cloud computing is a technology that uses the internet and central remote servers to maintain data...

8/2/2019 Cloud Computing is a Technology That Uses the Internet and Central Remote Servers to Maintain Data and Applica

1/16

Cloud computing is a technology that uses the internet and central remote servers to maintain data and

applications. Cloud computing allows consumers and businesses to use applications without installation and access

their personal files at any computer with internet access. This technology allows for much more inefficient computing

by centralizing storage, memory, processing and bandwidth.

A simple example of cloud computing is Yahoo email, Gmail, or Hotmail etc. You dont need a software or a server to

use them. All a consumer would need is just an internet connection and you can start sending emails. The server and

email management software is all on the cloud ( internet) and is totally managed by the cloud service provider Yaho ,

Google etc. The consumer gets to use the software alone and enjoy the benefits. The analogy is , 'If you need milk ,

would you buy a cow ?'All the users or consumers need is to get the benefits of using the software or hardware of

the computer like sending emails etc. Just to get this benefit (milk) why should a consumer buy a (cow) software

/hardware ?

Cloud computing is broken down into three segments: "application" "storage" and "connectivity." Each segment

serves a different purpose and offers different products for businesses and individuals around the world. In June

2011, a study conducted by VersionOne found that 91% of senior IT professionals actually don't know what cloud

computing is and two-thirds of senior finance professionals are clear by the concept, [1]highlighting the young nature

of the technology. In Sept 2011, an Aberdeen Group study found that disciplined companies achieved on average an

68% increase in their IT expense because cloud computing and only a 10% reduction in data center power costs.[2]
http://www.wikinvest.com/concept/Cloud_Computing#_note-versionOneStudyhttp://www.wikinvest.com/concept/Cloud_Computing#_note-versionOneStudyhttp://www.wikinvest.com/concept/Cloud_Computing#_note-AberdeenStudyhttp://www.wikinvest.com/concept/Cloud_Computing#_note-AberdeenStudyhttp://www.wikinvest.com/concept/Cloud_Computing#_note-AberdeenStudyhttp://www.wikinvest.com/concept/Cloud_Computing#_note-versionOneStudy


2/16

Computer Networking Image Gallery

A typical cloud computing system. See more computer networking pictures.

HowStuffWorks

More Computing

Shared Computing Utility Computing Grid Computing Curiosity Project: What is ubiquitous computing?

Let's say you're an executive at a large corporation. Your particular responsibilities include making

sure that all of your employees have the right hardware and software they need to do their jobs.Buyingcomputers for everyone isn't enough -- you also have to purchase software orsoftwarelicenses to give employees the tools they require. Whenever you have a new hire, you have to buymore software or make sure your current software license allows another user. It's so stressful thatyou find it difficult to go to sleep on your huge pile of money every night.

Soon, there may be an alternative for executives like you. Instead of installing a suite of softwarefor each computer, you'd only have to load one application. That application would allow workers
http://www.wikinvest.com/concept/Cloud_Computing#_note-AberdeenStudyhttp://www.wikinvest.com/concept/Cloud_Computing#_note-AberdeenStudyhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/computer-networking-pictures.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/computer-networking-pictures.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/shared-computing.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/utility-computing.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/grid-computing.htmhttp://curiosity.discovery.com/question/what-is-ubiquitous-computinghttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/pc.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/pc.htmhttp://health.howstuffworks.com/sleep.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/computer-networking-pictures.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/computer-networking-pictures.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/shared-computing.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/utility-computing.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/grid-computing.htmhttp://curiosity.discovery.com/question/what-is-ubiquitous-computinghttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/pc.htmhttp://health.howstuffworks.com/sleep.htm


3/16

to log into a Web-based service which hosts all the programs the user would need for his or herjob. Remote machines owned by another company would run everything from e-mail to wordprocessing to complex data analysis programs. It's called cloud computing, and it could changethe entire computer industry.

