Experts are foreseeing big changes in Cloud computing in the coming months

IaaS has assumed a star role in the ongoing development of Cloud technologies for businesses, but growth appears to be having a widespread effect on consumer markets as well.

If you scan the headlines of major tech development firms, cloud computing companies and mainstream news organizations, you’ll quickly discover that each passing day brings exciting progress (for cloud computing as a whole) into the limelight. Simply put, it seems as if the speed of expansion and maturity of cloud technologies is poised to continue onward with its dramatic increase.

While businesses continue to latch onto cloud computing in the form of IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service), one of the largest potential markets for cloud products is in fact, the ordinary consumer market.

For example, Gartner asserts that:

“Consumers will spend $2.1 trillion worldwide on digital information and entertainment products and services in 2012….This amounts to a $114 billion global increase compared with 2011, and spending will continue to grow at a faster rate than in the past, at around $130 billion a year, to reach $2.7 trillion by the end of 2016.”

It’s not a stretch to see how these largely digital consumers can be better serviced by cloud computing, undoubtedly this will become a big focus for cloud vendors / providers.

This of course brings us to the topic of “personal clouds”, which seek to entirely replace our notions of conventional computing altogether. What is a personal cloud, you ask? In essence, personal clouds allow individuals to access their stored data on any and all devices they own at any given time. In other words, a personal cloud is sort of like a privately accessible drive that acts as a central repository which greatly simplifies an individual’s approach to their data. Basically, you’re removing the focus on storage away from “individual hard drives on devices” and transferring it all to one remotely positioned location. The next logical step in this development is going to be the transfer of additional components into the cloud framework, wouldn’t you agree? Once that occurs, we’ll have what could only be described as a full-blown “personal cloud computer” system. Afterwards, cloud providers and businesses will be jumping at the opportunity to integrate anything and everything into a cloud-friendly / compatible format.

While consumers are exploring the use of cloud technology to provide storage, entertainment, accessibility and specific applications, businesses seem to be turning to IaaS, PaaS and hybrid cloud infrastructures. Arguably, the biggest news in the cloud computing community are the ongoing predictions concerning the staggering amount of current and potential cloud growth. IaaS in particular, has been booming as more and more organizations are turning to it in an effort to construct very specific and idealized forms of IT infrastructure which are both unique and more cost effective than any other approach. In fact, it would seem that businesses are moving toward increasing investments in IT and cloud computing, seeing it as something that’s just as important as sales and the health of their entire organization.

For instance, look at this predictive trending snippet from Gartner and Forbes:

“Gartner and Forbes surveyed 175 board members in March and April of 2012 regarding their perceptions of the key business issues facing their organizations, and the contemporary aspect of their attitudes toward IT. The priorities of the board directors in this survey were directly centered on customers, building better ways to drive the business forward through better core competencies, working on sustaining competitive advantage, or innovation. Gartner analysts said all of these are proactive efforts to acquire, retain or develop customers and markets….Eighty-six percent of respondents said they believe that IT’s strategic contribution to the business will increase by 2014.” 

The evidence is clear, IT itself is becoming increasingly important and new forms of IT like IaaS and PaaS (cloud computing) are among the most highly sought after IT solutions in existence. All of this adds up to one conclusion – businesses need to concentrate more heavily on cloud computing adoption and transition.

Naturally, if your enterprise isn’t prepared in terms of having personnel who are certified in cloud computing and / or IaaS, now is the time to begin exploring your options with regards to professional development. Quite simply, certification in these areas is affordable, convenient and provides an excellent hedge against risk as your organization moves forward into any cloud venture. Moreover, the time to begin exploring these educational options is right now, as instituting something as involved as IaaS will undoubtedly require qualified personnel with specific expertise.

Cloud computing seems to be poised for unprecedented growth in the coming months and years. This presents businesses, corporations and even individuals with a great opportunity to not only utilize these technologies, but also to take advantage of potential startups and investments. Those who are able to comprehend the gravity of the situation ahead of the big boon will be strategically positioned to do very well in the coming years and will likely destroy their competitors on every level.

