Understand Cloud Computing

What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing is a term used to describe the Internet as a system of delivering information, software and other services. For example, the original method of purchasing software was to buy it on CD or DVD and then install the new solution on a PC or for a larger company on their servers which would take up considerable disk space. In recent years it has become possible to purchase and download software via the Internet.

Cloud computing allows individuals and companies to use software applications that are located on a specialist company's servers which can be accessed via the web. So instead of the software being physically located on a company's PC or an individual's PC, access is gained via the web. As long as users have a web browser (such as Internet Explorer or Mozilla for example) they can gain access and use of the application.

An example of this model is software on demand or as it is often called software as a service (SaaS) i.e. being able to rent or pay for software by the amount of time it is used for.

Cloud Computing is termed as such purely and simply because the ‘cloud’ symbol was originally used to illustrate the Internet in diagrams and presentations. (See diagram above.)

There are a growing number of traditional software and hardware vendors that are transitioning into Cloud services including Symantec, Websense, Mamut, Citrix, Wyse and many more. New vendors such as Resolutions MSP offer cloud based antivirus and online backup services and often position themselves as Software-as-a-Service [SaaS] vendors.

The Future of Cloud Computing

Cloud services delivery as a new model or delivery method is without doubt the future of computing but of course this will very much depend on how responsive businesses will be to take up this new model. There are a great many benefits with using the 'cloud' but the main one is lowering costs For example, it is possible to pay for software and other services as you use it, so for example, to pay per minute rather than having to pay hundreds of £'s upfront or for companies, tens of thousands of £’s. To draw an analogy, you wouldn't necessarily buy a DVD of a film when you can rent it for an evening at a fraction of the price.

As more large vendors enter the market, both the profile and credibility of Cloud Computing will be increased as sometimes people might not be comfortable with new business models and delivery mechanisms especially with regard to business critical applications. What was once seen as leading edge and risky soon makes way for being seen as the norm. Furthermore, other service providers will enter this market including hosting companies, infrastructure providers and systems' integrators, e.g. companies that provide hosting & network support services, as they seek new and more effective ways of generating business.

Figures from Gartner, the market research and Analyst Company suggest that revenues for services will reach $150.1 billion by 2013.

Furthermore, Gartner predict that cloud infrastructure computing will grow by some 28% year on year.

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