Is the current definition of Cloud Computing too limiting?

Companies who might be able to creatively utilize Cloud-based technologies might be letting industry-defined terms and expectations get in the way of their success.

When you step back and look at cloud computing as a whole, it’s not just a new approach to computing and networking, it’s an entirely different way for human beings to access and store data and useful components (apps, programs, etc…). This new approach of course extends to both individuals and businesses alike, albeit in the form of entirely different products.

For individuals, cloud computing is primarily being used to house and access personal data, files or content. Storing music in the cloud is a pretty common thing nowadays too, as evidenced by of Amazon’s Cloud drive / player. Then there’s cloud storage space available through numerous companies, for use in a variety of situations, with even more potential purposes being placed on the (proverbial) table (where capability is concerned). The basic, free email services we all love and rely on are…without question, incorporating newly developed cloud technologies all the time as well. This all adds up to a potential situation where an individual’s computing activities are carried out remotely. In other words, a person’s computer system, setup and data become a virtual entity. Once something like that happens, those manufacturers who are selling devices can begin optimizing them for better, larger, and more feature-rich OS’s (to use in conjunction with a cloud service, or services).

That’s the other thing; it’s not clear whether or not the companies (capable of providing cloud service or actual devices) are going to work together or remain competitive. If the bigger organizations work together they will likely dominate the cloud computing markets. The question is; what effect is the emergence of an honest-to-goodness consumer cloud computer going to have on the average business, or owner? Will the technology create even more potential for companies to capitalize on their IT assets? Maybe it won’t have that sort of an effect at all; perhaps when devices like that become commercially available it severely drives back the need for extensive on-site IT?

Why would it do that, you ask? Since most, well…all, of the infrastructure in a cloud computing scenario is in another location (as well as virtually invisible from an outward perspective) and covered in the cost of the service itself, there’s a smaller demand for IT resources. This is not to say that cloud computing is going to destroy traditional IT entirely, only that we might see a trend emerge where more and more IT workers are being absorbed by increasingly larger companies. This of course also necessitates the need for having IT personal (on-site) who are certified in cloud computing.

Also, what’s to stop an organization from making private cloud solutions more available and affordable? If we see a large number of organizations, businesses, and groups purchasing private clouds, we might see hundreds of little companies springing up everywhere selling various types of cloud-based services. Perhaps they could utilize some kind of cloud-serviced app-to-mobile device type setup? Who knows, right?

Maybe the term “cloud computing” is a bit too passive (as a term)? It does seem to conjure up fluffy images; (it’s not a bad thing) but it’s a much more active and interesting area of technology than the name might otherwise indicate. We need to collectively step back and realize that there’s a very good chance that cloud computing is going to replace virtually all of our current infrastructure in the near future. In other words, the days when people went to the store to buy a self-contained machine might (sort of) be coming to a close. Or, owning a powerful, self-contained machine becomes a much less popular option for general consumers. In either scenario, the buying habits of consumers are going to shift toward cloud computing because it offers increased power, potential and is likely to be much cheaper in terms of overall price per unit.

Why is all of this important? Today’s companies need to be constantly thinking of ways to increase their potential worth, abilities, efficiency. When you have certain technologies emerging, like cloud computing (which is still largely uncharted territory, mind you), opportunities and breakthroughs are expected. This in turn, presents a big prospect for all sizes and shapes of businesses to get involved in applying this new technology to real-world situations. As you might expect, this kind of activity often leads to profit generation, which is great for those businesses (and the economy).

The bottom line is, if you’re involved in managing (or own) any size business, especially one that relies on and/or heavily uses computing / networking, cloud computing should become a fixture for you and your organization. But you shouldn’t simply think of cloud computing as a new fad, or “placeholder” technology. All signs and trends point toward cloud computing becoming an incredibly powerful force, and/or even altering the basic relationship we all have with our own personal computers and hardware. It’s a lot to take in; but those businesses who keep their options (and minds) open to the creative use and application of cloud computing, stand to do extremely well in the future.

How can cloud computing improve productivity?

Productivity in the workplace is a very delicate topic for which there are several schools of thought. Some people tend to think that only intrusive micro-management is the only way to boost productivity while others might be more inclined to take a more delicate approach by offering incentives.

Regardless of the exact approach you or your company takes to stimulate productivity, you must not forget about the role that technology can play in assisting daily operations. For instance, it could be said that an organization’s IT assets and resources play an integral role in either aiding or inhibiting productivity. This is largely because it is through IT that all inter-office communications, file sharing, information logging, data storage, and collaborative efforts are generally organized. Since cloud computing is more or less replacing / modifying traditional IT and incorporates emerging technologies, it might be a good idea to explore the ways in which it can help to boost general productivity.

There are essentially three ways that cloud computing (or any type of IT for that matter) can impact productivity.

1. Utilizing known and emerging technologies
2. Encouraging employee growth
3. Improving communications

What makes cloud computing a more ideal candidate (as opposed to traditional IT) for addressing these three areas of concern is actually the technology that’s driving it. For example, Cloud computing can make use of virtually any type of application or software; an app can be packaged along with other programs and processes and then easily duplicated and copied.

