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Cloud Computing 101
So, you’ve heard or read about cloud computing, but exactly what does this term mean? Here, we’ll explain the concept, and compare it to a process you may already be familiar with. We’ll also discuss some pros and cons to cloud computing.
“Cloud computing” refers to the way data, software, and applications are managed, organized, and accessed. It is a mechanism for the delivery of services. Cloud computing service providers provide space for customers, including individuals, businesses, and governments, to store information, software, and applications off-site. No standard definition exists, but The National Institute of Standards and Technology lists the characteristics of cloud computing as “on-demand self-service, broad network access (internet standards based), location independent resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and measured service.” As an illustration of the concept of cloud computing, think of how your home computer houses your software and data including important documents and family photos. When thinking about backing up your data, you might consider a virtual backup service such as Mozy or Carbonite. These services maintain your data on their servers, which you can access over the Internet, from any computer. The virtual backup service might represent the experience you have when accessing data on a cloud: your data is stored on another server, and you are able access and retrieve your data at any time through an Internet site. You may have already worked off a cloud before without realizing it. Google Docs, Facebook, and Skype, are examples of applications that are hosted using cloud technology. As the technology advances, it’s possible that cloud computing may even eliminate your need for a hard drive in the future.
Cloud computing may prove most valuable for companies and governments. Currently, companies purchase huge amounts of hard drive space and servers to store volumes of data. In addition, companies must have enough computing power to host public websites and private intranets. Because of the size of space needed to accommodate additional users or an increase in users at a particular time, companies must invest in additional space than that which is actually used at any one point in time. Organizations, including government agencies like GSA, NASA and Navy, are working to evaluate the cloud’s usefulness for decreasing costs by reducing the need for hardware, software, IT personnel, physical space, and maintenance. In cloud computing, a company can also take advantage of the processing power of the cloud for increases in website traffic or large calculations. In this way, additional resources can be purchased as needed, rather than in the traditional model where maximum space is purchased, but not necessarily consumed. As with any technology, there are possible drawbacks, and with cloud computing: it comes down to privacy and security. Once data storage and management is transferred to an outside party, the owner loses a certain amount of control over that data. In addition, the owner can no longer take full responsibility for the security of the data and may experience increased opportunities for a security breach. To state it simply, since the owner can access it’s data from any location, it’s possible that others can, too.
Now that you’ve got a solid understanding of what’s at stake, what do you think? How would you feel about cloud computing solutions if you were the company or government agency? Share your thoughts or questions in the comments section below.
