Here we offer just a few of the commonly used, abused and creative buzzwords swirling around cloud computing today, along with some clarification as to their actual relevance to the cloud.

 The Cloud

What it isn’t: People sometimes talk about “the cloud” as if it were a single destination.  The cloud is not a place, or one big tech repository in the sky, but rather a methodology for IT service delivery.

 What it is: The cloud is a fundamentally new way of delivering, consuming and adopting IT services that can lead to greater agility, efficiency and cost-effectiveness over some traditional approaches.

 Hybrid Cloud

What it isn’t: You have likely heard a lot about public clouds and private clouds and may believe you have to pick one or the other. Not so.

 What it is: A hybrid cloud is a cloud computing environment in which an organization provides and manages some resources in-house, such as strategic legacy applications and systems, and has others provided externally. It’s like having your cloud cake and eating it, too.

 Cloud computing

What it isn’t: Cloud computing is definitely not as confusing as all the acronyms make it seem!

 What it is: The term “cloud computing” was inspired by the cloud symbol that is often used to represent the Internet in flowcharts and diagrams. It covers anything that involves delivering hosted services over the Internet. These services are broadly divided into sub-category buzzwords: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS). And not to be left off the “…as a Service” train, we’re also now seeing:

• CaaS: Compute as a Service
• DaaS or DNSaaS: DNS as a Service (We love it when an acronym is used as part of a definition. This one is Domain as a Service, or Domain Name Service as a Service….)
• STaaS: Storage as a Service
• VaaS: Video as a Service
• EaaS: Everything as a Service (This is one of our favorites.)
• SaaS: Security as a Service (We know. This was listed earlier as Software as a Service, but in a different context it can mean something else. Try to keep up.)

 The Bottom Line on Buzzwords

 We know that the cloud is not a place or an island, and that moving to the cloud is not like moving to a new city where you pack everything up and just put it in a new place. You don’t put all of your IT services “out there” and then lose all interconnectivity and access. Your cloud strategy can be deployed anywhere – your datacenter, a third party’s data center, or a combination of both – with your strategic legacy applications and systems remaining in place. And if you can spoon through the acronym alphabet soup, there are a growing number of cloud service options available to help support your company’s cloud strategy. 

So tell us – did we miss any? What cloud-related acronyms have you been hearing? 

Multiply. When making the decision to access and rely upon servers provided by a third party, it is crucial to ensure that there is redundancy built in so that all data is accessible at all times. The first step is to partner with a service provider that offers data storage in multiple locations with multiple access options. The second is to create more than one copy of your files in the cloud with interconnections that allow for real-time updates. This approach will help mitigate any concerns around potential business interruption should a server become temporarily unavailable.

Migrate. Successful cloud deployments consist of more than a simple upload of applications into the cloud, and lack of planning could result in poor performance, outages and even increased costs. Take the time to properly migrate applications to the cloud. By following a methodical, carefully considered approach that includes step-by-step testing, mistakes are less likely to occur.

Manage. Informed users are happy users. Setting and managing user expectations help to keep internal customers cognizant of data handling policies and reinforce data security. By proactively communicating best practice application usage policies to staff, the IT-user relationship is strengthened and the risk of exposing sensitive data is reduced.

Monitor. Having applications in the cloud should not result in an “out of sight, out of mind” mentality. It is important to keep an eye on things. Proper monitoring and application performance management will ensure any problems that arise are caught before they get too serious.

Maintain. Moving applications to the cloud does not discharge an organization of its responsibility for them. Work in partnership with your cloud service provider as you would a landlord, understanding that while they are responsible for the physical infrastructure maintenance, you as the “tenant” are responsible for application patches and updates. In a cloud provider scenario, ultimately it is the consumer’s responsibility to protect the integrity of any applications they have running in the cloud.

Thoughtfully considered data redundancy and migration plans set the stage for a smooth transition to the cloud. Implementing consistent user policies coupled with application monitoring and maintenance help to keep a cloud environment running smoothly.

Virtualization is part of a physical infrastructure. Cloud computing is a service.

With virtualization, infrastructure resources like computing environments, operating systems, storage devices or network components are simulated and then allocated to virtual machines that run in a physical server typically referred to as the “host.”  By allowing multiple instances of infrastructure resources to run on the same hardware, end user complications are minimized and IT resources are maximized.

Cloud computing is built on top of a virtualized infrastructure and is a service that, via the internet, delivers shared computing resources, software or data on demand. This service comes in a variety of different service models – Software as a Service (SaaS), Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and Platform as a Service (PaaS) – and can further reduce the complexity, cost and burden of virtualized IT resources.

For users of either technology, it’s easy to understand how the two terms can be confused, as the applications or data they’re accessing are pulled from a virtual machine somewhere unconnected to a physical host. To make the difference a little easier to remember, here are some things to keep in mind:

• While every cloud is composed of virtual infrastructure, not every virtual infrastructure is part of a cloud.
• Virtualization is essentially one physical computer acting as multiple computing environments whereas cloud computing is multiple computers acting as the one computing environment. 
• Cloud computing is an approach for the delivery of services while virtualization is one possible service that could be delivered. 
• Virtualization provides more servers on the same hardware and cloud computing provides measured resources within a pay-per-use model. 

