a history of enterprise cloud computing

7/29/2019 A History Of Enterprise Cloud Computing

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A PWR EXECUTIVE SERIES REPORT

8-14-13

A HISTORY OF

ENTERPRISE CLOUDCOMPUTING

Your Source for Concise Analysis and Positioning of KeyMission Critical software Industry Issues


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-______________________________________________________________________

A PWR EXECUTIVE SERIES REPORT Your Source for Concise Analysis and Positioning of Key

Mission Critical software Industry Issues

8-14-13

ABSTRACT

A HISTORY OF ENTERPRISE CLOUD COMPUTING

Cloud computing relies on sharing of resources to achieve coherence and economies ofscale similar to a utility (like the electricity grid) over a network. At the foundation ofcloud computing is the broader concept of converged infrastructure and sharedservices. This report uses Verizons Terremark's secure, top-tier datacenters as anexample platform.

The cloud also focuses on maximizing the effectiveness of the shared resources. Cloudresources are usually not only shared by multiple users but as well as dynamically re-allocated as per demand. This can work for allocating resources to users in differenttime zones. For example, a cloud computer facility which serves European users duringEuropean business hours with a specific application (e.g. email) while the sameresources are getting reallocated and serve North American users during North

America's business hours with another application (e.g. web server). This approachshould maximize the use of computing powers thus reducing environmental damage aswell, since less power, air conditioning, rackspace, and so on, is required for the samefunctions.

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INTRODUCTION

A HISTORY OF ENTERPRISE CLOUD COMPUTING

The Enterprise Cloud

The Enterprise Cloud combines the power and flexibility of infrastructure-as-a-servicewith the expertise, security and availability that large organizations with mission-criticalcomputing needs demand of their infrastructure.

Cloud hosting comes with an easy-to-use Web-based management interface thatprovides command and control over a cloud-based resource pool of compute, storage

and network built on a fully clustered enterprise-class computing architecture featuringvirtualization technology from VMware, the industry leader in enterprise virtualization,and housed in Verizons Terremark's secure, top-tier datacenters.

Because it's based on resources, not large and inflexible server units, cloud hostingallows for precise and dynamic allocation of computing resources when and wherethey're needed. Based on Terremark's proven Infrastructure, utility computing platform,massive and diverse network connectivity, and top-tier data centers; the EnterpriseCloud has the scale, performance and security to meet all your enterprise's needs.

The Evolution of Enterprise Cloud Computing

The Enterprise Cloud gives customers a discrete, dedicated pool of compute resources(CPU, memory, and storage) where you create and manage your own virtual servers.You can also control load balancers and firewall resources allocated to yourenvironment without requiring specialized knowledge or assistance. All of this throughan easy-to-use Web console.

Cloud computinghas evolved through a number of phases which include grid and utilitycomputing, application service provision (ASP), and Software as a Service (SaaS).

But the overarching concept of delivering computing resources through a global network

is rooted in the sixties.

The idea of an "intergalactic computer network"was introduced in thesixties by J.C.R.Licklider, who was responsible for enabling the development of ARPANET (AdvancedResearch Projects Agency Network) in 1969.

His vision was for everyone on the globe to be interconnected and accessing programsand data at any site, from anywhere, explained Margaret Lewis, product marketing
http://www.terremark.com/services/infrastructure-cloud-services/network-connectivity.aspxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computinghttp://www.kurzweilai.net/articles/art0366.html?printable=1http://www.kurzweilai.net/articles/art0366.html?printable=1http://www.cc.gatech.edu/classes/cs6751_97_fall/projects/follow_me/hw4/licklider.htmlhttp://www.cc.gatech.edu/classes/cs6751_97_fall/projects/follow_me/hw4/licklider.htmlhttp://www.cc.gatech.edu/classes/cs6751_97_fall/projects/follow_me/hw4/licklider.htmlhttp://www.cc.gatech.edu/classes/cs6751_97_fall/projects/follow_me/hw4/licklider.htmlhttp://www.cc.gatech.edu/classes/cs6751_97_fall/projects/follow_me/hw4/licklider.htmlhttp://www.cc.gatech.edu/classes/cs6751_97_fall/projects/follow_me/hw4/licklider.htmlhttp://www.kurzweilai.net/articles/art0366.html?printable=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computinghttp://www.terremark.com/services/infrastructure-cloud-services/network-connectivity.aspx


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director at AMD. "It is a vision that sounds a lot like what we are calling cloudcomputing."

Other experts attribute the cloud concept to computer scientist John McCarthy whoproposed the idea of computation being delivered as a public utility, similar to theservice bureauswhich date back to the sixties.

Since the sixties, cloud computing has developed along a number of lines, with Web 2.0being the most recent evolution. However, since the internet only started to offersignificant bandwidth in the nineties, cloud computing for the masses has beensomething of a late developer.

One of the first milestones for cloud computing was the arrival of Salesforce.com in1999, which pioneered the concept of delivering enterprise applications via a simplewebsite. The services firm paved the way for both specialist and mainstream softwarefirms to deliver applications over the internet.

