What Will Your Cloud Computing Look Like?
April 17, 2012
The IT departments of many companies are juggling the security issues that arise with employee requests for remote access to data, increasing data volumes, and cost reductions in an uncertain business environment. Suppliers are offering solutions, but with an emphasis on different features. Some companies operate their own cloud. The technology is evolving to a standardized service, but the standards are not clear yet.
The largest IT companies offer cloud computing with a wide array of IT infrastructure. In an article on ComuterWorld, HP presents its view of the future of the cloud. According to the company, there will be 10 to 20 major cloud suppliers with smaller clouds focused in particular industries or geographical areas. HP believes the cloud will be more than just remote servers and virtual machines. They think companies will want software services in the cloud, and requirements could range from simple apps to data analytics. An open environment leading to interoperability is also important…
Other companies expecting to number among those 10 or 20 major suppliers are Amazon and IBM. Amazon is developing a cloud model that relies on third-party suppliers operating within its cloud environment. IBM has just joined the OpenStack Foundation, an open source initiative that will create a foundation to develop open source cloud software. The company intends to offer a complete range of software services in the cloud.
Smaller suppliers are offering pure cloud storage. Companies such as Rackspace, MediaFire, and ElephantDrive let you back up or store your files on their systems and access them from anywhere. Some offer basic additional functions, such as sharing, but the emphasis is on pure storage.
Private clouds are another option. Companies can operate their own server cloud and give employees remote access to data, storage functions, and any software they wish to install. Such a solution takes a major capital investment and is costly to operate. Smaller companies would typically rather pay as they use services than invest and face either bottlenecks or idle equipment.
Midsize businesses tend to shy away from operating a private cloud. They look at how critical their cloud computing operations will be to the company and the costs involved in signing up for a corresponding service. Choosing a reputable supplier who can meet future needs becomes important because it is not yet clear how far suppliers will take interoperability. Changing your cloud supplier will likely be disruptive and expensive. Key factors in selecting a supplier is the level of functionality you need in the cloud, the required level of security and reliability, and the likelihood that the supplier will be able to meet the needs of the company in the future.