In a cloud computing system, there's a significant workload shift. Local computers no longer haveto do all the heavy lifting when it comes to running applications. The network of computers thatmake up the cloud handles them instead. Hardware and software demands on the user's sidedecrease. The only thing the user's computer needs to be able to run is the cloud computingsystem's interface software, which can be as simple as a Web browser, and the cloud's networktakes care of the rest.

There's a good chance you've already used some form of cloud computing. If you have an e-mailaccount with a Web-based e-mail service like Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail or Gmail, then you've hadsome experience with cloud computing. Instead of running an e-mail program on your computer,you log in to a Web e-mail account remotely. The software and storage for your account doesn't

exist on your computer -- it's on the service's computer cloud.

Cloud Computing Architecture

When talking about a cloud computing system, it's helpful to divide it into two sections: the frontend and the back end. They connect to each other through a network, usually theInternet. Thefront end is the side the computer user, or client, sees. The back end is the "cloud" section of thesystem.

The front end includes the client's computer(or computer network) and the application required toaccess the cloud computing system. Not all cloud computing systems have the same user interface.Services like Web-based e-mailprograms leverage existing Web browsers like Internet Explorer orFirefox. Other systems have unique applications that provide network access to clients.

On the back end of the system are the various computers, servers and data storage systems thatcreate the "cloud" of computing services. In theory, a cloud computing system could includepractically any computer program you can imagine, from data processing to video games. Usually,each application will have its own dedicatedserver.

A central server administers the system, monitoring traffic and client demands to ensure everything

runs smoothly. It follows a set of rules called protocols and uses a special kind of software calledmiddleware. Middleware allows networked computers to communicate with each other. Most ofthe time, servers don't run at full capacity. That means there's unused processing power going towaste. It's possible to fool a physical server into thinking it's actually multiple servers, eachrunning with its own independent operating system. The technique is called server virtualization.By maximizing the output of individual servers, server virtualization reduces the need for morephysical machines.
http://communication.howstuffworks.com/email.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/web-30.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/home-network.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/home-network.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/internet-infrastructure.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/internet-infrastructure.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/pc.htmhttp://communication.howstuffworks.com/email.htmhttp://communication.howstuffworks.com/email.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/firefox.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/web-server.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/web-server.htmhttp://communication.howstuffworks.com/email.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/web-30.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/home-network.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/internet-infrastructure.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/pc.htmhttp://communication.howstuffworks.com/email.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/firefox.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/web-server.htm


4/16

If a cloud computing company has a lot of clients, there's likely to be a high demand for a lot ofstorage space. Some companies require hundreds of digital storage devices. Cloud computingsystems need at least twice the number of storage devices it requires to keep all its clients'information stored. That's because these devices, like all computers, occasionally break down. Acloud computing system must make a copy of all its clients' information and store it on other

devices. The copies enable the central server to access backup machines to retrieve data thatotherwise would be unreachable. Making copies of data as a backup is called redundancy.

Cloud Computing Applications

The applications of cloud computing are practically limitless. With the right middleware, a cloudcomputing system could execute all the programs a normalcomputercould run. Potentially,everything from generic word processing software to customized computer programs designed fora specific company could work on a cloud computing system.

Why would anyone want to rely on another computer system to run programs and store data? Here

are just a few reasons:

Clients would be able to access their applications and data from anywhere atany time. They could access the cloud computing system using any computerlinked to the Internet. Data wouldn't be confined to a hard drive on one user'scomputer or even a corporation's internal network.

It could bring hardware costs down. Cloud computing systems would reducethe need for advanced hardware on the client side. You wouldn't need to buythe fastest computer with the most memory, because the cloud system wouldtake care of those needs for you. Instead, you could buy an inexpensivecomputer terminal. The terminal could include a monitor, input devices like akeyboard and mouse and just enough processing power to run the middlewarenecessary to connect to the cloud system. You wouldn't need a large harddrive because you'd store all your information on a remote computer.