 A common analogy around home building is often used to simplify the concept: Many homes are built on top of a basement. The basement is great for storage as well as additional living space, but it is not a requirement to build a home even though it may provide additional benefits to the home. Think of cloud computing as home building and virtualization as the basement and you’ll get the idea.

 While every company has its own specific requirements that need to be addressed in order to move to a hosted environment, there are five basic, yet critical, questions all organizations should ask before signing on the dotted line.

1. Is your solution scalable? Whether your company experiences rapid growth or an unforeseen change, it’s important to understand if a cloud solution is able to scale its provisions up, out, and down. Prepare a few “what if” scenarios and compare responses from each vendor. Be sure to ask about any restrictions around monthly contracts and if there is a way to avoid excess costs from any over-provisioned services.
2. Do your processes and technologies stand up to recommendations from the IT industry’s leading organizations? Find out if the provider looks to industry-trusted organizations like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for guidance in developing secure, integrated cloud offerings. Ask if they go beyond these standards in any way for broad items such as Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements No. 16 (SSAE 16), 800-53 high-impact security controls, and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 27001, as well as industry-specific regulations such as HIPAA and HITECH (healthcare), PCI DSS (retail), and FISMA (government).
3. What is the basis of your cloud infrastructure? Think about how you write, deploy and measure the performance of your applications today, and ask if the offering will require any changes to your approach. With an understanding of what is behind the cloud architecture and its ability to enable transparent, real-time insight, management and control, you’ll be better able to compare the scope of your transition with each potential vendor.
4. How does your service level agreement (SLA) compare to that of your competitors? Once you’ve narrowed your vendor options, perform a side-by-side comparison of the security, availability and performance each has to offer. This will allow you to review all high points that align with what your organization expects from its cloud usage.
5. What level of support do you offer? Whether you’re planning to manage your cloud internally or require managed cloud services, you’ll want to know what access to support and customer service is available. Also take the time to reflect on the interaction you’ve had with your potential vendor up to this point. Consider if this is an indication of the level of service you should expect post-sale and if they have established a level of trust.

 Gathering and comparing this information will not only facilitate your vendor selection process, it will also help to establish the elements that are both unique and critical to your organization’s successful cloud deployment. 

A recent article from Infosecurity Magazine reveals that, despite being recognized as a pioneer in cloud computing, an audit conducted by The NASA Office of Inspector General showed several areas in which the organization falls short – specifically in terms of compliance, security and information governance.

NASA’s struggles are not uncommon. Many organizations face these challenges when it comes to cloud deployments. How can you avoid these issues when moving your critical infrastructure and information to the cloud? 

Create governance policies that clearly define authorized cloud initiatives. In this case, the CIO’s office wasn’t kept up to speed on the various cloud projects happening across NASA organizations. Putting in place consistent procedures for vetting, approving, monitoring and measuring your cloud initiatives will enable transparency and accountability across the organization.

Ensure that your infrastructure – and service provider – is compliant with necessary industry standards. In the audit, it was revealed that, despite having a contract with a vendor who met the requirements of FedRAMP (The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program), leveraging that contract was not mandated for NASA organizations. Keep it simple – if your industry demands compliance with specific industry standards, find appropriate vendors you can trust, then implement a policy that defines authorized vendors. Working closely and consistently with solid partners establishes trust and confidence that your organization can count on.

Set a high standard for security – and then demand that it be met. As part of the NASA audit, five cloud service contracts were reviewed and, unfortunately, “…none came close to meeting recommended best practices for ensuring data security.” In fact, it was discovered that “…the cloud service used to deliver Internet content for more than 100 NASA internal and public-facing websites had been operating for more than 2 years without written authorization or system security or contingency plans.” Clear expectations for risk management practices need to be established from the start in order to ensure that critical data is never compromised. And be sure to get it in writing – security, contingency and backup plans need to be confirmed in black and white before making a move to the cloud.

Stick with it – with the right policies and procedures in place, security, governance and compliance are easily achieved in the cloud. According to the article, while NASA is currently spending just one percent of its annual IT budget in the cloud, that number is expected to increase drastically in the next five years as more than 75 percent of new programs are expected to start in the cloud.

If you want to learn more about NASA’s results, check out this video summary of the audit report, presented by Brian Mullins, Deputy Assistant Inspector General for Audits.

Tell us – what does compliance and governance look like in your organization? Could your infrastructure stand up to an audit by The NASA Office of Inspector General?

 Below are five tips for building a business case for the cloud that will help to get your executive team on board with your cloud strategies.