In a traditional IT setup, a packaged set of processes is not so easily transferred among individual users, not only does this slow down the individual(s) performing work, it creates more redundant-style labor for IT as well. In other words, through cloud computing you can more easily create your own software-based solutions and deploy them instantly to as many users as needed. Likewise, there are a dizzying number of individual cloud-based services (email, online storage, and online file transfer) which can be leveraged nearly instantly to provide employees with on-the-spot solutions, thereby eliminating searching and downtime.

Also, by granting personnel access to a library of specific software products and solutions, you are giving them a deeper sense of responsibility and creative leeway to do their work. Protocols are great and often extremely necessary to facilitate any type of organized work, but it’s often impossible or unwieldy to provide your employees with an “A to B” goal and then limit their options for completing the task.

Quite simply, through cloud computing, a number of different pathways to completion of any particular task might open up. This freedom of choice creates and fosters a greater sense of desire from employees because they are given the opportunity to creatively address whatever work they are doing. Another fringe benefit of this is that more creative (or brilliant) solutions can be devised. As the old saying goes, “two heads are better than one”. If you have all of your employees actively searching for quicker, more efficient solutions to ongoing problems / work / duties (as opposed to simply following orders), you’re going to end up with increased productivity.

In terms of improving communications, cloud computing cannot be matched by traditional IT. In the same way that web tools, apps, and communication interfaces can improve connectivity, so too can cloud computing. Additionally, any type of web service, app, or software can be repacked or deployed on a cloud. This means that you can have a much cleaner interface for users with a greater number of individual points of communication. For instance, through cloud computing it would be possible for an organization to establish an in-house video messaging / conferencing service which might greatly improve inter-departmental communications and relations.

However, the use of cloud computing technologies will require the effort and understanding of your IT department personnel. If your business has yet to begin exploring this facet of IT preparedness you should know that now is a great time to do so. Currently, you can have an entire IT department certified or trained in one or multiple cloud computing disciplines at group discount rates. Moreover, since cloud computing certification can be delivered via the internet (e-learning), your IT employees will be able to engage in mobile learning.

To simply say that cloud computing can increase productivity in the workplace is a bit of an understatement. The truth is, cloud computing can effectively redesign the way your business approaches and accomplishes the work it performs on a daily basis. In this way, cloud computing is less a means to improving productivity and more of a comprehensive infrastructure which allows for the increased streamlining of inter-office activities.

Google is embracing and investing (heavily) in Cloud Computing

Right now, out there scattered about the face of Earth are computers and data centers that, when used “as a unit”, function as a “cloud” of sorts. But not just any kind of cloud, an incredibly powerful one capable of inconceivable computing feats, even surpassing supercomputers in terms of sheer processing potential and overall function. In the simplest terms, there is hardly a ceiling when it comes to cloud computing; and Google is, and has been aware of this (and its potential) for quite some time. Yes, Google has been using, employing, and offering cloud computing for a number of years already (as you are undoubtedly already aware).

One of Google’s products, Apps for Business, is basically a complete cloud computing solution for certain types of businesses. By combining certain apps and functions with communication and other key features, Apps for Business is supposed to make it easier for businesses to carry out their daily operations, and so forth. It also touts other little perks, like the file update system (which globally updates users to the latest version of any file, etc…). But this is just one example of the many different ways in which Google is expanding its reach out into the cloud computing universe.

There’s been talk of a (supposed) future collaborative effort between Google and Apple on some type of “cloud computer” prototype. This would obviously be a specifically manufactured device deigned to take advantage of the strengths which are inherent to each / both companies (simultaneously). Who in their right mind wouldn’t be interested in such a thing, if it were mass-produced? Although it’s still unclear at this point, it’s a fairly safe bet to assume that Google (and / or Apple) will likely play a significant role in the mainstream emergence of cloud computing. After all, these two companies have basically integral to the way we do things now, at least from a technological standpoint. It’s not really necessary to expand upon how financially viable they are, either. It’s fairly self-evident that they are powerhouse companies, financially speaking; which is good news because the creation of such an infrastructure might require sizable investments and experience.

Of course there’s Microsoft as well. Microsoft is arguably Google’s biggest and most obvious competitor in the cloud computing “arms race”, that is, aside from the slew of startups that are springing up nearly everywhere. But this is a good thing, right? The market needs to be able to foster a competitive atmosphere in order to produce a quality product. The fact that there are smaller groups (like Dropbox) entering the cloud-based marketplace who are able to compete with megaliths like Google is also a really excellent sign. This essentially means that there is a both a great deal of room for (technological) growth, and that smaller organizations can actually earn some capital; the end result of which is, overall technological growth. The trend right now seems to be indicating that apps that are built around cloud computing are going to continue springing up.

