Apparently, our Top Cloud Computing Stories for May podcast was well-received, because David Linthicum invited me back to swap top stories for June. Check out our podcast. Then, consider this: What will be the ‘Tang’ of cloud computing?
If you haven’t seen it yet, Vint Cerf published a thoughtful piece on Cloud Computing and the Internet on the Google Research blog. In the post, Cerf compares the current stage of cloud computing "Each cloud is a system unto itself” to the state of networking in the 1960’s that led to his and Robert Kahn’s work to interconnect proprietary networks and form the internet.
While the entire post is excellent, and well worth the read, I wanted to call out the questions Cerf raises in respect to connecting the clouds, or as some refer to it, the inter-cloud. Because as every architect knows, the right answers only arise from asking the right questions.
Session Abstract: “Cloud computing has dramatically lowered the barriers to entry for new web entrepreneurs wanting to start innovative businesses. However, the lack of interoperability, consistency and security concerns across services keeps many businesses from adopting. There have been several calls for standards to help make services from different cloud providers interoperable and ultimately more useful and secure to enterprises.
Uncertainty abounds, with questions such as "Are standards really needed?" "Who should be involved?" “Can the cloud ever be secure?” and "What are potential consequences of working in the cloud?"
David Bernstein, VP/GM Software Group, Cisco on fundamentals of cloud interoperability and standards. Echoes Russ Daniels’ statement that "The cloud is the internet’s next stage of evolution". Says pay attention to what google and microsoft are saying and doing in cloud space.
What is Cisco doing?
Cisco doesn’t run a cloud. Does run a SaaS application, WebEx. Cisco has helped a lot of people build a lot of infrastructure. Cisco is ‘arms dealer’ in cloud computing.