Corporations that rely on computers have to make sure they have the rightsoftware in place to achieve goals. Cloud computing systems give theseorganizations company-wide access to computer applications. The companiesdon't have to buy a set of software or software licenses for every employee.Instead, the company could pay a metered fee to a cloud computing company.

Servers and digital storage devices take up space. Some companies rentphysical space to store servers and databases because they don't have itavailable on site. Cloud computing gives these companies the option of storingdata on someone else's hardware, removing the need for physical space on thefront end.

Corporations might save money on IT support. Streamlined hardware would, intheory, have fewer problems than a network ofheterogeneous machines andoperating systems.

If the cloud computing system's back end is a grid computing system, then theclient could take advantage of the entire network's processing power. Often,scientists and researchers work with calculations so complex that it would takeyears for individual computers to complete them. On a grid computing system,the client could send the calculation to the cloud for processing. The cloud
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/pc.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/pc.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/internet-start.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/question54.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/computer-memory.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/monitor.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/keyboard.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/mouse.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/operating-system.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/pc.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/internet-start.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/question54.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/computer-memory.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/monitor.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/keyboard.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/mouse.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/operating-system.htm


5/16

system would tap into the processing power of all available computers on theback end, significantly speeding up the calculation.

Cloud Computing Concerns

Perhaps the biggest concerns about cloud computing are security and privacy. The idea ofhanding over important data to another company worries some people. Corporate executives mighthesitate to take advantage of a cloud computing system because they can't keep their company'sinformation underlockand key.

The counterargument to this position is that the companies offering cloud computing services liveand die by their reputations. It benefits these companies to have reliable security measures in place.Otherwise, the service would lose all its clients. It's in their interest to employ the most advancedtechniques to protect their clients' data.

Privacy is another matter. If a client can log in from any location to access data and applications,

it's possible the client's privacy could be compromised. Cloud computing companies will need tofind ways to protect client privacy. One way is to useauthentication techniques such as usernames and passwords. Another is to employ an authorization format -- each user can access onlythe data and applications relevant to his or her job.

Some questions regarding cloud computing are more philosophical. Does the user or companysubscribing to the cloud computing service own the data? Does the cloud computing system, whichprovides the actual storage space, own it? Is it possible for a cloud computing company to deny aclient access to that client's data? Several companies, law firms and universities are debating theseand other questions about the nature of cloud computing.

How will cloud computing affect other industries? There's a growing concern in the IT industryabout how cloud computing could impact the business of computer maintenance and repair. Ifcompanies switch to using streamlined computer systems, they'll have fewer IT needs. Someindustry experts believe that the need for IT jobs will migrate to the back end of the cloudcomputing system.

Another area of research in the computer science community is autonomic computing. Anautonomic computing system is self-managing, which means the system monitors itself and takesmeasures to prevent or repair problems. Currently, autonomic computing is mostly theoretical. But,if autonomic computing becomes a reality, it could eliminate the need for many IT maintenancejobs.
http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-safety/security/lock.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/computer-user-authentication-channel.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/computer-user-authentication-channel.htmhttp://home.howstuffworks.com/home-improvement/household-safety/security/lock.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/computer-user-authentication-channel.htm


6/16

What is cloud computing?

Everyone is talking about the cloud. But what does it mean?

Business applications are moving to the cloud. Its not just a fadthe shift from traditional software models to the

Internet has steadily gained momentum over the last 10 years. Looking ahead, the next decade of cloud computing

promises new ways to collaborate everywhere, through mobile devices.

Life before cloud computing

Traditional business applications have always been very complicated and expensive. The amount and variety of

hardware and software required to run them are daunting. You need a whole team of experts to install, configure,

test, run, secure, and update them.

When you multiply this effort across dozens or hundreds of apps, its easy to see why the biggest companies with the

best IT departments arent getting the apps they need. Small and mid-sized businesses dont stand a chance.

