Much discussion in the cloud computing world has focused on a simple
question: Is a private cloud infrastructure worthy of the name? It's been
posed in many ways, with some going so far as claiming that there is no such
thing as a private cloud. Although discussions like these are all too common
in many areas, the question really amounts to little more than counting
angels dancing on pin heads. The key issue is whether private cloud-style
infrastructure can deliver real benefits like public clouds can.
First, let's set out some definitions:
The draft NIST definition, perhaps the best we have at this point, states
that "Cloud computing is a pay-per-use model for enabling available,
convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable
computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications,
services) that can be rapidly provisioned and rel... (more)
As we plummet down into Gartner's "trough of disillusionment", the cloud
skeptics are making their voices heard. Although my professional focus is at
the forefront of the cloud storage wave, I can not disagree with the content
of articles with sensational headlines like "Cloud Storage: It's Strictly For
Airheads" and "Why Cloud Storage Use Could Be Limited in Enterprises". The
authors are doing exactly what everyone should be doing: Questioning the
viability and suitability of cloud storage in the enterprise.
The truth is, although I'm not the "cloud police", not all managed stora... (more)
Protecting personal data, like backup and disaster recovery, can be hard to
get people excited about. Although we see the problem plainly and solutions
are widely available, it can be hard to convince business management that
technologies like encryption are worth the investment. But new regulations
promise to change all that: Massachusetts and Nevada have enacted data
protection laws that require encryption of personal information in transit.
It's about time, too. Data losses have been all over the news for a decade,
and everyone in IT knows that much of the data crossing network... (more)
Take a look at the various data storage offerings called "cloud" and your
head will start to ache. How can so many things all bear the "cloud storage"
name and yet be so totally different? The answer is obvious to long-time
industry observers: Each provider has tailored their offering to make it
distinct in the market, and each supports different use cases
Infrastructure versus Platform
Although I am not one to tilt at windmills, especially when it comes to
arguing the "rightness" of cloud-based marketing, I sometimes do hit upon a
set of terminology that makes sense to me. Wading... (more)
Early Bird Savings at Cloud Expo
This week, Amazon took a step with EC2 that many had long anticipated: They
announced spot pricing for cloud compute instances. EC2 customers can now
name their own price, and Amazon will bring compute instances up at variable
discount prices according to these "bids". This complements their March 2009
move at the other end of the spectrum, extra-cost reserved instances. This
evolution of the cloud compute market was predicted by many, but Amazon
deserves credit for making it happen.
The obvious next question is whether spot pricing can work for c... (more)