Renting a flat or buying a cottage

Embrace the cloud computing

The Cloud Computing is a topic that I often endeavour to explain even to IT specialists. According to the definition provided by Wikipedia, <<Cloud computing is the use of computing resources (hardware and software) that are delivered as a service over a network (typically the Internet)>>.
Furthermore, the NIST enriches the definition presenting the 5 characteristics required by cloud services and proposing three service models (Cloud Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud Platform as a Service (PaaS), Cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)). Although the above definitions are very precise and well structured, there is evident difficulty in understanding the concepts behind the cloud computing and identify the key factors to carefully assess before embrace a cloud service.

In these situations, when you must communicate complex concepts in a simple way, the use of a simile often comes in handy. The classical approach to IT management compared to the cloud approach may be considered similar to renting a flat in a city against buying a cottage in the countryside.

Using a cloud service is like living in a flat. It is possible to live quietly with tidy and respectful neighbours or face coexistence challanges (instances/tenants using the same HW). It is necessary to deal with shared services such as stairs, balconies and garden (computing, storage and networking) and be sure that the residents comply with building regulation (QOS policy of the provider). Obviously, a building located in the downtown residential area is definitely more reliable than one located in a suburb.

Estimate the Provider Reputation

How long does the provider operate in the business?

What is the provider history?

What are the clients? Case studies and Testimonials?

There will be in the next 5 or 10 years?

At the same time, it is important to look carefully at the security features provided like the alarm system, the armoured door, the surveillance. In the case of an owned house, I could setup all the stuff to guarantee an acceptable security. In a rented apartment, I can only accept the current security systems or negotiate additional security with the flat owner.

Request a Trustworthy Service

What is the Service Level of Agreement (SLA)?

What is the guaranteed uptime? Yearly or monthly?

Are there service credits in case of failure?

What are the certifications and accreditations owned by the provider?

ISO 27001? SAS70? PCI?

Moreover, a flat in the city enables us to benefits from services and opportunities not available or affordable in countryside. For example the proximity to the work place (provide global services with low latency by using CDS), mobility services (access the service from everywhere using Internet and from every device), social services and security services.

Take Advantage of the New Opportunities

What is the full range of services of the cloud provider?

Rethink the current in-house service; do not just move to the cloud.

May I benefit of additional security or availability?

A rented flat lets us easily move to another location (provider change) if our needs change and are no longer satisfied by the current accommodation. Another reason for a forced relocation happens if the owner simply goes bankrupt.

Keep your door open

Adopt service loose coupling principle for provide/api/platform

Are used Open Standard or widely used technologies?

Are there procedures or standard data formats or services interfaces

that could guarantee data, application and service portability?

Are there additional costs for data export?

Rent an apartment in town definitely brings undoubted advantages such as the minimal front-end investment required due to the possibility of changing flat as long as the needs change (Rapid Elasticity). There are no maintenance costs. You can also enjoy common services (Resource Pooling). Living in the city the mobility is simplified by using subways, trains and taxi (Broad network access). Anyways, as long as the needs increase requiring a house of considerable size, a car, a garage, the costs can considerably increase.

Save money redesigning your service according the cloud principles

Take advantages of no upfront-costs.

Take advantage of the elasticity, no spare resource.

Take advantage of the reduced operational costs.

Adopt the KISS approach.

Consider that the cost may be greater than colocation or in-house on large scale.

The Cloud Computing is an interesting opportunity for IT. It unleashes development and operation functions from the chains of the physical equipment. It allows redesigning the service according to the agile principles generally adopted only in the software development (this cloud be a topic for a new post). Moreover, it opens up solutions and service levels not affordable in the classical approach unless of huge investments.
Do not make the mistake by simply considering Cloud Computing as just a new technology. It is a new paradigm in the development of infrastructure and services. Using the estabilished approaches and methodologies in the cloud is worthless and, sometime, even counterproductive.

The three key words of Cloud Computing are speed, elasticity and new opportunities.

Have fun!

Further readings:              

               The Wikipedia Definition of Cloud Computing
               The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing
               Cloud Computing Security Risk Assessment

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