The next development was Amazon Web Services in 2002, which provided a suite ofcloud-based services including storage, computation and even human intelligencethrough theAmazon Mechanical Turk.

Then in 2006, Amazon launched its Elastic Compute cloud (EC2) as a commercial webservice that allows small companies and individuals to rent computers on which to runtheir own computer applications.

"Amazon EC2/S3 was the first widely accessible cloud computing infrastructureservice," said Jeremy Allaire, CEO ofBrightcove, which provides its SaaS online videoplatform to UK TV stations and newspapers.

Another big milestone came in 2009, as Web 2.0 hit its stride, and Google and othersstarted to offer browser-based enterprise applications, though services such asGoogle

Apps.

"The most important contribution to cloud computing has been the emergence of "killerapps" from leading technology giants such as Microsoft and Google. When thesecompanies deliver services in a way that is reliable and easy to consume, the knock-oneffect to the industry as a whole is a wider general acceptance of online services," saidDan Germain, chief technology officer at IT service providerCobweb Solutions.

Other key factors that have enabled cloud computing to evolve include the maturing of

virtualization technology, the development of universal high-speed bandwidth, anduniversal software interoperability standards, said UK cloud computing pioneer JamieTurner.

Turner added, "As cloud computing extends its reach beyond a handful of early-adopterGoogle Docs users, we can only begin to imagine its scope and reach. Pretty muchanything can be delivered from the cloud."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCarthy_(computer_scientist)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCarthy_(computer_scientist)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_bureauhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_bureauhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_bureauhttps://www.mturk.com/mturk/welcomehttps://www.mturk.com/mturk/welcomehttps://www.mturk.com/mturk/welcomehttp://www.brightcove.com/http://www.brightcove.com/http://www.brightcove.com/https://www.google.com/a/https://www.google.com/a/https://www.google.com/a/https://www.google.com/a/http://www.cobweb.com/http://www.cobweb.com/http://www.cobweb.com/http://www.cobweb.com/https://www.google.com/a/https://www.google.com/a/http://www.brightcove.com/https://www.mturk.com/mturk/welcomehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_bureauhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Service_bureauhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCarthy_(computer_scientist)


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POSITION & ANALYSIS

Following the cloud

"Many IT professionals recognize the benefits cloud computing offers in terms ofincreased storage, flexibility and cost reduction," said Songnian Zhou, chief executiveofficer ofPlatform Computing.

But he added that IT directors still have concerns about the security of their corporatedata in the cloud. This meant that it could be 2010 at the earliest before cloud adoptioncould see increased growth.

Julian Friedman, a specialist in emerging technologies, said that security and otherconcerns will soon be resolved.

"Considerations such as security, data privacy, network performance and economicsare likely to lead to a mix of cloud computing centers both within the company firewall

and outside of it."

He added that today's applications will naturally move towards a cloud model as theybecome more pervasively available through the web, require more data processing, andspan the boundaries of multiple devices.

Experts seemed to agree that cloud computing will ultimately transform today'scomputing landscape.

Andreas Asander, vice-principal of product management at virtualization securityspecialist Clavister, said that once the security issues are resolved, cloud computing

services "can enable an enterprise to expand its infrastructure, add capacity ondemand, or outsource the whole infrastructure, resulting in greater flexibility, a widerchoice of computing resources and significant cost savings."

It is clear that cloud computing can bring enormous benefits for IT users. However, thebottom line for IT directors is that they will need to continue to manage their internalcomputing environments, whilst learning how to secure, manage and monitor thegrowing range of external resources residing in the cloud.

The Top five cloud computing security issues

In the last few years, cloud computing has grown from being a promising businessconcept to one of the fastest growing segments of the IT industry. Now, recession-hitcompanies are increasingly realizing that simply by tapping into the cloud they can gainfast access to best-of-breed business applications or drastically boost theirinfrastructure resources, all at negligible cost. But as more and more information onindividuals and companies is placed in the cloud, concerns are beginning to grow about

just how safe an environment it is. Here are the top five security issues:
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1. Every breached security system was once thought infallible2. Understand the risks of cloud computing3. How cloud hosting companies have approached security4. Local law and jurisdiction where data is held5. Best practice for companies in the cloud

END

Sources: ComputerWeekly.com, Verizon, IBM, Intel and journals_____________________________________________________________________

Disclaimer: Plant-Wide receives no revenue or compensation of any kind from any vendor

mentioned in this report nor does it endorse any product or company herein.

Plant-Wide Research is a leading research and industry analyst firm that providesindustry benchmarks and commentary, competitive landscape analysis and end-userfeedback in a variety of industry focused reports and services. These reportsincorporate both quantitative and qualitative aspects in order to provide a completepicture of the enterprise applications software market and industry. End-user companiesand organizations use these products and services to assist them in planning, selecting,and maintaining IT investments as well as by the industry providers of applicationssoftware to remain competitive, current with competitors, focus on industry trends, andend-user needs. For more information visit www.plant-wide.com or call 860-319-9972
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