"Computing in the Clouds" , Cloud Computing

[Madrus Rose]

What cloud computing really means | Cloud Computing - InfoWorld

Jul 19, 2010 ... The next big trend sounds nebulous, but it's not so fuzzy when you view the value proposition from the perspective of IT professionals.

http://www.infoworld.com/d/cloud-computing/what-cloud-computing-really-means-031

CLOUD COMPUTING

Cloud computing is all the rage. "It's become the phrase du jour," says Gartner senior analyst Ben Pring, echoing many of his peers. The problem is that (as with Web 2.0) everyone seems to have a different definition.

As a metaphor for the Internet, "the cloud" is a familiar cliché, but when combined with "computing," the meaning gets bigger and fuzzier. Some analysts and vendors define cloud computing narrowly as an updated version of utility computing: basically virtual servers available over the Internet. Others go very broad, arguing anything you consume outside the firewall is "in the cloud," including conventional outsourcing.

[ Get the no-nonsense explanations and advice you need to take real advantage of cloud computing in InfoWorld editors' 21-page Cloud Computing Deep Dive PDF special report, then go deeper in our Server Virtualization Deep Dive. | Stay up on the cloud with InfoWorld's Cloud Computing Report newsletter. ]

Cloud computing comes into focus only when you think about what IT always needs: a way to increase capacity or add capabilities on the fly without investing in new infrastructure, training new personnel, or licensing new software. Cloud computing encompasses any subscription-based or pay-per-use service that, in real time over the Internet, extends IT's existing capabilities.

Cloud computing is at an early stage, with a motley crew of providers large and small delivering a slew of cloud-based services, from full-blown applications to storage services to spam filtering. Yes, utility-style infrastructure providers are part of the mix, but so are SaaS (software as a service) providers such as Salesforce.com. Today, for the most part, IT must plug into cloud-based services individually, but cloud computing aggregators and integrators are already emerging.
InfoWorld talked to dozens of vendors, analysts, and IT customers to tease out the various components of cloud computing. Based on those discussions, here's a rough breakdown of what cloud computing is all about:

cont'd

*anyone with expertise want to discuss this newest thought/idea on remote apps & secure computing ?

 

[marziano]

Can be something nice, but makes your IT excessively dependent on the Internet.

So you are dependent from your ISP
If they change something, you can be fucked up for a few (hours/days).

They can be forced to spy on you

The mayor cloud comp. servers are hosted in US... we are in trouble times and the Patriot Act is just around the corner. No matter if you are from another country, your data reside in US.

The meaning of Personal Data in a Personal Computer will crush.
All of your data resides outside your company/home

and so on

But if you want to talk about the tech side, here i am

 

[ilegalalien]

The just released Google chrome book is a cloud only device that has me interested from
a security point of view, on one hand Google will be tracking you like a dog , but on the
other if your nettbook should fall into enemy hands all they have is a connection device.
No storage , no history, nothing. I'm sure PoPo won't like that, and that appeals to me.
I too would like to hear what the more tech savy think of the security aspect.

 

[vajraganja]

I'm a huge nerd that's worked in IT for 12 years. Cloud is sexy in that it's dirt cheap and works anywhere. As long as it works. The actual biggest problem is that most cloud services are trying to do everything for you so if they have a problem, no matter how small, you may not be able to access ANYTHING. Imagine going to give a presentation at work where you're stuff is saved onto the companies cloud server, a tornado hits a major data center in the midwest and takes it down. You have no backup or anything (cause how many of you do backups now ) and you can't scream at anyone to fix it. Second biggest problem is privacy/security. If it's on the cloud that means technically someone else is holding your data and there's tons of examples out there why you can't trust them. It'll be nice for cell phones, tablets and such because it cuts down on overhead for them but you'll never want to switch to 100% cloud like some people/companies are pushing for, it's just too risky. As to the part about them being in US and the Patriot Act, 100% right, but it's expanding and that's no better, do you really want to trust the chinese not to steal your data from their cloud server? Of course you do, cause they took it already.

 

[SilverSurfer_OG]

Sounds like big brother to me.

But its all warm and fuzzy and soft and yeah...

This is already being used on my "online albums" when i send photos via hotmail.

 

[wilbur]

for me, when it's all boiled down, the postal service is the most secure way of exchanging important messages.

 

[StinkyGreen]

One thing to keep in mind when it comes to cloud computing: if you're not paying for it, you're not the customer ... you're the product being sold.

 

[guest 77721]

I work with legacy equipment and software and it's true that the SW providers have intentionally built in planned obsolescence with their products. Every new computer won't run the old programs, new sw platforms are incompatible with with the older data formats ect... We all know the MS business model and the monopoly they created.

When you turn over "ownership" of your data to the cloud, you don't own anything anymore, you just have to pay for the rights to access your data. Let's call this RENT for lack of a better word.

If you buy a song on I-Tunes and have it stored on the cloud, you don't own it in a physical sense but will pay RENT (user access fee) to use it.

Now you are dependant on this service. If you change services or drop the account, there goes your data. You will have to pay a fee to transfer your data to another provider or lose your data and start all over.

What happens when the service provider and the hardware/operating system vendors
are in collusion? Even worse when the hardware, operating system and cloud are integrated like Apple, Google and MS. When they decide to upgrade to a new platform, you will be forced to upgrade or lose service. Why would I want to upgrade my laptop, cellphone, tablet, gamebox etc.. when Apple rolls out IOS 50 or the new I-gadget 100?