Cloud computing: a better way

With cloud computing, you eliminate those headaches because youre not managing hardware and softwarethats

the responsibility of an experienced vendor like salesforce.com. The shared infrastructure means it works like a utility:

You only pay for what you need, upgrades are automatic, and scaling up or down is easy.

Cloud-based apps can be up and running in days or weeks, and they cost less. With a cloud app, you just open a

browser, log in, customize the app, and start using it.


7/16

Businesses are running all kinds of apps in the cloud, like customer relationship management (CRM), HR,

accounting, and much more. Some of the worlds largest companies moved their applications to the cloud with

salesforce.com after rigorously testing the security and reliability of our infrastructure.

As cloud computing grows in popularity, thousands of companies are simply rebranding their non-cloud products and

services as cloud computing. Always dig deeper when evaluating cloud offerings and keep in mind that if you have

to buy and manage hardware and software, what youre looking at isnt really cloud computing but a false cloud.

Cloud 2: Mobility and collaboration

The latest innovations in cloud computing are making our business applications even more mobile and collaborative,

similar to popular consumer apps like Facebook and Twitter. As consumers, we now expect that the information we

care about will be pushed to us in real time, and business applications in the cloud are heading in that direction as

well. With Cloud 2, keeping up with your work is as easy as keeping up with your personal life on Facebook.

How the Cloud Is Transforming IT

In a business world where first movers gain the advantage and IT is central to every decision, IT responsiveness andagility provide a competitive edge. Yet many IT organizations arent quick enough on the uptake because theirinfrastructures are exorbitant to manage and too complex to easily adapt.

Cloud computing provides a vastly more efficient, flexible, and cost-effective way for IT to meet escalating businessneeds: IT as a Service. VMware offers you an evolutionary and practical path to this new model, with solutions thatharness the power of the cloud while ensuring security and preserving the value of your existing technologyinvestments.

Journey to Your Cloud

Private Cloud Computing

Public/Hybrid Cloud Computing

Cloud Foundry - Build, deploy and scale your application in seconds

VMware vCloud Architecture Toolkit

VMware vFabric Cloud Application Platform

Cloud for Service Providers
http://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/cloud-journey/overview.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/cloud-journey/overview.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/private-cloud/datacenter-challenges.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/public-cloud/index.htmlhttp://www.cloudfoundry.com/http://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/cloud-architecture/vcat-toolkit.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/products/application-platform/vfabric/overview.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/products/application-platform/vfabric/overview.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/cloud-journey/overview.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/private-cloud/datacenter-challenges.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/public-cloud/index.htmlhttp://www.cloudfoundry.com/http://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/cloud-architecture/vcat-toolkit.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/products/application-platform/vfabric/overview.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.html


8/16

VMwares Approach: Enabling the Journey to YourCloud
http://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://download3.vmware.com/media/flv/flv_player_large.swf?flvFile=http://download3.vmware.com/media/flv/IDC_Evolution_Security_Compliance_Cloud.flv&fType=Analyst&fCategory=Solution&fProduct=Security-Compliance&fSource=IDC_Evolution_Security_Compliance_Cloud.flvhttp://www.vmware.com/files/images/microsite/VMW_10Q2_Marketecture_R24_800x600.jpghttp://www.vmware.com/files/images/diagrams/VMW-DGRM-ENT-Hybrid-Cloud-Marketecture-105.jpghttp://download3.vmware.com/media/flv/flv_player_large.swf?flvFile=http://download3.vmware.com/media/customers/Customer_Montage_1.flv&fType=Overview&fCategory=Cloud-Infrastructure-Customers&fTitle=Watch%20VMware%20Cloud%20Infrastructure%20Customers&fProduct=Cloud-Infrastructure-Customers&fSource=Customer_Montage_1.flv


9/16

Virtualization is the essential catalyst for cloud computing. As the virtualization leader, VMware builds on this solidfoundation with platforms and solutions to power your cloud infrastructure, build and run robust cloud applications,and supply end-user computing as a cloud-based service.

