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Depending on to whom you are speaking, cloud can mean anything from software as a service to compute on demand to software development platform services, explains Lori Macvittie, Technical Marketing Manager, F5 Networks.
Each style of cloud computing – IaaS, PaaS, SaaS – promises different benefits. Within each category of cloud computing lies even more confusion, with each implementation defining the parameters under which cloud computing can be considered successful by enabling customers to realise some operational efficiency that translates into cost savings.
The premise is sound: make more efficient use of computer resources to scale and deliver applications through a combination of virtualisation and operational automation. Unfortunately the hype
is more appealing than reality. As organisations begin to deploy applications into cloud computing environments of all styles they begin to encounter obstacles and challenges that are not easily overcome including performance, availability, integration, and control.
Shifting one type of operational responsibility off-premise results in an increase in operational responsibility in some other IT realm. Without a higher level strategy that enables IT to leverage cloud computing deployments in a way that takes advantage of existing management, security, and
monitoring
solutions the operational benefits touted by cloud computing may be easily offset by the challenges that arise from managing a hybrid environment. Cloud computing providers, pundits, and media raise loudly the hue and cry of efficiency and cheaper compute resources without mentioning these challenges – many of which may result in more costly IT operations in the long run if a holistic IT operational strategy is not employed with careful attention to the unique challenges arising from off-premise cloud computing utilisation.
The popularity of cloud computing and its potential to transform service delivery has led a growing number of organisations to implement cloud computing, while many others are considering it, says Steve Horobin - IBM System Storage.
But there seems to be little consistency in the terms associated with the delivery methods.
What’s required are services that can flex up and down, for compute power, storage capacity and infrastructure services. Virtualisation, to increase hardware utilisation and standardise virtual images, is a key enabler in plotting a route to Cloud and being able to move virtual compute requirements from any server to any server. Imagine a common hypervisor layer across many different compute resources,
a seamless background application movement delivering truly workload optimised computing. The same applies for storage and the good news is that we have the tools we need today. Storage virtualisation delivers a truly vendor agnostic storage environment, where storage is delivered on capacity, transactional requirements or streaming requirements.
Cloud computing represents a smarter way to deliver services, use resources, control costs and maintain a competitive advantage. There are multiple cloud delivery
models available: internal (private), external (public), or a combination of both (hybrid). To make the benefits of cloud computing a reality, CIOs must embrace the necessary changes. Successful implementation requires an overall strategic vision combined with a pragmatic approach to deployment.
A workload-based approach to cloud computing is essential in determining which delivery model is best for that workload and in understanding which workloads can bring the greatest benefits in a cloud environment.
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