Cloud Computing Definition

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud Computing is a term you will have heard of. You will also have heard that it brings flexibility to IT, but also introduces some security and integration issues.

So, what is Cloud Computing? What are its benefits and costs, and what concepts and models are current best practices?

Definition

What is the definition of Cloud Computing? Cloud Computing literally means having optional extra computing power available on short notice via a computer network, often via the internet.

Generally, Cloud Computing refers to various computing concepts that involve many computers connected through a real-time communication network such as the Internet.

Cloud Computing is a synonym for distributed computing over a network and means the ability to run a program or application on many connected computers simultaneously.

Cloud Computing could be defined as a concept for organizations to provide scalable / pay-per-use IT Services. It is then no longer an IT concept but a business concept.

Usage

In Dragon1, the concept of Cloud Computing is, as an IT Infrastructure concept, part of the generic conceptual reference metamodel for Technical architecture / IT architecture.

Scalability. If an organization wants to have scalability, increase continuity, decrease costs, have controllability of extensions of IT services, and compose new IT services, more and more often, Cloud Computing is a generic concept used for that.

Private IT Services. There are several specialized Cloud Computing concepts, such as the public and private cloud, but also several concepts to publish IT services via Cloud Computing, such as SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS.

Which type of cloud and which type of IT services best fit your issue or your solution is subject to be studied by IT architects.

Virtual Desktop. A simple example of a Cloud Computing client concept is having only Virtual Desktops for your employees. You are offered a real-time generated desktop environment when you log in as an employee. Your desktop environment, comprising applications, databases, and information services/subscriptions, is no longer physically installed on your client's computer hardware.

Common Misunderstandings and Issues of Cloud Computing

1. World Wide Standard. The biggest misunderstanding in cloud computing is that there are worldwide international standards for what cloud computing is and what it is not. Or that there are best practices everyone agrees upon. In various countries, communities are attempting to establish national or economic standards for Cloud Computing. However, because many of these bodies are in a hurry, are vendor-driven, or rely solely on vendor-independent best practices, these self-proclaimed standards could lead to vendor lock-in. This makes Cloud Computing an IT push rather than a business-driven one.

2. Security. The 2nd-biggest misunderstanding in Cloud Computing is that security concerns make it too risky for some businesses. This results in not pursuing the path of Cloud Computing at this time. However, as an organization owner, you will still have to manage those security issues. Such as knowing where your data may or may not be physically stored due to policies and laws.

3. Cheaper. The third biggest misunderstanding is that Cloud Computing is cheaper. But, in the end, that is a myth. Free Open Source Software is not any cheaper in the end than proprietary software from vendors. It may even be the other way around. When discussing costs, it is essential to be honest with yourself and consider hidden and previously overlooked expenses.

4. Quality. Another cost of cloud computing is that you lose some control over IT services, and some believe you also lose some quality. However, a significant benefit is the higher quality of IT services, as the IT services provider focuses on innovation and continuity as a specialist.

5. Ease of Integration and Management. Introducing cloud computing also introduces complexity. If not all software applications are put in the cloud, or even if there are multiple clouds due to various initiatives (a cloud jungle), the complexity of your IT environment will increase. It does not have to be bad or wrong to have complexity. It does need to be managed, and some integration standards (to connect on-premise/legacy apps with cloud apps) are badly needed. There is a major challenge to cloud computing becoming a successful practice.

6. It is an IT Concept. Cloud computing is NOT an IT concept. It is a business concept. Cloud computing is often about providing IT Services from one organization to another. The technical delivery of the IT services is just a part of Cloud Computing.

Symbol

For Cloud Computing, we use the symbol of an Internet cloud with a server in it and the cloud linked to a network.

Cloud Computing Providers (CSPs)

Cloud service providers are companies that offer cloud-based services over the Internet.

Adobe cloud computing
Google cloud computing
Oracle cloud computing

Cloud Computing Examples

Examples of Cloud Computing are:

Online email box (Gmail, Outlook, ...
Virtual Data Centers
Cloud Computing Architecture

Cloud Computing Elements and Building Blocks

Public Cloud
Private Cloud
Cloud Provider
IT Services
Cloud Sourcing
Elastic Scaling
Usage-Based Accounting
Apps - Web-based Applications
SaaS - Software as a Service
IaaS - Infrastructure as a Service
PaaS - Platform as a Service

Standards and Strategy in development

http://cloudcomputing.ieee.org/standards
http://cloud-standards.org/wiki/index?title=Main_Page
http://ec.europa.eu/digital-agenda/en/european-cloud-computing-strategy
http://www.defense.gov/news/dodcloudcomputingstrategy.pdf
http://www.cloudconference.eu/media/filer_public/2013/11/05/ken_ducatel.pdf
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2012:0529:FIN:EN:PDF
http://www.surf.nl/binaries/content/assets/surf/nl/kennisbank/2013/SURF_Regie_in_de_cloud_i-strategie.pdf (in Dutch)

Related Terms

If you have comments or remarks about this Cloud Computing definition or other terms, please email specs@dragon1.com.