I have been attempting to come to grips with some of the terms and commonly used phrases… or shall I say, more appropriately misused within my chosen profession. The IT world is full of acronyms and geekspeak which completely validates the layperson belief that we are all geeks with pocket protectors and live in our moms’ basements. But then along comes a completely benign non-technical term, used to encompass an array technical concept(s).  “Cloud Computing”…I am at a loss…what is that? What does that mean? This phrase has been the buzz word to encapsulate a myriad of technological concepts, but I can guarantee, if you ask 10 people “what is cloud computing,” you would get 10 different answers.

So what is this hot new topic, this buzz word, this “must have” concept to be incorporated in every organizations business plan? To be completely honest, I haven’t a clue! Yes, I can wiki this like anyone else, and get some sanitized meaningless jargon which leaves more questions than answers.

Cloud computing, while sounding soothing, soft, billowy, which gracefully floats through our atmosphere, has nothing in common with that visualization. In my opinion, it’s often used as code by people who haven’t a clue as to what they are talking about. From my perspective “cloud Computing” is a little bit of déjà vu…..Can anyone say ASP? ASP, the next great frontier fizzled and died along with so many train wrecks of organizations that framed a business around the notion of delivering software as a service. So what is all the buzz, why now? Why is cloud computing different? Well, first of all if you catch anyone saying that phrase get their interpretation first. As for me, Cloud Computing is the service and data enablement to distribute systems and services outside of what would normally be considered your own data center. Cloud Computing is enabled only through key innovations such as Server and Desktop virtualization, reduced cost for storage and the ability to safely provision, secure, and  replicate it. This is where ASP ultimately failed, as it was often sold as an all or nothing proposition. Cloud computing is the ability to distribute systems and services to the edge. You can manage it or have it managed, it doesn’t matter. But what does matter is that huge monolithic data centers, may become less of the mainstay in the Information Technology culture.

This is a renaissance period within our technological world; The practical application of virtualization for servers, desktops, and even the decoupling of the application from the operating system. Innovations are abounding from FCoE, to IO virtualization. But it takes me back to my original rant, “What in the hell is cloud computing?” Its kind of one of those phrases that makes me nuts like “solution”, that is a huge vague term that can mean everything or nothing. Often times its sales speak for “I don’t know what it is,” so I will just use the term solution and let my engineer put details behind it.

Cloud Computing! The bold frontier or buzz word to drum up excitement in the technology community. Purchasers hear the term, sounds cool…what is it? And that’s where the curtain is unveiled, to reveal a picture that is blank….The answer is, “it depends….what do you want it to be?”