However, I include the following key concepts:
(1) A Cloud - no surprise there
(2) Cloud Services
(3) Cloud Applications
(4) Cloud Computing Platform
A cloud is a pool of virtualized computer resources (servers, storage etc). The Internet is the most obvious example and some say that this is the only cloud. I prefer to think of this as a public cloud.
A cloud service is the interface to cloud application's functionality delivered using open standards. The cloud application has therefore been extended to be accessible through the cloud.
A cloud computing platform dynamically provisions, configures, reconfigures, and de-provisions servers as needed. Servers in the cloud can be physical machines or virtual machines.
Enterprise Cloud Computing
We differentiate this from cloud computing to denote the difference between the public cloud (aka Internet) and how cloud computing can be leveraged by enterprise clients within their own IT infrastructure.
The basic value proposition for the enterprise client is that they maintain control over business critical data, applications and processes while providing cloud-like user experience to their employees, partners and customers and while leveraging their existing legacy IT investments.
Cloud Computing vs Grid Computing
Cloud computing environments support grid computing by quickly providing physical and virtual servers on which the grid applications can run.
Cloud computing should not be confused with grid computing. Grid computing involves dividing a large task into many smaller tasks that run in parallel on separate servers. Grids require many computers, typically in the thousands, and commonly use servers, desktops, and laptops.
Characteristics and Benefits
- Capital expenditure is minimised as infrastructure is not owned by the user; rather it is shared by multiple users.
- Services are paid for typically as a subscription, usage-basis or other mechanisms like advertising
- Potential to reduce the total cost of ownership but this assumes that users understand their current financial position.
- Skill requirements are reduced as the service is provided as a fully-managed offering that is service level driven according to required performance, reliability and scalability.
- Environmentally-friendly as shared resources amongst users allows for improved utilization and efficiency of the infrastructure.
- Device and location independence enabling users to connect wherever and using their device of choice.
- Reduced time-to-market as businesses will be able to adopt new services quickly for pilot usages and then scale quickly to a global scale.
Risks and concerns
- Shortage of skills could limit future growth. Students need to understand principles even as they experiment with the technologies of today. That way they’ll easily adjust to the technologies of tomorrow.
- We still need to define and develop certain standards and technologies to support on-demand provisioning and configuration of integrated “virtual systems”. This will require protocols that allow users and service providers to discover and hand off demands to other providers, to monitor and manage their reservations, and arrange payment.
- Data and security concerns and a general fear in relinquishing their data and information to the cloud.
