Dispelling the Fog About Cloud Computing

November 2, 2012

Dan KusnetzkyFounder

Required Cloud PictureEvery presentation on cloud computing simply must include a lovely photo of a cloud.

Here's my photo of Siesta Key Beach in Sarasota, Fla.

Now that is done, let's discuss the realities and myths of cloud computing.

What Is Cloud Computing?Cloud computing is an outgrowth of several longstanding trends•A slightly new way to address organizations' desire:

• To focus on their key points of added value• To pass other functions on to others who can do them

more efficiently and at lower cost•Based upon the intersection of:

• Outsourcing• Increased use of industry standard systems• Increasingly virtualized environments

Attributes of Cloud Computing• Cloud computing is the use of computing

resources (hardware and software) that are delivered as a service over a network (typically the Internet).

• Usually these resources are:• Self-provisioned• Paid for using a “utility model,” paid by the use• Easily scaled up or down as needed• Typically a multi-tenant environment

Why Cloud Computing?

• Hardware, software & staff cost reduction• No more datacenter space• No budget for new equipment or staff• Agility• Risk reduction

Diagram of Cloud Computing Environment

Created by Sam Johnston using OmniGroup's OmniGraffle and Inkscape (includes Computer.svg by Sasa Stefanovic)

This image is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.

Cloud Computing: The Next Step in the Trend Towards Outsourcing IT

Category Replacement StrategyDevelopment Purchasing packaged applications and

tools

Having own development staff Outsourcing functions where possible

Managing own systems Outsourcing management and operations

Having own datacenter Managed services, collocation

Having own systems Hosting

Cloud computing makes it possible to purchase IT functions as needed, provision them on the fly, and pay for them as

they are consumed.

Categories of Cloud ComputingCategory Description

Software as a Service (SaaS) Using a supplier's application over the Internet and paying by the use

Platform as a Service (PaaS) Using a supplier's development platform and running completed applications in supplier's datacenter and paying by the use

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

Using a supplier's systems (physical or virtual) to execute the organization's own applications and paying by the use

Emerging categories Storage as a Service, Security as a Service, Desktop as a Service, Management as a Service, Dev/Test as a Service

Public, Private, Hybrid Clouds:Where Is the Action?

Public Private

Hybrid

What's Holding Back Cloud Adoption?

Concerns about:• Cross-border data flow• Data security• Regulatory compliance• Lack of experience• Lack of standards for migration and

interoperabilityUnreasonable expectations

Emerging Standards

• Cloud Security Alliance• Cloud Standards Customer Council• Distributed Management Task Force

(DMTF)• National Institute of Standards (NIST)• Open Data Center Alliance

Emerging Frameworks

• Open Standards• CloudStack• OpenStack

• Vendor frameworks• Amazon• Eucalyptus• Microsoft Azul?• VMware vCloud

Some Suggestions

• Is this trip really necessary?• Know where you’re going, or you might

end up somewhere else.• Know what your organization really wants

to accomplish, or you might not achieve your goals.

• Plan for security, reliability, or manageability!