Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is a common buzz word but very few people have an exact understanding of what it is. In a recent McKinsey presentation, Vaquero et al (2009) suggests there are 22 definitions for cloud computing currently in literature.
However, cloud computing really isn’t complicated. Most of us use cloud computing on a daily basis. Whether we are checking our Hotmail accounts, uploading information to Facebook, or even using Pandora radio, we are using the cloud. So, how do we define the cloud?
The Cloud
In its most basic form, the cloud can be described as on-demand computing for anyone with a network connection. Essentially, users access applications and data located on their available network. Wherever a user can access the network, the user can also access his/her cloud. Consumer-level cloud computing exists with sites like Facebook and Flickr which act as digital holding areas located on the Internet. This model is also evident in web-based mail such as Gmail and Hotmail.
Clouds can be categorized into Private and Public. Private clouds exist within an organization and Public clouds exist to provide services to users outside of an organization. The common thread is the location of applicaton processing by a physical data center may be anywhere on the clouds network.
Using the cloud, organizations and individuals can use computers in a more flexible, efficient, and scalable manner. The cloud is easier to manage than traditional infrastructures.
