For the people still wondering that what the hell is Cloud Computing? The answer has already been given in the introduction. It is the combination of Infrastructure as a Service (Iaas), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). In simpler terms, it can be regarded similar to the functioning of Business Process Outsourcing and Knowledge Process Outsourcing. So it is actually a type of outsourcing done by a third party for its client but more on a technological front.
When an organization decides to go for minimum capital expenditure (CapEx), and maximum operational expenditure (OpEx) this system comes to its rescue. It becomes best option if a company wants to start with less. But the service providers have to invest largely on building much larger servers, gigantic storage facility and of course on network security. The client here has to pay only for the resources which it will use from the providers. The users may not have to have technical knowledge for this. This means that the company has to invest nothing on hiring of technical staff. It will definitely create less burden for the organizations to start but heavy dependence on third party services. It is like playing with fire as it has it's warmth in getting services done but also huge risk when it comes to data security and user's privacy issues. Is it not enough to create a heating debate?
If this is a reality for a coming future then there is a great deal of joy for Network Security Engineers as there will be plenty of jobs available. Talking about Network Security, we have both White Hat Hackers as well as Black Hat Hackers and for the future both will have a job to do. And there is a tougher time ahead for the so called Ethical Hackers as Crackers will definitely strive for capturing streaming data flowing over the networks of Providers and Users if not secured well.
This system has already witnessed criticism from all around be it for limiting freedom of users or hindrance in creativity. Richard Stallman, founder of the 'Free Software Foundation', has once stated “Cloud Computing is simply a trap aimed at forcing more people to buy into locked, proprietary systems that would cost them more and more over timeâ€. Does that mean a 'boost up' for closed source software industry or a 'thumbs down' for open source software industry? Well, whatever it means we will see it in coming future.
But some questions remain unanswered here - What if the service provider fails to keep data secure? Does that mean service providers have to pay full responsibility? But what about the client company then, where the hell they will go?
This system will definitely prove its existence as a 'Perfect Globalised System' at it will have spread all over the world (in the form of world wide web) and may create more complicated geopolitical issues.#
Computing and the Web
Now It's Cloud Over Computers Too
Saurabh Sugandh - 25-09-2009 11:20 GMT-0000
Cloud Computing? Sounds geeky, isn't it? Actually it's not for the user but yes, of course, for providers. Some of the recent activities of the IT majors like Google, IBM, HP etc related to this phenomenon have seen a reprise from myth to reality. It has already existed among us as a service through software packages but not really with infrastructures and platforms. Now we will see it in reality with the proper blending of Infrastructures, Platforms and Softwares.