Looking Pretty Cloudy

In expounding upon Brandon's previous look at the future of cloud computing....

Let us start by being very clear about the expected developments in cloud computing: the possibilities are endless. As we near the end of 2014, there are very few industries whose leaders do not handle business in many key aspects by utilizing some form of cloud computing. We are nearing a point of synergy where the cloud is becoming closer to being a synonym for the internet as a whole. In other words, computing without the cloud isn't much for computing in 2015 and beyond. 

We as a group agree with the idea that cloud computing services will become more utility-like in the near future. Eventually, we see the industry shaping up like the telecommunications industry with many regional oligopolies throughout the world that teeter on monopolies. Currently there are many small firms catering to various aspects of cloud computing but eventually the larger firms will purchase or replace the need for these smaller firms.

We expect that American IT workers will be greatly affected as all companies integrate cloud systems and are more easily able to outsource the same work to lower wage employment markets. 

A key factor to consider in the future of cloud computing is going to be how the debate surrounding net neutrality plays out. For those unfamiliar, net neutrality refers to the concept of all internet traffic being treated equally. This topic is hot-button in the tech and data world because large growth companies that use large quantities of data streaming could be stifled if they were treated differently from any other users. This makes data streaming services an industry to watch. Specifically, services such as Netflix are under heavy fire for the major increase in data usage caused by their streaming service. 

Improvements to cellular and wi-fi signals throughout the world will open up more markets for cloud computing. For the cloud to be efficiently integrated throughout an organization or an individual’s life functions, access to high speed internet is essential. As continued improvements are expected in those areas the result will be improvements to cloud computing. 

These are all of course general aspects we can expect to occur. Likely, major, unpredictable innovation in the field will create the path for this area of the technology world. 

What You Can Expect from the Cloud in the Future

It is no secret that cloud computing has transformed the way that not only people, but businesses run their daily activities. It has given them a way to make these daily activities more efficient, less costly, and much easier to use. Although the cloud is pretty amazing as it sits, programmers are still trying to improve upon it. The following are just a touch of the things that you can expect from the cloud in the future.

In the future you can count on increased innovation because of increased competition in the cloud. Competition is the fuel for innovation; everyone wants to create the newest thing that will take off and make him or her the most money. The new and improved cloud space will give businesses the place to spread their new innovative ideas causing others to feel the need to innovate new ideas products, and services.

Along with increased innovation, there will be a low-power processor chip meaning that clouds will become cheaper in the future. It is said that we are about a year away from the development of new cloud software that will use much less power to run because of the new “low-power chips” used in the software. This will mean that businesses that use cloud computing will be spending less money on cloud software saving them money in the short and long run.

Lastly, one thing you can expect from the cloud in the future is much more application availability. Global Technology said that by 2016, over a quarter of all the applications available will be available through the cloud. That means that almost all of the processes that a company uses will be available through some sort of cloud service making their businesses just that more efficient and that much easier to run.

Cloud computing is the future of information technology. Its possibilities are almost endless. It has so many different applications and the fact that it can always be improved will keep it around for many years. With more availability, more cost efficiency, and improved capabilities creating new innovation, there is no telling what businesses and people in the future are going to use it for. 

Cloud Computing Innovation

With the demand for cloud computing on the rise everyone seems to be wondering the same thing:

 What is the next “Big Idea”?

What is the next new innovation? 

Last year Fortune Magazine spoke about the super computer known as Titan. Titan has the processing capability of over 500,000 laptops. Titan, in and of its self, is truly remarkable but the software behind the computer is what allows it to run so efficiently.  Software programs similar to the one used for Titan are also used in cloud computing. It will be this type of software that will lead cloud computing into the future and is the newest innovation for cloud computing.

Businesses transitioning into cloud computing and those already using cloud computing are now looking for and developing new software programs to improve the Cloud and its functionality.  Enabling the use innovative software programs in the Cloud will allow for more efficient cloud computing systems, which in turn will lead to serving customers and clients more quickly—a big perk for both business and their customers. Businesses spend thousands of dollars each year making a mainframe system for a single software program. Implementing software development on the Cloud will eliminate the majority of these costs.  Because the software can be created and implemented in the Cloud funds will not need to be allocated so heavily to research and development. Also, businesses can experiment with new software programs within the cloud without taking on risk. Risk being the money put into developing new software that may or may not work.

What about innovation on the global perspective?

Cloud computing is expected to bridge a gender gap within the technological realm in the coming years. Companies will be looking to hire employees with a strong knowledge base of cloud computing and cloud computing systems.  Universities will be accepting more applicants and companies like Intel are creating programs to promote female participation in the movement. Intel has started paying for half of the registration fee for women who wish to attend the IC3 or IT Cloud Computing Conference in San Francisco. Intel is one of many companies pushing for more female involvement in computing technology.

Please tune in next week as we continue to take a deeper look at cloud computing and all it has to offer.