1. Know – and partner with – your audience.

It may be that your CIO is tech-savvy and eager to embrace new technologies, but your CFO or CEO is risk-averse and wary of undertaking anything new or unfamiliar. Knowing ahead of time how each executive approaches potential change will help you to prepare your business case so that it speaks to any pre-existing biases or concerns. When meeting with the executive team, be sure to take the time to ask questions. Keep in mind that you are looking for partners to support your strategy – address any concerns and make sure they feel heard. 

2. Do your homework.

In addition to knowing your company direction and how the cloud can help support company goals, prepare to answer questions about your organization’s current IT state. Assemble a team of key stakeholders – those that will be most impacted by your proposed changes – before you meet with your executives and brainstorm the roadblocks that would stand between your company and cloud adoption, as well as solutions. Provide facts and examples of successful cloud deployments that support your strategy.

 3. Present a detailed plan.

Outline proposed ownership (IT), project timeline (short-term and long-term), potential partners, stakeholders, dependent responsibilities, and any other critical items required for a successful transition.

 4. Show them the money.

Quantify cloud adoption by presenting any upfront investments required and recurring costs of a pay-as-you-go model. Forecast returns and predict the business advantages – your CFO will thank you for it.

5. Encourage public support.

Once you have gained buy-in from your executive team, request that the CEO make an internal announcement to all staff outlining the move as a strategic company directive, not just an IT project. This can be done via staff memo or company meeting and will serve as a public show of executive confidence, underscoring the company’s commitment to the cloud and the resources needed for the transition.

 Are there any tips you would like to add to our list, based on your experience pitching a cloud strategy? Comment below

Some companies are still hesitant to move to the cloud for all the usual reasons – security, privacy/legal, and the mission-critical nature of certain applications – but there seem to be regional differences. Fewer EU respondents share these concerns compared to their American peers, but more US respondents are increasing their cloud budgets.

The results of the study were compiled into a great Vegas-themed infographic that ultimately asks: Do you want to bet on the cloud or do you want to bank on it?

What’s the answer for your organization? How do your adoption rates and benefits compare to these results?

Interop New York Sept 30 – Oct 4: Filled with two days of pre-conference workshops followed by three days of lectures, panels and roundtable discussions, Interop is New York’s largest regional tech conference. The topics covered include: cloud computing and virtualization, mobility, business of IT, risk management & security, and more. Strong educational content and great networking across all industries make Interop a conference that will empower you to make smart business decisions.

GamesBeat 2013 Oct 29 – 30, 2013: Gaming remains as popular as ever, and companies that haven’t been a leader in the gaming world before are looking to make a mark. GameBeat 2013 in Redwood City, CA will bring executives and developers from big companies and startups together to discuss the changing times.

Cloud Expo 2013 Nov 4 – 7, 2013: In the last few years the cloud industry has skyrocketed from individual and small business use to something CIOs are using to transform business. The 2013 Cloud Expo in Santa Clara, CA will address this trend by bringing 10,000 industry workers together in many strategic breakout sessions, general sessions and industry keynotes at the biggest event of its kind in the world.

ad:tech New York Nov 6 – 7, 2013: According to Gartner, over 40% of marketers say corporate website, social networking, and digital advertising are the key to their marketing success. If you want to boost your digital marketing presence, ad:tech New York is the place to do it. With over 250 exhibitors and 10,000+ attendees, the November 6 and 7 tech fair is the optimal place to network and stay on the forefront of digital marketing.

Future In Review May 20-23, 2014: The Economist called Future in Review “the best technology conference in the world.” The 2014 conference will be in Laguna Beach, CA, and will continue the annual discussion on the intersection of technology and the economy. The birthplace of global initiatives, the stage for world-class conversation and the conference that turns thought into action, FiRe will meet your expectations.

Make sure to let us know which conferences you’ll be attending in the upcoming year below! 

1. Calculating IOPS

IOPS is input and output per second. A cloud service needs to have a high IOPS if the company has numerous employees and contractors connected to the cloud and/or is working with very large files or a large number of files. The higher the IOPS, the better.

2. Setting Limitations

These days, many company owners are urged to “think outside the box” and “get rid of limitations”. However, this advice is not always wise. Every company has limitations on what it can do and how much it can spend. A wise company owner will assess these limitations before investing in cloud and determine what the company priorities are. A company that focuses on priorities will get a lot more done than a company that tries to do too much too soon.

3. Stay in Step with the Market

It has been noted that about three quarters of all companies simply need to stay on par with the market. What this means is that a company does not need to invest in “the best” in order to grow its customer base and provide a high level of service. A company owner should see what the standard is for his or her industry and then keep on par with it.

These general tips can be applied to any type of business entity, no matter how large or small it is or where it is located. Any company that invests in cloud properly is sure to reap the benefits.

However, there are still people concerned about the security issues around cloud hosting – we understand that fear, as does Mad Graphs. 

Last week Mad Graphs put together this infographic to showcase a few helpful cloud computing statistics to get everyone on the same page. Take a peak at what’s happening in the stratosphere with these insightful statistics:

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