Cloud computing – pros and cons
Cloud computing – where we store or data, and/or run our apps out there somewhere – has some compelling advantages. I’m nervous about depending on it though. Maybe I just like control, but trusting your data and its reliability, security and confidentiality to others in the cloud gives me pause. And if for some reason one can’t get to their data – either temporarily or permanently … Then again, perhaps those are issues to be sorted out, not a full stop.
Take a look at this post from Gigaom entitled 10 Reasons Enterprises Aren’t Ready to Trust the Cloud.
But contrast that with Ernie the Attorney’s recent posts (and here and here) on his goal to operate in “ATM mode”. He wants to keep as much as possible in the cloud – largely based on his Katrina disruptions.
And by the way, the proposed Canadian copyright bill C-61 gets in the way of the cloud computing mode for storing your media.
Hi – Great post! I apologize in advance if my comment is to dry.
As an internet software engineer, I think it’s important to differentiate between web-based applications (software-as-a-service or SaaS) and cloud computing. Cloud and SaaS are not synonymous. A cloud is a means of delivering SaaS, but it is not the only means. Managed servers can also be used.
Many of the concerns in the 10 Reasons article have to do with the specific architecture of clouds, which involves virtualized servers running over a distributed network of machines. These concerns don’t necessarily apply to a managed server architecture.
The following blog post makes a distinction between SaaS 1.0 companies using managed servers vs SaaS 2.0 companies using cloud clusters.
http://saascamp.com/blogs/hagins/default.aspx
So, in Ernie’s case, it could be very possible for him to be in “ATM mode” and leverage internet applications, but not have to deal with Cloud Computing issues and concerns from the 10 Reasons article.
Comment by Larry Port — July 2, 2008 @ 9:54 am
Your point is well taken. In my view, anyone providing any remote service of any kind will do better if they can offer some sort of local download or other comfort that if something goes wrong, at least the data is there.
Comment by David Canton — July 2, 2008 @ 10:48 am
I think you are right – a number of people will sleep more soundly at night if they can have local backups. You may very well see SaaS companies moving in this direction as it also begins to address another problem: integration with existing systems.
Comment by Larry Port — July 2, 2008 @ 12:00 pm
How many of you take the bus to work? This may sound strange, but I think cloud computing is just another bus route. Having your own IT department is like driving your own car. Your IT staff and your own servers are just like the car payment, insurance, and gas — the necessary expenses to get where you need to go. If you take the bus, you may save money, but someone else controls the schedule and the route. Right now, those “cloud” data centers are geared up and poised to provide great service — to the few that jump on the bus right away. As more people decide to take the bus, there will be more stops, delays, and changes in the routes and schedules. Before you decide to sell the car, think about the service aspect of taking the bus. At some point, you’re going to have issues arise that you’re going to wish you had your car, to get into the office quickly and get something done, and then get back home. At some point, not too far in the distant future, as those “cloud” servers fill up with riders(customers), the service will get slower, less responsive, and you will be in a long term service contract that you have to honor and continue to pay on. I’m not saying it will be bad, but don’t let the happy “cloud” monicker fool you. The more invested you get in it, the more you have to trust the service provider to help you get done what you want, and as time goes by, that’s very likely to be in a less responsive fashion as time goes on. Good luck with that!
Comment by Randy Morris — May 22, 2009 @ 2:26 pm