Our approach is comprehensive, but unlike other cloud offerings, its not one-cloud-fits-all. To deliver competitiveadvantage, cloud computing must be flexibly tailored and aligned to your individual needs. For your enterprise, thatcould mean a cloud thats internal and private, one that leverages external services, or a hybrid cloud that combines

both.

Whichever cloud option suits you best, only VMware offers a complete solution stack for building and managing it,plus a broad partner ecosystem to ensure that everything in it works seamlessly and securely. The result is not justany cloud, but your cloudwhere accelerated IT delivers accelerated results for your business.

VMwares tailored approach delivers flexibility and security while protecting your existing investments, by enabling:

Efficiency Through Utilization and AutomationResource pooling and a self-managed, dynamically optimized environment dramatically increase ITperformanceleveraging existing resources to avoid unnecessary infrastructure investment and technologylock-in. The result is lower total cost of ownership (TCO).

Agility with Control

Cloud computing aims to empower end-users while ensuring security and preserving IT oversight andauthority. The VMware solution interweaves all three, greatly simplifying IT services provisioning anddeployment while maintaining IT control, protective safeguards, and regulatory compliance. The ITorganization can thus respond more quickly and securely to evolving business needs.

Freedom of ChoiceIT retains the ability to support traditional systems and gains the flexibility to deploy them internally orexternally, without being restricted to any single technology or vendor. Developers can build applicationsthat are portable among hybrid, private, and public clouds within a common management and securityframework.

Learn more about thejourney to the cloud >>

Our Solutions. Your Cloud. Key Advantages.

VMware solutions are engineered and integrated to equip your cloud with a unique combination of benefits:

Virtualization Security

VMware solutions deliver always-on, virtualization-aware security that adapts to the dynamism of cloud-baseddeployments while simplifying the protection of endpoints, applications, and the network edge.Learn more aboutSecurity & Cloud Computing >>

Automation and Management

Once IT resources are virtually pooled, business rules, policies, and defined service levels are mapped to them,creating a highly efficient, self-managing infrastructure where IT is available as a service.

Learn more about Automation & Cloud Computing >>Learn more about Cloud Computing Management >>

Interoperability and Openness

With a shared management and security model based on open standards, VMware solutions free you from vendorlock-in, ensuring application portability between internal datacenters andexternal service provider clouds hosted byVMware vCloud partners. Additionally, the VMware cloud application platform lets developers build robust modern
http://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/service-providers/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/cloud-journey/overview.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/cloud-journey/overview.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/solutions/datacenter/cloud-security-compliance/unified-framework.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/solutions/datacenter/cloud-security-compliance/unified-framework.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/solutions/datacenter/cloud-security-compliance/unified-framework.htmlhttp://dcr//templatedata/content/standard/data/sections/solutions/benefit-cloud-computing/automationhttp://www.vmware.com/solutions/datacenter/virtualization-management/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/public-cloud/vcloud-datacenter-services/vcloud-datacenter-services-providers.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/public-cloud/vcloud-datacenter-services/vcloud-datacenter-services-providers.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/public-cloud/vcloud-datacenter-services/vcloud-datacenter-services-providers.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/cloud-journey/overview.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/solutions/datacenter/cloud-security-compliance/unified-framework.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/solutions/datacenter/cloud-security-compliance/unified-framework.htmlhttp://dcr//templatedata/content/standard/data/sections/solutions/benefit-cloud-computing/automationhttp://www.vmware.com/solutions/datacenter/virtualization-management/index.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/public-cloud/vcloud-datacenter-services/vcloud-datacenter-services-providers.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/public-cloud/vcloud-datacenter-services/vcloud-datacenter-services-providers.html


10/16

applications that are portable, dynamic, and optimized for elastically scalable deployment on popular public cloudssuch asVMforce and Google App Engine.

