Demystifying the Cloud

In this brief video, a light hearted look at cloud computing for the non-technical minded - what it is, and what it is not.

Cloud computing is the result of convergence of three major trends:

1. Virtualization - where applications are separated from infrastructure
2. Utility Computing - server capacity is access across the grid on a shared server basis
3. Software as a Service - applications made available on demand via the Internet

Cloud computing arrived through the convergence of:

• The internet
• Broadband got cheaper and faster
• Inhouse data centers were not needed - the rfast
• Software as a Service - SaaS access via the Internet

Cloud computing means that businesses don't need to run the machines or have the inhouse expertise. However, with SaaS models, the unique needs fo large corporates with complex requirements were not met. There was also concern over data outside the corporate firewall.

The Solution - What was needed was a combination of SaaS providing the software, with customisation. Virtualization solved this - applications could be run anywhere. Virtualized applications have the databases, middleware and software application that can run anywhere.

This meant that the application no longer needed to be run in the corporate data center OR the application provider data center. It could be run independent of the underlying platform in a cloud environment.

The Cloud is a computing service that charges a user based on the computing resources they use. There is no need to guess requirements ahead of need. It scales up and down automatically. this is what sets cloud computing apart from Software as a Service.

Do you need cloud computing? The answer is - you may not be able to afford not to.

• Traditional software licenses - are expensive, regardless of how much you use it.
• SaaS - only provides a one level of service for all, with minimal configuration changes by the user, but nothing at the customisation level - apart from add-on open source applications designed to run with the primary app, such as those provided by AppForce to run with Salesforce.com
• Cloud - you only pay for what you use that instance. You can customise the application the way you want.

The engine that powers cloud computing is virtualization. It is what runs the application deployment. So applications are developed to run as virtualized images. This allows companies to gain the benefit of economies of scale with cloud computing, yet maintain the customised requirements for the application.

Next: Benefits of Cloud Applications for Business

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