The barrage of information and views surrounding cloud computing is drenching the web. What did you know about cloud computing (if anything)? Does it excite you? Shock you? Are you an early adopter or will you wait for some of the fall out to settle before entering the cloud? The phrase itself magics up both a vista of endless possibility and a mystifying place where it is tough to see. Both are correct. Let’s commence with some outlining terms and move out into the atmosphere from there.
Cloud computing takes the P out of PC
This analogy is a handy place to start if you've got no idea what computers in the clouds might look like. You may still have a unit on your desk (or on your lap or in your hand) but the software and info in that unit won't be locally attached.
At a basic level, cloud computing ‘lifts ‘ the bulk of software and storage from your P. C and puts it in a central, off-site location. Beyond that, it provides a ways in which users can ‘tap into ‘ the cloud to access applications and other services as they need. It's a pay as you go service which has been compared to the way in which we purchase electricity – from a central grid, according to how much we use.
The big guns are already offering serious cloud packages, albeit with marginally different names. Google Applications favors the Software as a Service (or SaaS) label, while Amazon names themselves as: ‘the cloud you can depend on’. If you're interested in which corporations are leading the cloud land pack, sys.con media offers a likely top 50.
Respite from the pressure of info storage
This is 1 method of taking a look at cloud computing. And it's certainly the mast head of cloud marketing campaigns. The benefits of shifting the weight of storage, back up and software off site are obvious for sizeable companies with a large number of work stations and complex in house network systems. That is how HP has been selling its Performance Optimized Data-Center (POD) – which is a shipping container modified into a ‘mobile ‘ information centre.
Nonetheless online trend watcher Gartner means that by 2011 individual early technology adopters will move away from capital expenditure and purchase up to 40 % of their IT structure as a service. So it isn't just businesses welcoming life in the cloud. The upward push of Web 2.0 applications saw millions of individuals already get involved in cloud computing. Free email accounts, online storage sites for footage, videos and other data (think gmail, flickr and you tube) abound. A further move toward SaaS presents unique challenges to software monopolies like Microsoft. IT developers will be compelled to come up with ever more attractive offers in order to appeal to an ever more powerful and ‘mobile ‘ user-driven market.
PC clouds may produce acid rain
Those not welcoming cloud computing warn of the probable fall out. IT Guru Richard Stillman (creator of the GNU operating system) is cyclonic in his opposition to the technology. Stillman’s cautions are based around privacy issues. By employing off-site, proprietary based systems, firms expose themselves to the risk of being ‘locked out ‘ of their own info. Other potential downsides include losing info due to crashing servers or routing Problems, or – worst case scenario – service providers simply disappearing (as can occur in the fickle world of IT), taking their info with them.
Analogies have also been drawn to earliest days of main frame systems. The whole reason for the appearance of private PCs was to give power, creativity and flexibility to individual users. There's some fear this control will be lost in a cloud computing model.
More measured critiques of cloud computing suggest the wisdom of a ‘tool based ‘ approach. Meaning – consider ‘cloud ‘ solutions for some applications and not others. For example, activities such as graphics editing and document typesetting could be best left on your desktop, while e-mails and other cooperative or shared information lend themselves to the cloud.
Waiting for the clouds of confusion to pass
There is little doubt that cloud computing. Has been made responding to genuine need. It has the capability to offer tangible advantages to enterprises and people. As with all leading edge technology, teething issues and quality assurance issues are commonplace. Sites such as TechNewsWorld provide quality articles and up to date information. So if you are curious, get online and get searching. Cloud computing is here for good and you may as well be prepared for the changing conditions ahead.
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Following our analysis and strategy workshop your online benchmark is established and you will know how far behind or before the competition you are. With this info we can then work with you to establish what to do about your market position and website plans. Though we have had some useful tools developed to help in the research process, iQuantum isn't a web development company. We do not employ programmers or designers. Our scope is broader than that. We site between our clients and web sellers and make sure the client gets worth from their web marketing investment.
With over 40 years of business, promoting, sales, engineering, general management, online property, planning. John has worked for and with worldwide corporations like IBM, Electronic Information Systems, and Mahindra English Telecomms.
John has a BS from Brown in Computer Science, an MA through IBM in Business Electronics, as well as a PhD in International Trade and Management from the London School of Business.
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