Does "The Cloud" Fit Into Your Organization?

Tom HoranMeridian IT Inc.VP, Strategic Markets

thoran@meridianITinc.comTwitter: @TomJHoran(847) 912-3244

“Cloud Computing” means different things to different people, and that’s OK.

Fact #1

Computing in which applications, data and IT resources are provided to end users as

services delivered over a network.

Cloud Computing Definition

Types of Clouds

Public Clouds- Allows access to technology-enabled services without knowledge of, expertise with, or control over the technology infrastructure that supports them.- Also called “external cloud.”

Private Clouds- Activities and functions are provided “as a service,” over a company’s intranet. - Built by an organization for its own users, and everything is delivered within the organization’s firewall (instead of the Internet). - Organization has knowledge of the infrastructure and possibly some control.- The private cloud owner does not share resources with any other companies.

- Also called an “internal cloud.”

Hybrid Clouds- External and internal service delivery methods are integrated. - Rules and policies are established by the organization based on factors such as security needs, criticality and underlying architecture.- Activities and tasks are allocated to external or internal clouds as appropriate.

Cloud Computing Models

Co- LocationDedicated data center facility designed with resources which includes a secured suite, cage or cabinet, regulated power, dedicated Internet connection, security and basic support.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)Raw computing power. Includes servers, networks, storage, management, and reporting.

Platform as a Service (PaaS)Consists of the IaaS layer along with an Operating System and other building blocks. A hosted server running OS/400 is an example.

Software as a Service (SaaS)Applications configured for each customer that run as a hosted service.

Cloud Computing Models

IaaS PaaS SaaS

Graphic Source: IBM

Cloud Computing Models

Graphic Source: Microsoft

+Platform as a Service

=Software

as a Service

SaaS Solution

Software

Cloud Solutions

Infrastructure as a Service- Disaster Recovery- Software Dev and Testing- Raw Computing Power

HostingHosting

Co-Location

Software as a Service

Platform as a Service- High Availability- Storage- Collaboration- Training and Demo

- ERP

Cloud Computing is overhyped right now but it is definitely a shift in the

way we deliver computing.

Fact #2

Industry Shift

“Computing is undergoing a seismic shift.” - Microsoft Nov 2010

“We expect cloud computing to account for $7 billion of our net revenue by 2015.” - IBM 2011

“The money spent on cloud computing is growing at over five times the rate of traditional, on-premise IT.” - Cloud Connect 2010

“Dell is investing $1 billion to expand cloud computing.” – April 2011

“2011 is Year of Platform as a Service (PaaS), and it will engulf the software industry.” – Gartner 2011

“Cloud computing is changing the way that IT resources are utilized and consumed.” – Cisco

Foundation

• Client – Server

• Virtualization

• Automated provisioning of IT resources

• Improved Networks

• Software Multi-tenancy: a single instance of software runs on a server, serving multiple clients

Cloud Computing is not a “one size fits all” solution.

Fact #3

Public, Private and Hybrid Clouds Adoption

Early Adopters

• Need for a secondary data center

• Poor Disaster Recovery Plan

• Testing or Demonstration needs

• Companies experiencing Growth or Retraction

• 24 x 7 Operations

• Companies with home based workers

• Experiencing Budget constraints (need to do more with less)

There are some REAL benefits to Cloud Computing.

Fact #4

• Access to better systems

• Improve availability (Disaster Recovery)

• Reduce infrastructure management needs

• Resolve problems related to updating/upgrading

• Pay only for what we use

• Hardware, Software and Maintenance savings

• Lower labor and energy costs

• Reduce support and management needs

• Reduce space required to house infrastructure

• Able to scale IT resources to meet needs

• Take advantage of latest functionalities

• Rapid deployment

Security is a major consideration when deploying Cloud Computing, but Cloud Computing

MAY be more secure than on-premise computing.

Fact #5

Security

• Security and Privacy

• Performance

• Technology Immaturity

• Regulatory Compliance

• Integration

Fact #1: “Cloud Computing” means different things to different people, and that’s OK.

Fact #2: Cloud Computing is overhyped right now but it is definitely a shift in computing.

Fact #3: Cloud Computing is not a “one size fits all” solution.

Fact #4: There are some real benefits to Cloud Computing.

Fact #5: Security is a major consideration when deploying Cloud Computing, but Cloud Computing MAY more secure than on-premise computing.

Recap

Thank you.

Tom HoranMeridian IT Inc.VP, Strategic Markets

thoran@meridianITinc.comTwitter: @TomJHoran(847) 912-3244