Cloud computing
Are storm warnings a foot?
Cloud computing is a buzzword that’s commonly used in business today – to describe the direction in which information infrastructure is moving. Put simply, the concept is that IT resources can now reside in ‘the clouds’ – where data and services are provided online and can be easily accessed from a PC or other office device.
It seems like a natural progression in technology innovation, and it’s a sufficiently compelling business proposition that giants like Google, Microsoft and Amazon have already developed strong offerings. Google Apps, Microsoft’s Live Mesh and Amazon S3 are signing up customers at a rate of knots – and users are responding well.
For many businesses, the efficiencies of a centralised computing infrastructure that can be easily accessed via the Internet are compelling. And it’s not just big businesses that can benefit. For small but growing companies, cloud computing means that new storage capacity can be added incrementally – instead of having to buy a whole new server at a time – making growth affordable and ‘bite sized’.
Indeed, for companies which encourage flexible working, the notion of cloud computing means that document sharing and collaboration becomes a breeze.
The flip side, though, is that while the rate of cloud services brought to market is growing quickly – there are still major issues that need to be overcome before businesses will consider moving mission-critical applications out of house. And number one on that list is security.
While cloud computing undoubtedly has benefits, it doesn’t spell an end to in-house, or hosted, physical data centres. The feeling from some pundits is that putting mission-critical data in the clouds just isn’t secure enough yet. That no matter how you encrypt the information, or secure it, there will still remain security concerns.
Other potential stumbling blocks to look out for include application licensing, interoperability and compliance. Furthermore, to make cloud computing a reality web servers with significantly increased processing power and storage capacity are required – to retain, deliver and protect user data.
In short, cloud computing is a concept that businesses can capitalise on. But it’s a long way from becoming the ubiquitous. The key to success is that IT departments, or CIOs, need to keep control over what stays in the physical world – and what doesn’t – and determine a strategy accordingly. Indeed, what’s best for the customer in the end is having plenty of choices. Cloud computing can be a great concept, but companies need to embrace it for the right reasons, ensure that the technology is advanced enough to work effectively – and lastly ensure that they haven’t forgotten the power of physical equipment.