3 IaaS platforms you should know about

A few Cloud computing providers that can add a world of possibilities (and value) to your business

Whittling down a list of the top 3 IaaS cloud providers is a tricky task because there really are quite a number of excellent vendors out there. Likewise, many of these companies are vying for position and jumping on top of any emerging technologies as soon as they drop (which makes this area of the industry very competitive). Nevertheless, there are some providers who are worth mentioning ahead of most others. Perhaps it’s because of specific benefits offered or how visible they are (which translates directly into the ability to attract outside investments); regardless, the following IaaS vendors are certainly deserving of any attention they receive.  Cloud Computing 3 IaaS platforms

Rackspace – www.rackspace.com/
When it comes to meteoric rises to fame and fortune, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better example of the phenomenon than Rackspace. For example, since the organization began being traded in a public capacity (2008), they have added millions in profits to their coffers. Moreover, Rackspace has experienced bona-fide “exponential growth” with each passing year and aren’t showing any signs of slowing down either.

Many users feel that Rackspace’s IaaS is very easy to use compared with offerings from other institutions, and as far as costs are concerned, “the price is (definitely) right”. Rackspace represents a true cloud computing success story (which started from the bottom as essentially rose to the top of the heap). Not only does Rackspace symbolize accomplishment, they’re also apparently very serious and accommodating, as evidenced by their world-class customer service.

OpenStack – www.openstack.com/
Unlike other types of IaaS / cloud computing approaches out there, OpenStack is actually a sort of “vagabond”, or “transferable” type of platform.  OpenStack was designed to be used by the consumer to construct their infrastructure via an open-source approach. Then, once you have your core elements in place, your platform can be deployed via a provider’s resources. It’s actually a unique, user-friendly approach to cloud computing that more people should be aware of.

NASA is actually responsible for helping the OpenStack project to get off the ground, along with Rackspace (small world). Although OpenStack is less than 3 years old, it already commands a great deal of respect in the cloud computing community and boasts support from over 150 companies. However, the awesome thing about OpenStack is that it isn’t tied to any specific provider(s), which is really great news for businesses who still might not have their priorities and/or logistics completely nailed down yet.

Amazon Web Services – aws.amazon.com/

No list of the best or most influential IaaS providers would be complete without including AWS (Amazon Web Services). Basically, AWS has two big things going for it right now:

1. It is capable of running an enormous library of cloud services; many of which are highly useable / functional for a variety of business-related purposes and tasks.
2. It is far-and-away, the most immediately visible and powerful cloud computing service provider in the world.

When most people think “cloud computing” these days, they almost immediately visualize Amazon web services. But there’s a good reason for Amazon’s global dominance, it is one of the only organizations that’s actually taken the time to make sure that it’s in alignment with existing international security compliances. Furthermore, AWS data centers are spread out across the surface of Earth in such a manner as to make other companies envious. Security is also an important issue among Amazon’s cloud computing operation(s), and they are known to invest heavily in this area as well.

Interestingly enough, as more and more cloud vendors try to find ways to offer reduced service capabilities and expand their pricing models, Amazon’s AWS appears to be continually dropping their overall costs of usage.

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Will Microsoft’s first quarterly loss push them further toward Cloud Computing?

Microsoft isn’t a company that’s known for profit loss. In fact, their recent $492 million shortfall is by all accounts, the first actual deficit they’ve accrued in their 26 years as a company. People are beginning to wonder if this is demonstrative of some larger systemic issue, or if it’s simply an isolated incident.

When MS bought aQuantive, an online advertising company, in 2007, they probably had bigger things in mind that what’s actually transpired. According to official reports, it is this ad business which is chiefly responsible for the reported losses. The aQuantive purchase was apparently a strategic move made my Microsoft in an effort to compete with Google in search-related advertising. Needless to say, it appears that things didn’t work out too well for them.

