FEATURE
Do I need an umbrella for my server?
Not quite. Cloud computing is a broad term used to describe technology services delivered over the internet. Rather than companies' running their IT infrastructure inhouse, it is provided remotely via the web, usually on a subscription basis.
Like what?
Cloud computing is made up of three main elements: infrastructure as a service, platform as a service and software as a service.
Infrastructure as a service sees elements such as computer processing power and data storage bought in as online resources, with businesses having access to remote servers to store and process data.
For platform as a service, a range of tools that help developers build and run applications on third-party servers is added.
Cloud computing also encompasses applications delivered over the internet, otherwise known as software as a service or on-demand applications. Software as a service includes applications such as CRM, ERP and office applications.
Any other factors to take into account with cloud computing?
A key part of cloud computing is multi-tenancy, which means cloud providers run applications for different customers simultaneously on the same physical servers. These servers use virtualisation technology to separate the data and processing belonging to each customer.
Scalability - or the ability to increase or decrease the computing resources available to users depending on demand - is another prerequisite of cloud computing. Virtualisation is also a key technology in making this possible as it allows for virtual machines to be rapidly created or switched off.
If physical servers always need to be started up or switched off, the process of adding or removing computing power is much slower and the service is considered to be hosting rather than cloud computing.
So does cloud computing always mean vendors provide everything?
Not necessarily. Another cloud computing option that has emerged is the private cloud.
Public cloud is where a business pays a subscription to access a service run by third-party suppliers - Google Apps and Salesforce.com are both examples of this.
Private cloud, on the other hand, is where organisations redesign their IT infrastructure to create a single virtualised environment where resources are pooled for employees to access when they need it.
By doing this, IT departments can divert processing and storage power to wherever...
Comments
There are 10 comments. Join the discussion
1. anonymous
Google are not the cure to security and privacy. Cloud providers are actually part of the problem for enterprises. Even for existing outsourcing material there are technologies which ensure that corporates or individuals can ensure that the data admin in the outsourcer cannot access information. So far with cloud providers it boils down to everyone has to trust them that they won't access data. The Chinese walls may be there but compliance and regulators are very unlikely to accept "trust" as an option or an excuse if data leaked. The cloud will sweep in but it will have few successes with enterprises until privacy and security is in the hands of the end user and does not have to rely on trusting the cloud providers.
2. Mark Hosey
Great! Looking forward to it!
So when can we expect service providers to host server based security applications as part of the standard service they provide?
3. Francis Kwadade-Cudjoe
This is fantastic if and only if, it can be reliable and timely. At least, it would take a chunk of tasks off the heads of IT managers to enable them concentrate on other demanding tasks.
4. anonymous
It still sounds really hairy to me. Everybody is talking about Internet gridlock, you're just writing a very important letter and the Internet gets stuck at ared light!
Alternatively, one day somebody out there will develop a virus to kill the Internet and then where will we be?
Does anybody really trust the Internet yet? I know that I am still very dubious about the total reliance that we are place on the cloud, a day without e-mail is supposed to be more stressful for some than getting a divorce, what about a day with no applications at all?
5. Alain Maillet
What about data confidentiality when using cloud computing ? Does such approach could favorise industrial espionage ?
6. anonymous
Great cheat sheet. One in the cloud service that I have recently come across is the CRYPTOCard MAS (Managed Authentication service) as it provides an in the cloud Two Factor Authentication Service. We are currently testing and it is fantastic to use and personally in the cloud security services are the way to go.
7. James Strachan
Let’s see, Customer buys in Shiny Cloud Computing, stores very sensitive data, customer locked into contract.
Customer then finds out that SCC has been bought out by rival, or moved to another country.
What trust have they now?
We trusted our Gov not to lose data, we trusted banks to keep our money safe, we trusted companies over many things.
Trust is hard won but very easily lost.
Remember the early days, that upstart PC was a rebellion against the tyranny of centralised computing (mainframes and dumb terminals anyone!)
May look shiny, nice and cheap on paper...
But what price that trust?
Remember Memory sticks are cheap and small!
PS
Don't even start on the problems with the other issues, Networks, Bandwith, Legal, outages, etc.
8. anonymous
Hmmmm, I am with an organisation moving from an old NT network into an IBM Via Cloud and would contest the comment that old systems suffer as much, if not more, downtime.
I have to say that I am very surprised to say that I am actually missing the old, cranky (but relatively reliable) NT network.
9. Sue Whitmore
Conceptually, is there much difference between cloud computing and wireless mainframe for the masses?
10. Cloud_Zone
Cloud computing is evolving fast. Today, organisations understand that they can use the model to cut costs, increase efficiency and be more responsive to changing market demands.