Virtualization and cloud computing

This is an simple and understandable blog post about the difference between virtualization and cloud computing, that many still seem to mix interchangeably. 

Plainly, virtualization provides more servers on the same hardware and cloud computing provides measured resources while paying for what you use.  While it is not uncommon to hear people discuss them interchangeably; they are very different approaches to solving the problem of maximizing the use of available resources.

In my blog, I also wrote a short article about virtualization and cloud computing

VMware launching new cloud computing tools

Not surprisingly, VMware is announcing new tools to support its cloud computing strategy, according to news from SmartTrend news:

 

At its annual conference this week, VMware (NYSE:VMW) may unveil cloud technology that enables companies to run their own data centers more efficiently via cloud technology. Cloud computing is an industry term for information that is stored remotely through the use of equipment operated by outside specialists and accessed remotely via internet. VMware, a Sillicon Valley firm, was responsible for ushering in the era of cloud computing. SmarTrend currently has VMware in an Uptrend. Since 2008, SmarTrend subscribers trading VMware using our alerts outperformed the stock by 37%. We are monitoring these developments and will alert subscribers to any change in trend.

It's interesting to analyse VMware's strategy in the cloud, as I attempted in my blog post - especially when it comes to VMware's stronghold - virtualization technology!

Telecom companies best positioned for cloud services

In a new report from the Yankee Group, called "Is IaaS Moving Beyond Just Cloud Fluff?", a survey among early Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) adopters, one-third claimed that telcos would be best suited to provide IaaS services.

The Yankee Group found that 33 percent of early IaaS adopters said telecom companies are best positioned for cloud services.

This is an interesting conclusion - and actually  strengthens my own conclusions as explained in a blog post about telcos finding their niche in the cloud computing business.

Net neutrality and cloud computing

David Linthicum at InfoWorld writes an interesting article on net neutrality and its potential effects on cloud computing.

The concept of allowing specific networks, especially wireless networks, to restrict or prioritize some traffic is a huge threat to the success of cloud computing. If provider networks are allowed to control traffic, they could give priority to the larger cloud computing vendors who write them a big check for the privilege. At the same time, smaller cloud computing upstarts who can't afford the fee will have access to their offerings slowed noticeably, or perhaps not even allowed on the network at all.

While I do not necessarily with his conclusion, as I believe it is vitally important for mobile operators to protect and, if needed, prioritize the limited resources that mobile bandwidth is, I agree that traffic prioritizing must be monitored carefully - as users should be informed about the type of services that are given any type of prioritization.  

CloudComputingTopics  

Cloud computing - jurisdiction of data

The Gehrson Lehrman Group provides an interesting article on jurisdiction of data in the cloud - which is one of the top 5 cloud computing security issues according to ComputerWeekly. From the GLG site:

Agreements can be made concerning the jurisdiction over disputes concerning the data. However, disputes involving other entities not parties to that agreement may not be subject to the agreement. Accordingly, cloud computing presents uncertainty and has the potential for future disputes concerning jurisdiction.

I addressed this issue shortly in earlier post on CloudComputingTopics. Clearly, the data location and jurisdiction issue is one of the more sensitive and thorny concerns in cloud computing that need to be addressed through international cooperation on legislature levels. 

Good YouTube video on cloud computing growth

There are many good videos available you YouTube explaining the concept and growth of cloud computing. Here is one from AMD that I am going to use in a presentation for CloudComputingTopics

CCT recommends the Cloud Codex white paper

CloudComputingTopics must recommend the "Cloud Codex" white paper from the 451 Group for anyone interested in learning more about cloud computing. The Cloud Codex does and excellent work in defining cloud computing, explaining its service modes and primary service types. There is a lot of misunderstanding about cloud computing and the Cloud Codex attempts to answer a set of basic questions, including:

• What are cloud services?

• What are the criteria – hard and fast – for defining a cloud?

• What are the different deployment models for an enterprise cloud?

• Which cloud services will providers offer?

• What features must be developed in order for cloud computing to reach a level of general deployment?

Are telcos struggling in finding their cloud computing niche?

Are telcos loosing in the race of becoming viable cloud computing service providers? At least it seems that many telcos have had a difficult time in positioning themselves in the cloud ecosphere or even decide what cloud services to offer. Obviously, this does not equally apply to all telcos. Verizon, for example, seem to have already come a long way in providing a robust IaaS services through their Communication-as-a-service (CaaS) offering, stressing in particular data security, bandwidth guarantees and SLAs, and BT in the UK are providing, or reselling, a bundle of third-party applications as SaaS services enhanced by value-added services like billing, security and more.
However, some analysts maintain that telcos have a difficult time in becoming a dominant cloud computing player or even identifying their particular niche. Analyst Jeff Kaplan, points out that telcos are still struggling to figure out managed services that already have been around for a decade, and SaaS is still far from their reach. Telcos are also not exactly known for their innovation pace and therefore are in danger of being bypassed by more agile service providers.

While this may have some truth in it, I tend to see a number of inherent strengths that telcos are in a particularly good position to capitalize upon. For one thing, telcos in general have a good reputation for reliability and security, based on their legacy of running mission critical systems (voice and networks). People expect telcos to deliver services with high uptime and reliability. The five-nines, representing 99.999% uptime is a famous reference to the expectations and benchmark that telcos have traditionally placed on their services.

Telcos are in a good position to deliver better than “best-effort” service delivery on the Internet. They can for example provide guaranteed bandwidth in their networks, including MPLS and VPN connections and, through their traditional association with multiple peering-pints and exchange points, capable to establish multi-carrier guaranteed bandwidth for business customers that require high-quality services.

Through their extensive communication services, telcos can provide value-added and bundled services with third-party application providers, e.g. SaaS providers. This can include networking and phone services. Another interesting aspect is the concept of “mash-up” services with a vast range of applications available through the cloud. Telcos can provide and integrate various services and data, including idendity management, location information and billing capabilities with other applications and thereby provide cloud services with added value to their customers.

Certainly there are many more opportunities available for telcos to capitalise upon in the cloud that will become more visible in the coming months and years. Let’s not forget that cloud computing is still in its infancy and a lot may still change before cloud computing becomes a mainstream and the primary IT provisioning and service delivery channel for businesses.