Trying to go toe-to-toe with Google on its own turf (search engine technology and advertising) is a big gambit, no matter how you look at it. Still, you have to admire Microsoft’s drive, initiative and shrewdness; many corporations wouldn’t dare even approach the notion of trying to compete with Google.

Maybe it’s just another sign of the times? Nearly everywhere you look it seems that there is economic strife (often compounded with difficult climate-related issues tacked-on). Perhaps it was only a matter of time until Microsoft fell victim to the incredible turmoil in the markets? At any rate, they assure us that this is an isolated incident and not anything that’s poised to negatively affect their stock price or future plans.

One thing that is certain in the midst of all this uncertainty however is that Microsoft seems to be placing a great deal of emphasis on their cloud computing operations. Not only do MS have strategic positions in several key areas of the cloud vendor market, they are also eagerly developing a number of cloud-based technologies and pushing for a more cloud-centric approach across the board. For instance, Windows 8 is poised to be released soon; which is going to utilize cloud technology in ways that no other Windows OS has attempted before (or anyone for that matter).

This move toward placing more focus on cloud computing should also be a wake-up call for businesses of all shapes and sizes. The time to get prepared for cloud adoption and transition is now. As you may or may not be aware, one of the best ways to ensure that your business is capable of utilizing, managing and even improving upon your current or future cloud services is through professional development in the IT sector.  Microsoft on Cloud Computing

Simply put, any business with an IT department needs to be making sure that their personnel are both trained and certified in one or more cloud computing disciplines. Those that emphasize this type of education will find themselves positioned to take advantage of their capabilities and technological gains. Conversely, those businesses that are content to wait will face much more stringent competition and will have to deal with being constantly “out of the (technological) loop”.

Microsoft seems to be completely sold on the notion that cloud computing is not only here to stay, but that it is a type of infrastructure that should be used to replace virtually everything from networking and IT to stand-alone software and even physical hardware (through virtualization).

The stratagem it seems is to wane consumers off of receiving or expecting full software licensing purchases; their recent move to reshape Microsoft Office into a bona-fide cloud-based subscription service is clear evidence of that. Office is (and has historically been) Microsoft’s most popular product according to their own statistics. In other words, what they do with Office should be viewed as “very telling” of both their current and future business strategy actually is.

There’s simply no debating that this move toward redesigning their product line and shifting their focus toward cloud computing is indicative of some larger plan. After all, why break the status quo if you’re already a market leader?  Something tells me that they didn’t institute this kind of plan because they were bored – it is undoubtedly part of some much larger tactic which we will most likely soon discover. We already know that an MS Office-based subscription service would allow them to deliver some exciting new features to customers, but at the expense of regularly occurring subscription service costs of course.

What remains to be seen is how the average consumer is going to handle this notion of what amounts to “renting” their own software. If the public embraces this new notion, then MS will find themselves at the forefront of an entirely new set of profitable possibilities. However, if they falter here, it will be a sure sign that consumers are not willing to embrace the subscription concept in its current form and that it will require some type of dramatic revision.

But it should be noted that Microsoft has already experienced some notable successes in the cloud computing field. Perhaps MS perceives these triumphs (in the cloud market) to be indicative of some type of safe-haven which they can run to? From all outwardly appearances, this certainly seems to be the case.

Why Cloud Computing is not a threat to (functional) IT

Depending up on who you talk to in the IT community, cloud computing is either “the greatest thing since sliced bread”, or “the ultimate harbinger of doom”. It’s true; IT professionals seem to be divided on whether or not the world’s cloud gambit will prove beneficial for their career field. The truth is (as is usually the case with most things), we’re dealing with a “mixed bag”.

Some IT professionals will do extremely well throughout the upcoming global cloud computing adoption scenario, while others might very well find themselves “left in the dust” of change. Cloud computing is not an “IT killer”; however, it will undoubtedly push many IT groups toward reaffirming and redefining their roles, responsibilities and knowledge base.

