Cloud Computing looks here to stay; Cloud technology looks to be the new kid on the block but is based upon a pedigree of technology that we all know and understand due to sustained implementations of separate point products (Comms, Storage, Servers and Virtualisation).
All the big players are focused on out competing each other in this arena (Amazon, Google, Citrix, Microsoft and VMware to name but a few) and with good reason to. According to industry research experts IDC the spending worldwide on cloud technology will grow three fold to reach £28 billion by 2012, with most CIOs predicted to consider cloud services for any new technical rollout even if it ultimately becomes unviable.
Cloud computing is a permutation of grid computing which never really got moving, but since the adoption of virtualisation the cloud has really become a key technology for reduced TCO, business continuity and mobile work force enablement. Cloud computing is a style of computing in which dynamically scalable and often virtualised resources are provided as a service over the internet. Users do not need to have knowledge, expertise in, or control over the technology in the cloud that delivers services to them.
The concept of cloud generally incorporates the following:
Infrastructure as a Service Platform as a Service Software as a Service.
The term cloud is used as a metaphor for the Internet, based upon how the Internet is depicted in network diagrams and is an abstraction for the complex infrastructure it conceals.
This all sounds very grand, but what does it mean to your business where strong business value has to be demonstrated and achieved in very short timescales.
What does Cloud Computing mean to your Business?
VMware vSphere & Cloud Computing
Utilising cloud computing and/or on premise data allows you as a business to access advanced business and infrastructure services at a fraction of the cost and management of traditional on site systems. Cloud computing is like paying for traditional utilities, there is a flat fee with no surprises, no cost spikes and all the management is undertaken on your behalf.
This approach massively reduces both the operational and financial risks involved when implementing new technologies, especially when you consider the SLA framework that is wrapped around the services.
Cloud computing, Dataplex believe will allow your business to benefit from:
Cost Reduction The ability to quickly access new technologies Improved service levels Reduced capital expenditure Simplified management of your IT infrastructure.
Gartner expects enterprise software-as-a-service revenue (SaaS) to more than double by 2012.
“The popularity of the on-demand deployment model has increased significantly within the last four years. Initial concerns over security, response time, and service availability have diminished for many organisations as SaaS business and computing models have matured and adoption has become pervasive,” said Sharon Mertz, research director at Gartner.
Dataplex believe that the current market forces and technologies will continue to pave the way to Cloud technology, due to metrics such as:
Dominance and availability of the Internet The drive towards digital Britain The abundance and price of bandwidth The adoption of virtualisation technologies Unified Communications Business Continuity Measures.
The adoption of cloud based services is already evident in both the consumer and enterprise spaces without really thinking about it. Areas that are already being utilised are online storage (Microsoft SkyDrive, EMC Mozy), email services (Hotmail, Gmail) remote computer access (GoToMyPC, LogMeIn), email and web filtering (Google Security, WebSense), CRM (Salesforce).
But how will that work for your business?
So you have got this far and are possibly thinking how can I adopt this technology to fit my business requirements? Well you need to partner with a consultancy that will give you:
Clear technology roadmap Independent advise on architectures Full understanding of the business and technical merits of cloud technology Access to the cloud providers (Google, Amazon, Microsoft, Citrix, VMware) Years of experience in the components that make up cloud technology Security best practices.
Dataplex believe that adopting cloud technologies for strategic deployments will provide your business with the following business benefits:
Control and cut costs Reduce IT Complexity Become a strategic business unit and not a cost centre Provides GreenIT architectures Improves network resilience and security Improves your service levels Helps you support flexible working Facilitates Unified Messaging.
Dataplex have been utilising cloud based technology for business continuity, research and development and application testing through a number of sources from Microsoft BPOS, Amazon EC2 and Google so are well placed to give advice and recommendations on the technologies available and the issues associated with them.
Google Apps for Business Overview
Microsoft Online Service - Vision
Cloud RSS Feed
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Infrastructure as a Service
Copyright® dataplex systems limited - Manchester and Oxford. All Rights Reserved. Established in 1996.