Self-Service for the Cloud

Our approach delivers a new level of IT efficiency by standardizing and automating IT services provisioning and

management. Rather than having to wait for manual provisioning, line-of-business units can deploy standardized,preconfigured IT services from a web-based catalog available via a self-service portal. Business units receive tailoredservices right when they need them, IT administrators are relieved of the bulk of their maintenance burden, and ITpreserves control over policies, compliance, and internal chargeback.

Pooling and Dynamic Resource Allocation

Your IT resources are pooled and abstracted into logical building-blocks of storage, network, and server unitseffectively creating virtual datacenters. These resource containers are then dynamically allocated to your variousapplications, governed by defined business rules and user demand.

Learn more about Pooling & Dynamic Resource Allocation for Cloud Computing>>

Join the Evolution to Your Cloud

Cloud computing holds the very real promise of agile, efficient IT service delivery with dramatically lower complexity,significantly reduced costs, and much greater business responsiveness. The key to realizing these advantages istailoring the cloud model to work for your business and your approach to IT.

As the acknowledged leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure, VMware is uniquely positioned to help youtransition to your cloudthe private, public, or hybrid cloud environment thats best fits your business needs andgoals. Thousands of enterprises have already achieved exceptional results with VMware solutions. And because our
http://www.vmforce.com/http://www.vmforce.com/http://www.vmware.com/cloudportability.htmlhttp://dcr//templatedata/content/standard/data/sections/solutions/benefit-cloud-computing/poolinghttp://dcr//templatedata/content/standard/data/sections/solutions/benefit-cloud-computing/poolinghttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/cloud-journey/overview.htmlhttp://www.vmware.com/files/images/microsite/VMW_10Q3_DGRM_Cloud_Transformation_Journey_R1_800x600.jpghttp://www.vmware.com/files/images/diagrams/vmware_dgrm_vcloud_director_security_800x600.jpghttp://www.vmforce.com/http://www.vmware.com/cloudportability.htmlhttp://dcr//templatedata/content/standard/data/sections/solutions/benefit-cloud-computing/poolinghttp://www.vmware.com/cloud-computing/cloud-journey/overview.html


11/16

approach is open, flexible, and geared to addressing individual needs, theyve done so without a heavy customizationburden.

VMware offers a 3-layered solution stack to supports your evolution to the cloud:

Cloud Infrastructure and Management. The foundation for your cloud, based on virtualization and the

ability to unify private and public cloud resources with consistent security, compliance, management, andquality of service.

Cloud Application Platform. Enabling developers to rapidly build and run modern cloud applications whiledeploying on premises or off for maximum flexibility.

End-User Computing. Creating a modern, user-centric approach to personal computing, delivering secureaccess to applications and data from any device, anytime and anywhere.

5 Ways to Keep Your Information Secure in the Cloud

In 2011, hacking groups like Lulzsec and Anonymous provoked an Internet firestorm by hackingmajor Web sites like Fox.com and online services like Sony's PlayStation Network. Millions ofuser accounts were compromised. Usernames, passwords, home addresses and credit cardinformation -- lax Web site security often allows hackers easy access to boatloads of personalinformation. We can blame corporations for poor security and hackers for maliciously attackingWeb sites, but there's a third party often at fault in these attacks: ourselves, the users.

No, it's not our fault Web sites get hacked. But poor Web safety habits put us at risk when weshouldn't be. How often do you use the same username and password? Every time you create anew profile? If someone hacked your Facebook account, could they just as easily get into your e-mail inbox? Reusing passwords -- or using weak passwords -- makes you an easy target for

identity theft. Remembering multiple passwords can be a pain, but there are Web services that canhelp. We'll talk about one of the most popular options later in this article.

