We’ve been hearing a lot about “Cloud Computing” lately from the media and IT publications that it is where we are all inevitably headed in the area of computers and the Intertubes. Cloud computing is one of those buzzwords that software salespeople come up with to sell a new, numinous repackaging of product that the IT staff will have to work out heers-and-wherefores later. So, you ask and rightfully so, what the blue blazes is Cloud Computing while you sit there with your latte getting being consumed by some alien symbiote? Cloud computing is Internet-based development and resources that are accessed by the user whereas the user does not keep the applications and data on the local computer but rather on the Internet with the said user using the application while not “aware” that the stuff is not on the local computer. Confused now?
Now for a picture….
Now you have your user which could be you, some company, your congressman, the government, some chimp, etc that is accessing the Internet through a browser, IPhone, or some other communication application, the client, that connects to the “Cloud Architecture” (the Internet) which in turn connects to the “Application and Data thingy” on someone’s server. The whole idea is that the client does not nor needs to know what is going on in the server, just that there is an application there to do the job and the data is available. This is to enable the user to access the applications and data from anywhere so the user is not tied to one or more physical computers. This means that your computer will be nothing more than and Internet connection device — your data and applications are on the Internet.
This has some advantages, one being that you don’t have to worry about upgrading software, virus protection (except for the local machine), malware, or data incompatibility. Users don’t have to worry about data protection, keeping up with software installs disks, and type of operating systems. The idea would be that Macs, PC, Linux, and other OS’s could access the same applications and data without worry. Users don’t have to worry about losing data to local computer crashes since data is not on the machine (and ideally will be on several other servers for redundancy protection). This is a plus for software providers as they can upgrade, patch, and rework applications without the need to distribute the application software to users (which cost money) and the idea of “software as a service” can be implemented (assured revenue).
I bet you are all raring to jump on the bandwagon aren’t ya. Not so fast.
There are some disadvantages to this idea, major being connectivity. You have to be connected to the Internet for it to work… no local applications, no local data (though some proposed implementations actually save a copy of the data to the user’s device). Your Internet connection goes down, you cannot use the applications. Of course you could just go somewhere that has Internet and continue working (hmm, a boon for laptop sales). Then there is the server downtime. Yes, the data and apps will be on other servers as well, but how many servers will a company want to have redundant? One is down for maintenance and other server suddenly goes down due to a cut line…. office holiday! That assumes that everyone who will use cloud computing will have assess speeds fast enough to use the systems… we have a very poor distribution of high-speed access in this country and high speed will be necessary for the more intense apps. Then there is the problem that application providers have to buy and maintain the servers. Servers aren’t the cost gorillas they used to be, but they still aren’t free. And there is the biggy with a lot of users, the data is not local but is residing on someone’s server. Security and privacy issues crop up and scare a lot of users. How secure is my data? Can I get my data when I urgently need it? Will my data be sold to the highest bidder? Will my data be confiscated by the government? Will a competitor get my data? Will my data suddenly disappear? Users will have to put a lot of trust in the owners of the servers. User agreements will have to be scrutinized, access to servers assured, and it may be necessary to regulate the industry to enforce privacy and fair business practices.
I know what you are about to say, “what about malicious people intercepting data on the way from point A to point B?” The idea is that the data is encrypted while it is floating on the ether and on the servers to prevent any intercepting or theft. Unfortunately I see that as a money making opportunity for the providers… if you want security you’ll have to pay more.
All in all, cloud computing is an interesting idea that is already being put to test (Google Apps) and with a little maturity could be a benefit to everyone.
Confused yet?
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