Cloud computing. The definition for that two-word term varies greatly depending on who’s doing the talking. But during Atlanta Linux Fest, held Sept. 19, Canonical’s John Pugh offered a simple definition that brings order to cloud computing, SaaS (software as as service), platform as a service (PaaS) and some other hot terms in IT. Here’s the scoop.
During a cloud computing presentation, Canonical‘s Pugh stuck with well-known metaphors to describe cloud computing — comparing it to electricity and other utilities that you can power up (or down) based on your customers’ needs. But Pugh caught my attention when he described different types of cloud computing technologies and models.
Generally speaking, Pugh says there are three types of cloud deployment models:
- Public Clouds: Such as Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud and Windows Azure
- Private Clouds:Deployed on-premise behind the customer’s firewall
- Hybrid Clouds: For instance, a retailer that extends their private cloud to a public cloud during busy holiday sales cycles
Pugh also says there are three types of cloud delivery models:
- Software as a Service (SaaS): Focused on a specific application such as Salesforce.com, NetSuite or Canonical’s own Landscape
- Platform as a Service (PaaS): Focused on an operating environment (such as Windows Azure) for deploying applications
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) or GoGrid, IaaS manages all the hardware so that you can scale up operating systems and applications at a moment’s notice.
That’s cloud computing in four paragraphs. Certainly, definitions will vary from person to person. Was Pugh on the mark? Did he miss any key areas of the cloud computing market?
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Posted In: Software as a Service and Hardware as a Service
Tags: Amazon Web Services | Canonical John Pugh | Canonical Ubuntu | GoGrid | IaaS | Infrastructure as a Service | PaaS | Platform as a Service | SaaS | Software as a Service and Hardware as a Service
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Joe,
The definition that John Pugh used was originally defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
You can find their definition here:
http://csrc.nist.gov/groups/SNS/cloud-computing/index.html
Nick
Hey Nick: Thanks for the link.
-jp
You may want to take a look at the Cloud Computing Use Cases White Paper which extends the definations identified used by NIST : http://www.scribd.com/doc/17929394/Cloud-Computing-Use-Cases-Whitepaper.
Dave
There’s also CCIT and countless other cloud computing forums and discussions. I’ll opt for the NIST definition…nice, simple, and just what cloud computing is, mostly. A refreshing respite from all the hype over ‘The Cloud’
Jim Van
Logicomm, Inc.
http://www.logicomm-inc.com
Treb Ryan From OpSource spoke on this back in March at the SaaS Summit, and quite a bit recently as OpSource’s launches the True Enterprise Cloud. The Web driven UI and the Community that build around the Cloud are huge factors as well.
And Consumer clouds are different than Enterprise clouds because of the nature of the enterprise. They have much tighter security, performance, and control requirements than the typical consumer. Check out the video on Delivering the Enterprise Cloud. OpSource does a good job breaking down what is needed and how they are addressing it.
http://www.opsourcecloud.net/products/
Dave@3: I’ll check out that white paper. Do you represent the white paper’s author?
Jim@4: I’m all for refreshing content, I’ll check that out.
Rick@5: Thanks for weighing in. Do you represent OpSource?
Thanks again to each of you for the dialog.
-jp
[...] http://www.mspmentor.net/2009/09/21/cloud-computing-explained-in-four-paragraphs/ [...]
Here’s a business explanation of cloud computing: http://blog.makingitclear.com/2009/09/09/cloud/
Harwell: That’s your blog, correct? For readers who don’t know you please tell us more about your background. We always try to put reader comments in proper context. Thanks for checking in with MSPmentor.
-jp
Joe,
I work for OpSource and can speak a bit, but I would not be a formal representative. Just a fan of Clouds, MSPmentor, and VARguy. However, I can get you in touch with someone if desired.
Rick Lebherz
Joe asked for information about my background, so here goes. I’m a former IT executive with over 35 years of IT experience, a lot of it in software development and in IT due diligence for acquisitions. I started MakingITclear, Inc. in 2002 to help CIO’s better explain IT to business people. I started my newletter/blog for CIO’s in 2003. I’ve also got a book out: “Boiling the IT Frog: How to Make Your Business Information Technology Wildly Successful Without Having to Learn Anything Technical.” To learn more, see http://www.makingitclear.com/
Harwell: Thanks for the deeper details about your background. Please be sure to stay in touch and best wishes for success with your book.
-jp
I think Cloud seems to get so much attention because its tied in with SAAS or the _AAS delivery model which everyone seems to be in love with.
That will pass and the cloud will remain effective but probably most effective in a hybrid with on premise applications.
Stu
[...] is cloud computing? (MSPMentor) tweetmeme_style = ‘compact’; tweetmeme_service = ‘bit.ly’; tweetmeme_source = ‘marketnut’; [...]
[...] Cloud Computing Explained In Four Paragraphs [...]
There is alot of confusion of cloud computing , it often gets mixed with inhouse and offshore services.In addition there is alot of terms that we have to come familiar with public cloud , private cloud semi public-private cloud and different architectures involved. I have found a few videos that are educative for the layman to understand check the link below
http://hotfile.com/list/957666/b218f0b
Lefaust: We certainly appreciate reader perspectives and educational links. But can you please disclose your company affiliation and any potential relationships you have with HotFile? Thanks.
-jp
now I understand… thanks for your post I’ve learned a lot. I’ve been looking about this topic yet hard to find the real one and I found yours! Truly helpful thanks..