Internet cloud services -- services that store your data on a server rather than on your hard drive soyou can access it from any Internet-enabled device -- are more powerful than ever before. Backingup photographs and important documents has never been easier.Google Docs and Gmail can takethe place of Microsoft Word and Outlook Express. Banking sites take the place of expensivefinance applications. All we have to do is be safe while we use them. Here are some simple safetytips for keeping your data secure in the cloud. First up: making your passwords as tough to crackas Fort Knox.
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/hacker.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/google-docs.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/google-docs.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/hacker.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/google-docs.htm


12/16

Is your password something that could be easily guessed, like a pet's name or -- heaven forbid --the word "password"? If so, change it immediately.

Hemera/Thinkstock

5: Play Smart with Passwords

Passwords are designed to keep our information safe from prying eyes. They're like locks. Ahacker may force the door and break your lock, but most of the time a strong lock keeps peopleout. But let's be honest: Passwords are annoying. Remembering them is a pain, so we often take theeasy way out and use simple passwords that we won't forget. But if they're easy to remember,they're also easy to guess.

When the site RockYou.com was hacked in 2009, a security firm examined the 32 millioncompromised passwords and found that thousands upon thousands of users relied on the samebasic phrases. The password "123456" took first place with 290,731 hits; "12345," "123456789,"

"Password" and "iloveyou" rounded out the top five most-used passwords [source:Tom'sHardware]. If you use one of those passwords, change it. The more complicated yourpassword is, the safer your data will be. It's true, complex passwords won't be as easy to recall.Find a safe place to record your passwords if you can't remember them.

The best passwords combine letters, numbers and symbols into an unusual configuration. Don'ttake the easy route and capitalize the first letter of the word or use the numeral "1" in place of theletter "l" or a zero in place of the letter "O." Throw in a few random numbers or characters like aplus sign (+) or underscore (_) and you'll be far better off than anyone relying on "password123" or"qwerty" to keep them safe. Once you have a good password, what you do next is just asimportant: Don't spread it around.

4: Don't Reuse or Share Passwords

The annoyance of remembering passwords strikes again. It's bad enough that we tend to usesimple, easy-to-remember passwords for our Web logins -- we also tend to pick one or twopasswords and use them again and again for our e-mail, banking, Facebook and everything else.That's bad. In fact, that's really bad. If your password is compromised, someone could easily gainaccess to youre-mail account. And change that password. And then go to every site you'reregistered on and change those passwords -- the replacement passwords are always sent to your e-mail address.

Use different passwords for different sites. At the very least, change up letters, symbols andcapitalization if you plan to use the same word or phrase across multiple sites. Make absolutelysure you don't repeat a password across sites that have yourcredit card information or socialsecurity number. Your e-mail password is the most important. Keep it secure and don't use it forany other sites.
http://www.thinkstock.com/http://www.tomshardware.com/news/imperva-rockyou-most-common-passwords,9486.htmlhttp://communication.howstuffworks.com/email.htmhttp://communication.howstuffworks.com/email.htmhttp://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/debt-management/credit-card.htmhttp://www.thinkstock.com/http://www.tomshardware.com/news/imperva-rockyou-most-common-passwords,9486.htmlhttp://communication.howstuffworks.com/email.htmhttp://money.howstuffworks.com/personal-finance/debt-management/credit-card.htm


13/16


14/16

floppy disks only held a paltry amount of data. Eventually, ZIP disks and CD burners offeredenough space to facilitate backups, and DVDs and cheap hard drives made them easier still. Butnow we have something even better: the cloud.

Cloud storage solutions come in all shapes and sizes. Dropbox offers only a couple gigabytes of

free storage, but its interface is incredibly simple to use. It creates a folder on your hard drive that'slinked to the Web -- all you have to do to upload files is drag them into the folder.WindowsLiveSkydrive is designed to make it easy to view and edit Office documents in the cloud.Amazon's Cloud Drive offers 5 gigabytes of free storage and a Web interface for uploading yourfiles. Other services, like SugarSync and Mozy, focus more on automatically backing up yourimportant data and storing it, rather than making it easily accessible online.

