. But the landscape has changed significantly. Now the vendor lock-in argument has shifted to the Cloud. I often hear lock-in in the context of Amazon Web Services. AWS competitors use the lock-in factor to create FUD among the customers with a hope to increase their sales prospects. But how much of this is a real concern? Should businesses be really worried about getting locked into one platform?<\/p>\n