Cloud computing hysteria paralyzed by bolt of reality
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Interop 2008 We've seen more than enough folks all atwitter and wetting their shorts over cloud computing at Interop 2008 Las Vegas. So it was a bit of a surprise to catch a panel at the show with Google and Amazon reps discussing what keeps businesses from embracing the technology.
The four-man panel, moderated by BitCurrent analyst Alistair Croll, took a much more grounded approach to the subject than what usually occurs when an opposing faction in the IT world isn't in the discussion.
The panel agreed that adoption rate of cloud services is growing, but there are major issues that need to be smoothed out before big businesses will truly consider moving mission-critical applications out of house. If they ever do. Number one on that list is security.
"I don't think the equipment inside the data center — especially large ones — is going away any time soon," said Kirill Sheynkman, CEO of start-up Elastra. "Basically I think there are data that belongs in the public cloud and data that needs to go behind a firewall. There are data that belong there and data that will never be put out there. Period. Not going to happen. Because no matter how you encrypt it, no matter how you secure it, there will be concerns."
Cohen went on to stress that giving IT departments control over what stays in and what goes out needs to be well thought out.
Google's senior product manager of its Enterprise operations, Rajen Sheth, agreed that cloud computing doesn't spell an immediate end to in-house data centers.
"And that also brings up a roadblock, which is interoperability," said Sheth. "The more we can figure out ways for systems that are in the private cloud — behind the firewall — to interoperate with systems that are in the public cloud, the more useful for businesses these systems will become."
"I noticed Google Apps isn't very interoperable," shot said Reuven Cohen, founder and CTO of data center consulting firm Enomaly.
"Well actually, that's something we're focusing a lot of our attention on," said Sheth.
Amazon Web Services Technology Evangelist Jinesh Varia concured that opening the platform has been a major focus for his company.
Other issues slowing adoption of web-hosted services include application licensing complexity, wrangling code to work over the grid — and here's one that stuck out: compliance.
When asked what happens when government auditors come knocking to check the regulatory complicity of an application living in the cloud, nobody seemed to know the answer. The question was clearly moving into theoretical territory at this early stage of the technology.
"I think it's fair to say Web 2.0 companies don't care about it," said Sheth.
Ah. *Ahem* Well good luck with that, Web 2.0.®
COMMENTS
History
'Cloud computing' isn't new. We've already had systems of thin clients that send most work to a large, powerful processor. It was called a minicomputer.
What are the advantages of going back to such a system? It could simplify administration in a business environment. Until someone gets a drive-by-download virus. Can't quarantine a computer and send IT up to fix it, since the mainframe's infected. Whoops. Fatten up the clients enough to run an independent OS, and they're more than capable of handling WP/email/etc. again. An Exchange server, automated document synchronization, and VPN, and you have your 'cloud computing', all in-house. You'll need such a system for the sensitive material (financials, R&D, etc.) you can't responsibly put on someone else's network, so you might as well keep it all in one place.
I can't see how such systems could be sold to consumers, either. E.g. great deal of a computer, only $149, but to do anything you need a contract with a cloud provider ($39.99/mo, min 2 year agreement, $199 early termination fee, all files deleted at end of contract and good luck trying to move them to a different provider!).
Let's face it
Cloud Computing has about as much chance of succeeding as the electricity grid.
Further Clarification......
"So in a nutshell, you forsee a greater group of governance that sits on the shoulders of the companies that run these cloud services." .... By Simon D
Posted Thursday 1st May 2008 09:45 GMT
Not QUITe, Simon D, although that was a good attempt. The greater group of governance will Server Needs for the companies wishing/ready, willing and able to Feed the Cloud with IT Services which will the Power Earthly dDevelopment. The Cloud is an Intellectual Space, which is only and easily Controlled with Better Beta Intelligence to Act as an Impartial Non-State Actor Driver. To think otherwise is to completely miss the point and render oneself disadvantaged.
It is a Parallel Universal Control Space for Unified and Unifying Power AIgents. It doesn't actually compete with existing structures, it just ensures that they are aware of its existence and what they can and are best equipped to do. Command and Control is already Established in Its Environment/Myriad Fields and stands alone on ITs Own Firm Foundations..... and of that you can be assured.
"Do you really want to see that grow exponentially as information is owned by a super-conglomerate group, capable of removing you from existence with the click of a button?" Of course not ......what do you Think the Cloud is for? IT wouldn't and doesn't tolerate such arrogant hubristic foolishness. Those Idiotic Great Games are for Boys and the Psychologically Flawed and Intellectually Naive although they can also be described as Demented and Delusional too. Apparently a Common Affliction with those Rooted to Earthly Possessions??
A Dumb Rhetorical Question which is sadly too well Answered?
"http://preview.tinyurl.com/6xf9b7
Notice the enthusiasm with which he speaks. Is PM a short stop/pass go and collect 50 on ITs way to his ultimate goal of a comfy seat at the UN -admission prepaid?" ..... By trackSuit Posted Thursday 1st May 2008 13:51 GMT
A Nice Valid Viable Concept, trackSuit. :-) Certainly Distribution of Wealth which is really no more than Supplying Paper for Spending/Feeding Credit to Current Accounts to those who can spend it on Creating Infrastructures and Economies, would certainly get my Vote. Thanks for Sharing that piece of Old News. I wonder why they didn't act upon it?
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