Here's the smartest way to backup your data: Don't rely on one service. Store files you accessfrequently in Dropbox and back up more in a free service like Amazon Cloud Drive. Keep a localbackup on a secondary hard drive or on an automated backup drive likeApple'sTimeCapsule. Withyour data securely backed up and your passwords uncrackable, there's only one thing left to be

concerned about: your browsing habits.

1: Be Alert and Play It Safe

Internet hazards like virusesare, for the most part, easy to avoid. Shady Web sites usually lookshady; e-mail attachments fromspam addresses are never worth opening. Antivirus software isalways a smart precaution, but smart browsing is an even greater ally. What does this have to dowith protecting your data in the cloud? The same rules apply when it comes to buying online orcreating accounts on new Web sites: Make sure the site is trustworthy.

If you're buying from a retailer you've never heard of, do a little research on them first. They could

have notoriously lax security and have a history of losing customer credit card information tohacking breaches.

Finally, be aware of what computers you're logged into. Browsers will often ask to save your logininformation and keep a login session alive as long as the browser is open. If you log in to Facebookor your e-mail account on a friend's laptop and then leave, you'll likely still be logged in to thosesites. If they're trustworthy, that may not be a problem. But what if you're using a public computer?Stay logged in to one of those and anyone could gain access to your account. Yep, that would bebad. Unless you're using your own computer, remember to log out and never save your passwordand user information. Browse safe, and with a little luck, you'll never have to worry about anyonefinding a single one of your online passwords.
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/cloud-computing/cloud-storage.htmhttp://dropbox.com/http://explore.live.com/windows-live-skydrivehttp://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/learnmorehttp://www.sugarsync.com/http://mozy.com/http://www.apple.com/timecapsulehttp://www.apple.com/timecapsulehttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/virus.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/virus.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/spam.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/spam.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/cloud-computing/cloud-storage.htmhttp://dropbox.com/http://explore.live.com/windows-live-skydrivehttp://www.amazon.com/clouddrive/learnmorehttp://www.sugarsync.com/http://mozy.com/http://www.apple.com/timecapsulehttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/virus.htmhttp://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet/basics/spam.htm


15/16

Sources

Bogatin, Donna. "Google CEO's new paradigm: 'cloud computing andadvertising go hand-in-hand.'" ZDNet. Aug. 23, 2006. Retrieved March 11,

2008. http://blogs.zdnet.com/micro-markets/?p=369 Brodkin, Jon. "IBM unveils 'cloud computing.'" Network World. Nov. 19, 2007.

Vol. 24, Iss. 45. pg. 10. Carr, Nicholas. "'World Wide Computer' is on horizon." USA Today. February 25,

2008. Hickins, Michael. "Cloud Computing Gets Down to Earth." eWeek. January 21,

2008. pg. 14. "IBM Introduces Ready-to-Use Cloud Computing." IBM. Nov. 15, 2007.

http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/22613.wss Lohr, Steve. "Cloud Computing and EMC Deal." New York Times. Feb. 25, 2008.

pg. C 6. Lohr, Steve. "Google and I.B.M. Jon in 'Cloud Computing' Research." New York

Times. Oct. 8, 2007. pg. C 8. Lohr, Steve. "I.B.M. to Push 'Cloud Computing,' Using Data From Afar." New

York Times. Nov. 15, 2007. pg. C 7. McAllister, Neil. "Server virtualization." InfoWorld. Feb. 12, 2007. Retrieved

March 12, 2008.http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/02/12/07FEvirtualserv_1.html

Markoff, John. "An Internet Critic Who Is Not Shy About Ruffling the Big Namesin High Technology." New York Times. Apr. 9, 2001. pg. C 6.


16/16

cloud computing is a technology that uses the internet and central remote servers to maintain data...

Documents