Perhaps the right questions to ask are, who will benefit and why? In reality, there are some organizations that have IT departments which add quite a lot of value to their overall business strategy. Likewise, there are plenty of other companies which employ IT personnel who are doing very little to add value to their employer’s long and short-term goals (often times through not fault of their own).

IT management needs to take a long honest look at what they are able to offer their parent organization in the coming months and years. You have to look at this from the point-of-view of the business; if they can simply hire a cloud provider which is able to offer a completely managed IT solution for far less than the cost of what on-site operations require, can you really blame them for at least considering a change?

However, remote cloud-based IT will not work for every business or situation; many organizations are always going to need people on hand who are dedicated and able to devise creative solutions or find new ways to utilize certain technologies. These are areas that all modern IT workers need to focus on; being able to provide specific expertise and customized solutions where emerging infrastructure is concerned.

For IT professionals, having some form of cloud computing certification is a must. Those employed in IT fields need to begin training themselves in one or more specific cloud computing disciplines if for no other reason than to secure their career future. All security concerns aside, the most important point is still the assimilation of cloud-specific knowledge.

IaaS is a great example of a type of Cloud Computing infrastructure where IT pros can maintain a traditional relationship with their employer while at the same time utilizing this brand new technology. Basically, IaaS (Infrastructure-as-a-Service) is a type of cloud computing service which users are expected to manage (or micro-manage) themselves. In other words, you get access to metered services comprising all the necessary hardware, software, etc…(remotely of course), but there is not built-in management of these components. Some emerging forms of IaaS are even allowing customers to change their hardware configuration, or add to it, on the fly. These forms of IaaS offer a great employment opportunity for knowledgeable and prepared IT workers at companies who use them.

Which of course brings us to the point of cost; IaaS can be significantly cheaper than fully managed services. Businesses might actually be able to save more through utilizing a coupled IaaS to on-site IT personnel solution.

Then there’s the security factor, namely, risk avoidance and IT alignment with business strategy. Certainly, a company who employs on-site IT personnel can establish a more stable bond of trust and responsibility with those individuals (in lieu of 3rd parties who they might never even meet face-to-face). Moreover, those IT workers who work closely with an organization tend to have much greater insight as to what their employer really requires, technologically speaking.

Coupling cloud computing with the idea of traditional IT services is arguably the most sensible current approach for a majority of tech-dependent businesses out there. Given that more and more businesses are making the decision transition to cloud computing every day, being able to maintain on-site IT personnel throughout this process benefits all the involved players in a number of ways. For example, the IT pros benefit because they maintain employment and are perhaps offered a chance to expand their career potential through the use of more advanced technology. Then there’s the company itself, who can count on a much smoother and more successful cloud transition due to the fact that their own people are overseeing the conversion. Those IT groups who are willing to expand and adapt will find themselves in much better positions than they were previously, and organizations utilizing the cloud will increase their capabilities as well. Will there be casualties in this monumental cloud computing exodus? Most certainly; but only those IT departments which either aren’t prepared or never really aligned technology with business strategy in the first place have something to fear.

The fact of the matter is that modern businesses are becoming increasingly reliant on technology for internal and external operations, cloud computing helps immensely with this. IT is not going to go the way of the dinosaur simply because technology is adapting new ways of achieving goals, but it is going to evolve. If you’re an IT professional, you simply need to make sure that you’re riding the wave of change instead of unexpectedly capsizing into it.

What are Advanced Persistent Threats and how do they affect Cloud Computing as a whole? Advanced Persistent Threats and Cloud Computing

Technology can be such a double-edged sword sometimes (to use an old cliché term). It seems as though every step we take forward as a society is met with direct opposition from destructive forces who seem bent on derailing progress. While cloud computing is certainly a wonderful technology, it is certainly not immune to threats and potential security lapses which are often perpetrated by selfishly deranged individuals (or information hungry nations / states). The point is, this is something that we’re all going to have to deal with, but rest assured, steps are being taken to right the wrongs and shut down the criminals’ operations permanently (it just might take a little longer than expected).

