Cloud Computing appears to be the next big thing in IT. Until recently I had never heard the term and had no idea what it meant. While attending a SalesForce.com seminar I was introduced to and provided a 1000 mile view of what Cloud Computing was. Needless to say this brief introduction left me with more questions than answers about what Cloud Computing was.
What is Cloud Computing?
I have heard it described as “Liquid Paper” in that it covers up mistakes related to your IT infrastructure. I have also heard it described as a way to deliver services rather than applications that is completely independent of platforms or physical hardware.
In one word I would describe Cloud Computing as outsourcing. By engaging a Cloud Computing Vendor you are in essence pushing some of your responsibilities off to another company and accessing data, applications etc. through the web.
In my early research I thought Cloud Computing was only for and provided by companies that offer SaaS (Software as a Service) like Salesforce.com. I quickly learned that there is a big push for complete virtualization and companies like Amazon EC2 are offering IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) as well.
What are the benefits of Cloud Computing?
One of the greatest advantages I see with Cloud Computing is the reduced strain on a company to deliver its employees the software/hardware they need to be successful. Your Cloud Vendor is responsible for delivering the applications and infrastructure you need to be successful. This allows users of Cloud Computing to focus more heavily on their core business. Allowing them to dedicate more time to what they do best.
Cloud Computing also centralizes data. How many of us have lost important documents as the result of some type of hardware failure? Storing data in a central location and connecting to the Cloud to retrieve it as needed places less emphasis on the peripheral portions of a company’s infrastructure (desktops, laptops and PDA’s) and gives users a place to go to get everything they need no matter where they are.
What dangers are associated with Cloud Computing?
A major concern for all potential users of Cloud Computing would be the loss of control of your applications and infrastructure. In some instances your Cloud may be present in many different regions or countries. How will you know if your Cloud Vendor will honor your local privacy requirements?
Another major concern is data recovery. By consolidating data into one area companies expose themselves to significant data loss if something goes wrong with their Cloud. Does your Cloud Vendor have a comprehensive data recovery plan? Do they back up your data? Where is that data housed and how quickly can it be accessed in the event that something goes wrong?
Finally, long-term viability should be a major concern for anyone considering the use of Cloud Computing. As Cloud Computing becomes mainstream there will be numerous vendors vying for market share. Some will flourish and others will fail. What happens to you if the company you have partnered with fails? How will you retrieve your data? If you can retrieve it, where will you put it? During the transition period how will your employees operate?
Useful resources
If you are interested in more information about Cloud Computing please look at the links below. I have found them very helpful in my search for a better understanding of Cloud Computing:
http://webtrends.about.com/od/enterprise20/a/cloud-computing.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PNuQHUiV3Q
http://blogs.msdn.com/vasudevk/archive/2009/02/14/advantages-of-cloud-computing.aspx
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/07/02/Gartner_Seven_cloudcomputing_security_risks_1.html
To continue this discussion, and leave a comment, visit the INT forum.