A Deeper Look into Cloud Computing:

How does it Work:

Many of us are familiar with the various cloud computing services provided by Google Drive, Microsoft’s OneDrive, Apple’s iCloud, Dropbox, Amazon Cloud Drive, the new IBM Cloud, and many more. This mutual understanding of cloud computing is but only superficial in that it only scratches the surface. This blog unveils cloud computing for what it truly is! Cloud computing allows an individual or business entity the ability and power to access documents both near and far away, as long as the user (individual or business entity) has access to the server, without having to store them on a single device or on many devices. This makes business operations flow a lot smoother and bridges the communication gap between international companies by eliminating the delivery time often required, of postal services, to deliver a document, folder, product, etc. from one continent to another by streaming it through one of these cloud services.

How does cloud computing enable users to access documents remotely. What is behind the intricacies of cloud computing that provides cloud computing the capabilities of acting as a flash drive, floppy disk, or cd without the hassle of lugging around a small piece of plastic that could easily wind up between the seat cushions in ones couch?

“…is it through the use of information systems?” – Class Participant

Absolutely! Traditionally companies would spend thousands of dollars on hardware, software, and services that take up a lot of time as well as a lot of space in the business and would be located on-site so the company could easily access the information. This was before information could be streamed via cloud computing like it can be today! With the innovative uses of cloud computing services, provided via the internet, companies are now able to reduce time and money that would have been spent on developing hardware, software, and services that were required to store and analyze data and benefit from that made up time by allocating those unused funds towards other IT resources.

“Did you say the internet?”

Yes, “…cloud computing uses the internet…” as the primary source of communication between the user and the cloud computing service provider.

Cloud computing consists of highly optimized virtual data centers that provide software, hardware, or information resources when needed. The cloud computing service deploys three different models to customers: Private, Public, and Hybrid. The Private Model provides cloud computing to one organization on a private network and is highly secure for example, intercompany business activities. The Public Model is owned by the cloud service provider and offers the highest efficiencies because there is a larger volume of users on the network such as YouTube. The Hybrid Model is the combination of the Private and the Public models, cloud services such as iTunes, Google Drive and Amazon Cloud Drive. Within each of these models is one of three services: Iaas, Paas, and SaaS.

-  Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) means that the organization has control over its infrastructure including computing power and storage capacity.

- Platform as a Service (PaaS) means that the organization is provided a platform where it can create and develop applications.

- Software as a Service (SaaS) means that the organization has been provided a ready to use application that use a combination of cloud based computations and storage services that can be customized to suit the organization.

Why do users flock to the scene when someone mentions CLOUD COMPUTING if it relies so heavily on the internet?

#1 – For storage and analysis of large amounts of data

#2 – For collaboration effectiveness

#3 – For customer or user information data

Cloud computing offers a variety of benefits through cost efficient solutions. Think about it, no longer do you have to frantically search through your couch cushions to find a flash drive that may not even be there or build an expensive hardware or software system that may not work properly or efficiently. Instead everything is in an easy to access storage unit known as a data center and is being analyzed for you. Not only that but it solves the issue of being unable to communicate information to colleagues and as a result expedites project completion times.  Then it goes a step further and provides information about who has accessed the information on the cloud (also the data center). Then cloud computing closes the deal by offering different levels of user access such as Private, Public and Hybrid and different services such as IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS.  

What does cloud computing mean for big businesses and small firms? Tune in to our next blog to find out more!

Introducing Cloud Computing

What is cloud computing?

Businesses now a days use cloud computing to store, manage, and process data rather than a local server or a personal computer. With cloud computing you do not have to manage your hardware and software because the application does it for you. Think of the cloud as the internet’s virtual storage locker. As more and more companies have converted their data to entirely digital formats, the less they have needed to spend in high cost storage of paper files.


 The benefits to utilizing cloud computing are rather infinite and are just beginning to be utilized in major ways in business. One of the more obvious benefits beyond simply storing files is the remote access cloud computing provides. You can log into your data anywhere and anytime. It goes everywhere you go without any hassle.  There are many cloud computing applications and some people use them without realizing that it's part of cloud computing.  For example: Web-based cloud services, SaaS (Software as a Services), Platform as a Service, Utility cloud services, Managed services, and Service Commerce. These are just a few examples of what cloud computing can do because there will always be new ideas regarding the use of clouds.

Cloud Computing is:

• Online Storage of digital files
• Remote Access to those files from anywhere with internet access
• a way to increase business capacity and efficiency to cut operational costs
• The word “cloud” being used metaphorically to describe the intangible aspect of the online digital storage

Cloud Computing is not:

• In any way shape or form related to meteorology, weather patterns, Native American rain dances, or stratospheric/tropospheric/various types of actual physical clouds, etc.  

While many may be unfamiliar with cloud computing in business even as they are using it, many have become familiar in recent weeks with some of the various web-based cloud services such as Google Drive, Microsoft’s OneDrive, Apple’s icloud, Dropbox, Amazon Cloud Drive etc. In fact, these email and retail accounts are examples of cloud computing themselves. Accessing your gmail account remotely from a computer lab or cell phone or friend’s computer to retrieve messages and attachments previously sent or received is essentially cloud computing at its core.

We will be taking a deeper look into these and the other types of cloud computing platforms and applications in future blogs. For now, those interested should start by trying out one of these web-based services as they are free (with limitations) and are tied directly to accounts many of you already have either through email or an online retailer such as Amazon.