Even if your company (which should be taking advantage of cloud computing in some capacity or another) is simply using cloud computing, and not actually having IT customize it, for example, there may still be potential for creative development (on your part). In other words, your business might create the need for a specific type of app, which your IT department creates and deploys through some form of (proprietary) cloud provider. Some current cloud providers, for example, have much more user-friendly interfaces for creating apps (even from multiple disparate components) than you might expect.

To make a long story, short; this is the reason why any IT manager or business owner / manager should really consider investigating having their entire (IT) department certified and trained in cloud computing. Most of the best programs are basically certified courses that are delivered via the internet. The “e-learning” programs work, they prepare you to pass a cert test. They’re also convenient, mobile (thank to tablets and smartphones), and extremely affordable as well. In fact, almost every provider offers group rate discounts when you purchase multiple licenses.

The real story though, is in what (steps) Google is making to try and attempt to further corner the cloud computing market. Virtually all businesses should be watching what the “big G” is doing with regards to fostering cloud computing technologies; there are things that can be learned, or rather, there are lessons to be learned from observing their actions.

Aside from simply taking advantage of all these wonderful apps, services, products and devices as they emerge from the fallout of another big cloud computing push, businesses need to be looking for additional ways to cash in. In other words, companies need to perhaps take a more active interest in the ongoing development out there; doing so might lead to additional revenues and income streams. However, at the very least, businesses need to be taking advantage of bundled cloud-based services, like those offered by Google, for example.

Future Cloud:

Dell’s ARM-based servers might be soon coming to a Cloud near you…

Recently, Dell announced that it is going to be providing a number of ARM-based micro servers to key customers in an effort to compare and contrast them with that of their Intel-based x86 line. In case you don’t know, ARM-based processor chips (and architecture) are commonly found or rather, employed in most consumer-level devices (think: Tablets and Smartphones). Both the ARM and Intel x86 – based chips are designed to save space and consume less power. By allowing their customers (which includes some key cloud computing organizations) to put the ARM servers to the test Dell will not only learn what pitfalls and problems they may need to address, but also get a clear idea of the principal selling points they could market as well.

What’s interesting about the ARM chips is that they actually consume less power than those offered by AMD or Intel (both of which are considered to be leaders in the area of manufacturing server chips). However, if there’s a drawback here it’s that these ARM-based servers can only crunch up to 32 bits of data at any given time; by contrast, AMD and Intel’s chips are 64 bit. While it might be easy to look at this disparity and simply say that less energy consumption equals less processing power, that’s a bit of a misnomer. The 64 bit versions of the ARM servers are slated to hit the markets sometime in 2014.

Given that cloud computing is known to be (arguably) the most efficient form of IT infrastructure in existence, in terms of power consumption, the prospect of saving even more through the use of these ARM-based servers is a bit mind-boggling. Perhaps the bigger trend at work here is one in which all the players involved in manufacturing computing / networking hardware are moving toward increased energy efficiency? Certainly cloud computing has played a vital role in pushing the hardware manufacturers to invest in research that’s aimed at increasing overall energy efficiency.

When you step back and realize that many experts are seeing a big upward trend occurring, in which micro servers will likely replace up to around 50% of current servers over the next 5-10 years, it’s easy to see how, why and where cloud computing could play a role. The simple fact of the matter is that these micro servers are designed to handle large volumes of data; which is perfectly suited to cloud computing, where you might have hundreds of virtualization processes occurring simultaneously. Likewise, micro-servers are by design, more efficient in terms of housing space and are an excellent choice for organizations seeking to buy bulk hardware / servers. Future Cloud

The bottom line is that it is extremely likely that both cloud computing and micro-servers will become increasingly prevalent. What’s more, given that both of these items are highly compatible and oriented toward increasing power consumption efficiency only sweetens the relationship further. This also of course, highlights an important point for organizations which own or employ extensive IT assets and personnel, which is preparedness.

Most organizations are still not taking the right steps toward preparing their IT department for the coming onslaught of cloud-based technology. The easiest and most affordable way to do this is still through online-enabled e-learning programs which offer complete certification and/or training. We’re already seeing dramatic shifts toward more rapid cloud computing adoption occurring in vital business sectors. Once a majority of businesses have begun to build value from their cloud computing operations, their competitors in the market will have to soon follow suit or risk becoming redundant.  

It’s actually quite ingenious when you step back and look at it; Dell is giving its customers a great opportunity while at the same time gathering crucial data which will help the organization make better decisions for the future market (and their shareholders). Apparently, Dell has been investigating and researching the possibilities of ARM-based micro server architecture since 2010, and has even been reaching out to its so-called “hyperscale” clientele for ideas and “wish lists”.

According to an official statement from Dell, “the ARM-based server market is approaching an inflection point”*. In other words, Dell apparently feels that now is the time to jump headlong into ARM-based technologies from both a market and technology standpoint. Currently, Dell is waiting to see how this recent move will play out with its customers before ultimately deciding upon whether to take the ARM-based servers to market or not. In other words, if the demand is there, it is more likely that they’re going to push the ARM servers into circulation in several key markets.