Cloud computing for the enterprise: Part 1:Capturing the cloud
Understanding cloud computing and related technologies
Level: IntroductoryDustin Amrhein, Staff Software Engineer, IBMScott Quint, Cloud Computing Technology Evangelist, IBM08 Apr 2009Looking back to our recent technological past, it’s clear that the cloud computing movement has beencoming in the time since distributed computing and its related technologies (like grid computing andSOA) gained widespread adoption. Cloud computing is now here, but many still have questions aboutthis new technology. Part 1 of this article series discusses cloud computing in general, then dissects the layers of the cloud, presents the different cloud types, along with their benefits and drawbacks, and explains why thismovement is important for enterprise developers.From IBM WebSphere Developer Technical Journal.
Introduction
What is cloud computing?
The question seems pretty innocuous and simple, but looks are deceiving. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of cloudcomputing definitions floating around the Web today. To answer this question adequately, it might be easier to first understandwhat cloud computing is not before we try to arrive at a definition.Some will suggest that cloud computing is simply another name for the Software as a Service (SaaS) model that has been onthe forefront of the Web 2.0 movement. Others say that cloud computing is marketing hype that puts a new face on oldtechnology, such as utility computing, virtualization, or grid computing. This thinking discounts the fact that cloud computinghas a wider scope than any of these particular technologies. To be sure, cloud solutions often includes these technologies (andothers), but it's the comprehensive strategy that sets cloud computing apart from its predecessors.For the purpose of this article, consider that cloud computing
is an all-inclusive solution in which all computing resources(hardware, software, networking, storage, and so on) are provided rapidly to users as demand dictates
. The resources, or services, that are delivered are governable to ensure things like high availability, security, and quality. The key factor to thesesolutions is that they possess the ability to be scaled up and down, so that users get the resources they need: no more and noless.In short, cloud computing solutions enable IT to be delivered as a service.
Why cloud computing?
There are many reasons why more and more companies are shifting toward IT solutions that include cloud computing. First of all, cloud computing can cut costs associated with delivering IT services. You can reduce both capital and operating costs byobtaining resources only when you need them and paying only for what you use. In addition, by offloading some of the burdenassociated with managing various resources across the enterprise, your key personnel can focus more on producing value andinnovation for the business. Finally, cloud computing models provide for business agility. Since the entire IT infrastructure canscale up or down to meet demand, businesses can more easily meet the needs of rapidly changing markets to ensure they arealways on the leading edge for their consumers.In many ways, cloud computing is the realization of combining many existing technologies (SOA, virtualization, autonomiccomputing) with new ideas to create a complete IT solution.
Cloud computing for the enterprise: Part 1: Capturing the cloudhttp://www.ibm.com/developerworks/websphere/techjournal/0...1 of 77/21/09 2:01 PM
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