At this point you’re probably wondering, “What is an Advanced Persistent Threat, exactly?” Well, in a nutshell, an APT (advanced persistent threat) is a cyber attack that’s characterized by persistence and targeted information gathering where the goal is usually to steal sensitive information. Stuxnet, Madi and Flame are classic examples of APT’s; they burrow into your machine, the entry point usually being from some social media outlet, and then they proceed to beam audio, screenshots, and data to remote servers, or allow email and messaging to be monitored and so forth. These kinds of attacks are advanced because they essentially allow hostile forces to assume control over others’ machines and data in unprecedented ways. Likewise, they are persistent because this type of behavior will often continue on for long periods of time. Most individuals won’t even know that their machine or system is infected; that’s the real danger of APT’s, they find their way onto a system and then lurk in the shadows waiting to strike at key moments.

We shouldn’t despair however because cloud computing offers us great advantages and hope for ridding the world of the APT menace. For example, Joyent and GuardTime, two cloud computing focused companies, have partnered up to create what many feel is one of the more exciting cloud security concepts to emerge (which I’ve previously covered). Their creation allows for an advanced form of data logging / keying which is best described as “tamper evident”. In other words, whenever / wherever data has been compromised there will be tale-tell signs (with additional information being collected about the parties responsible for the attack). This approach not only lets administrators know what’s been affected, it might also provide authorities with enough counter-information to track down and prosecute thieves.

But static security systems are just the tip of the iceberg. Some of the adventurous cloud development laboratories are actively seeking or working toward implementing new types of applications which would incessantly trawl a cloud (in much the same manner as a hacker) looking for unauthorized activities or intruders. Although this is pure speculation here, we might soon see advanced forms of security-based A.I. deployed on larger public clouds. The larger more extensive clouds in particular would benefit greatly from bot-based assistance, and they certainly have the inherent processing power and resources needed to drive advanced A.I. However, as previously stated, this form of technology has yet to arrive, but given the continuing advances in both of these areas (A.I. & cloud computing / cloud security) it might only be a matter of time until it emerges.

Currently, advanced persistent threats are among the top concerns of cloud providers and users. The fear seems to be affecting governmental organizations and businesses who retain sensitive data (financial records, corporate plans, etc) the most. The livelihood of these groups is often tied to the data they store and collect; in fact, if we’re talking about countries, it might be national security that’s at risk. The risks associated with APT’s might have slowed down cloud adoption ever so slightly (out of apprehension). But in reality it’s not that bad or treacherous; most APT risks can be avoided through implementing a solid real-time monitoring solution (which many cloud providers already do). Outside of advanced key logging, real-time monitoring is arguably the ultimate solution for AP threats in the cloud. Organizations who truly value their security and data should feel perfectly safe in any cloud environment which employs a dedicated real-time monitoring solution.

Another excellent defense against potential security lapses is education; more specifically, cloud certification and training for IT workers. It could be said that many threats emerge because connected personnel don’t correctly identify risks or issues before they are allowed to escalate. Cloud computing is in essence, an entirely new field of study which requires formal investigation / education. Through e-learning (online enabled courses), IT pros can absorb all the fundamentals (as well as the complex points, if they’re up to it) so that they can better utilize cloud computing systems and infrastructure.

If anything, advanced persistent threats are helping to shape an even more secure form of cloud computing. The thing about cloud computing is that it is basically a hybrid IT / networking / computing solution on steroids. Anything that traditional IT can do, the cloud can do better; naturally, this extends to security as well. The emerging forms of cloud security will eventually crush APT’s, making them obsolete. Perhaps once the threats of persistent devious attacks are removed, cloud computing providers can shift their focus back toward breaking new ground and delivering new technologies. The point is, this APT problem is only temporary, and solutions are either in place or being devised as you read this. Soon, the APT nuisance will be behind us and we can move on to the next issue on our march toward a more precise cloud computing experience.