Cloud

Major IT companies are touting Cloud services these days, but we are frequently asked by confused customers, what exactly is the "Cloud?"

Cloud is really a concept rather than an object.  A concept that encapsulates multiple technologies (some mature and some new) into one unified framework.  Further, it is an ever-changing concept, with new shades of meaning as new technologies emerge.  Wikipedia offers the most common definition:

"Cloud computing is Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices on demand…"

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing>

Do you have an email account with Yahoo, Hotmail, or Gmail?  Congratulations, you are using a Cloud service.  Application delivery on demand over the internet; you do not know exactly how these services store, backup, or deliver your email, but you can access your data via web browser from anywhere.

The newest development in this field is private clouds; replicating this internet model inside of a business.  Private clouds are natural evolution of server virtualization.  Virtualization effectively separates  the operating system (OS) from the hardware, making virtual machines portable and highly resilient.

If we consider "Cloud" as the delivery of applications, information, and resources to the end-user without the end user having detailed knowledge or consideration of the underlying system architecture, virtualization is Cloud computing.  And any new features that expand virtualization to include more high availability, disaster recovery, etc. can all be summarized with the Cloud moniker.  Offsite backups over the internet?  A cloud service.  Replicating virtual servers to a hot site for disaster recovery?  A cloud service as well.  Storage virtualization - Cloud.  And more we cannot think of yet.

Cloud in any form should reap the following benefits:

• Reduce hardware costs - cloud services are pay as you go.  Instead of predicting utilization to purchase a monster server you never use, allocate resources as needed.
• Reduce software costs - why purchase three servers' worth of software when one, expandable virtual server can fit the demand?
• Improve your disaster recovery stance - whether you host offsite in a robust, secure data center, or backup offsite, you have far more options than with physical hardware and backup tapes.
• Reduce administration - less hardware and software means less to maintain.

“I cannot keep up with hardware and software upgrades, can the "cloud" a really control costs?”  “If my company "moves to the Cloud," where is my data and who will manage it?”

Over the last 10 years, Blade Technologies has been a leader in delivering IT Solutions to small and medium businesses in the St. Louis area.  Starting in 2011, we will offer a suite of Cloud Solutions to fit any sized business and budget.  Together with our partners, we can provide a secure home for your data and a local presence to handle any IT support need.