Just how far has cloud computing progressed over the last 2 years?

To say that cloud computing has experienced rapid growth over the last few years is an incredible understatement

A lot can change within a couple of years, but mercurial growth and accelerated development is very rare. Most experts have been expecting progress in the area of cloud computing, but have been repeatedly surprised by just how fast this expansion has escalated in such a relatively short amount of time. Sure, there have been big jumps in the past (in computing, networking, hardware, and software), but never with a type of technology that has such a broad set of potential applications (no pun intended).

What makes cloud computing such a unique case is its ability to provide useful infrastructure or to mold to virtually any situation. In short, there isn’t really anything that the cloud can’t do. In fact, you can look at any piece of hardware and/or software in existence and chances are, there is a cloud computing equivalent. But it’s not about building comparable systems with the cloud; it’s about creating components which are highly versatile, easy to customize, and simple to create virtualized copies of.

Over the last 2 years (2010-2012), cloud computing (or one of its major providers) has helped to create:

• Better security systems and protocols
• Extremely elegant solutions for deploying all manner of social media content for large audiences
• Useful business-specific services on both the consumer end and in the back office
• True IaaS, which allows organizations to assume a great deal of control over their infrastructure
• Powerful, stable and inexpensive cloud services for nearly every potential application you can think of
• New approaches to software / hardware (true virtualization)
• An explosion of SaaS-style services for any situation / purpose (many of which are free)
• Cloud interfaces; which are bringing cloud technologies to consumer devices like tablets, smartphones, etc…
• Incredibly advanced and powerful super-computer capabilities (for use in data analysis, research or perhaps in NASA-related missions)
• Completely self-contained cloud services which are essentially fully packaged IT resources (PaaS, IaaS)
• Cloud Gaming
• Legitimate cloud OS (Windows server 2012)
• …and many more incredible developments, etc…

The net result of all this advancement appears to be the positioning of cloud computing as the replacement for grid computing and networking. Likewise, as more people continue to plug into 4G (soon to be 5G) and high speed internet, the ability to utilize cloud computing technologies will become further evident (according to various stat-gathering groups, there are still millions who are using dial-up connections). Additionally, prices for faster connections seem to be dropping, which is spurring further adoption of cloud technologies in a roundabout way.

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However, the biggest development to occur over the last 2 years in the cloud computing arena has to be its adoption rates. Basically, we are about to see around half of all businesses integrating some form of cloud computing (if that’s not already the case). This might come in the form of lower-level SaaS (which is often integrated in with their current IT framework), or IaaS, which is a more complete IT solution which the user is tasked with managing. Once we see a true indication that cloud computing has captured over 50% of businesses and the general consumer population it will signal a complete and total shift toward the cloud as the definitive replacement.

For your average consumer, cloud computing is a staple of the web already, though many might not realize it. Many of the most popular sites, services and features like YouTube, Gmail, Dropbox and others, already make direct use of cloud technologies. Additionally, Microsoft, Apple, Google, and other gigantic companies are either designing and releasing device which integrate cloud features or pushing for the development of cloud-specific devices. Soon, we’ll likely see a glut of “cloud computers” hitting the market; devices which are little more than browser-based OS’s which connect to a cloud and are driven by subscription services.  

Furthermore, 2012 isn’t over yet and new advancements are taking place on what seems like a weekly basis now. Regardless of how you might feel about cloud computing, it’s extremely probable that 2013 will herald an intense year of further exponential growth for the technology (and global computing and networking). We’re probably going to see virtualized hardware services expand and integrated more like software, which will allow them to be quickly and painlessly incorporated into practically any setup. Likewise, cloud devices might emerge, which could completely change the way we look at individual machines forever. The only thing left to do is buckle your seat-belt and hold on for the ride; it’s going to be an exciting one.

GE is promoting development of cloud computing systems for air traffic control

In the same way that cloud computing is being used to assist in operations for NASA’s recent Mars rover mission, Curiosity, it might very well be implemented for use in air traffic control. This is not to say that the same cloud computing technologies driving space missions will be used to manage air traffic, only that the prospect of being able to cull from seemingly endless resources to improve current systems and standards which are in place. General Electric has already committed to a 1 ½ year project which seeks to create definitive cloud computing systems and services which can be used to forge a truly (in their own words) next generation approach to air traffic management.

Just how exactly might cloud computing improve ATM (air traffic management), you ask? First off, there is an extraordinary amount of data coming in at any given time which needs to be processed by both machines as well as human beings when it comes to air traffic control. Aside from the actual management of flight paths there are weather and environmental-based factors that need to be analyzed and considered during standard operations. For example, the sudden emergence of severe storms certainly merits the attention of ATM strategists and through the use of cloud computing, it might be much easier to instantly plot and implement alternate routes at a moments notice.

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Likewise, there is the notion of rising (or fluctuating) fuel costs which can seriously trim an airline’s profits. Naturally, by designing more direct and efficient flight paths, fuel usage might become more economical, which in turn, boosts savings and helps the environment.

Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, the cloud could be used to reduce or completely eliminate mid-air collisions and “near misses”. By analyzing data coming in from multiple sources in real-time (radar, satellite, etc…) and calculating trajectories, this new cloud solution might very well be able to predict when a collision is possible and enact precautionary protocols. Don’t think this is a serious issue? Did you know that there are numerous reported cases of “near misses” each year (where planes nearly collide in mid-air)? Flight path deviations, faulty communications, and/or navigational errors are all often responsible for near collisions of aircraft, for example. The truth is, a dedicated cloud computing system which is able to take a larger pool of data into account and even engage in real-time analysis and monitoring will likely be able to prevent these types of events from occurring.

One area where GE isn’t researching or implementing cloud computing technology (or perhaps not yet) is in aircraft maintenance. Just imagine being able to tap into the power of an extensive cloud computing network which is able to quickly and efficiently assist in all aircraft testing and upkeep. Electrical, as well as mechanical systems analysis could be greatly sped up, so could examination of onboard electronics. In other words, there could be more solid checks done in significantly less time on multiple fronts (hands-on analysis by individuals as well as computers).

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But the fun doesn’t stop there; another obvious place where cloud computing be implemented is in airport security and luggage management. Although some might not be aware of it, quite a bit of passenger luggage is often lost or misplaced by airlines on an annual basis, and while there are certain systems which can help trim down the percentages, they cannot compare with what might be possible through cloud computing.

For instance; security camera footage, airline records and even employee memos could all be compiled into one central database along with scans, ID numbers and eve photos / passenger descriptions of luggage. This would provide customer service agents with direct access to a wealth of information concerning the status and potential whereabouts of someone’s lost luggage.

However, despite the many potential uses for cloud computing in and around airports, the absolute best use of it is in the area(s) which GE is pursuing – air traffic management. Regardless of what happens in and around airports, the safety of passengers in-flight is most important. Also, any way that cloud computing might be able to improve business for all airlines is an enormous plus (given that they are often prone to receiving big bailouts from the government). In truth, the current ATM system is in dire need of upgrading anyway, it seems only fitting hat cloud computing might be leverage to build a better form of infrastructure for these purposes. Soon, GE will unleash its cloud solutions for avionics upon us, which will likely revolutionize the entire industry; until then, we’ll just have to wait.

DevOps and Cloud Computing

…The perfect match or the odd couple?  

If you’re at all familiar with IT people and operations you’ve probably heard the term DevOps at some point.  It is a mash-up of the individual terms “development” and “operations”, with each area having its own objectives and point-of-view. What DevOps seeks to do is bring these two very necessary approaches together, or create a sustainable common ground, if you will. It’s not just about providing continuous service in IT anymore, software development is becoming something that businesses are using to leverage the power of their resources to increase sales, create new products as well as strengthen their IT infrastructure.  DevOps and Cloud Computing

In a nutshell, those on the development side of the fence want to create, they want change and their counterparts on the operations front want stability. Naturally, both of these approaches to a business’ IT resources are often critical, and certainly both groups are working for the same team at the end of the day, but this doesn’t mean that there won’t still be problems and confusion. For example, an operations team is tasked with maintaining the stability of all IT systems in order to ensure that the organization can function on a fundamental level.

However, the development team, which is actively seeking to move things around, create new components and/or initiate change (overall, for the benefit of everyone) might end up compromising the stability of basic operations by introducing these new things. In turn, once these new elements are introduced by the development group, the operations people will undoubtedly have to alter their creations in order to ensure overall system steadiness. The DevOps paradox is akin to a tug-of-war which perpetrates a vicious cycle of sorts; however, it can still create forward momentum and bring positive changes to the forefront.

What makes cloud computing an invaluable tool (when it comes to DevOps) is its communication, flexibility and capability. Simply put, both developers and operations-minded individuals (and teams) can use the capabilities of the cloud to further their own goals while at the same time, sharing more refined offerings amongst each other. For instance, thanks to cloud computing’s ability to requisition large amounts of power and storage; it is possible to create virtualized versions of an operational environment which they can use to test their new creations.

Likewise, an operation team can benefit from cloud computing’s increased centralization, which allows them to more effectively manage every aspect (of the IT operation). Also, because communication can often be greatly increased and more transparent because of the cloud, everyone on both sides might know more about what’s happening at any given time and what the ultimate objectives are from an organizational point-of-view.

Developers, in particular, are able to greatly benefit from the use of cloud computing in that they can access vast, highly-powered resources very quickly without having to wait or rely upon the operations department for provisioning. This line of thinking is giving rise to notion of completely automated operations management through cloud computing. Developers could come to rely on programmed management of operations in the near future, eliminating the traditional role of Ops providers. This would be deployed through something akin to PaaS however, and likely wouldn’t be able to offer as much control as something like IaaS. On the other hand, this doesn’t necessarily mean that operations specialists will be made redundant, only that IT operations and development might become slightly more segregated or independent of one another.

So, while the developers are busy utilizing their own system to create new software, the operations specialists are presiding over their own world which is primarily tasked with ensuring that their company’s IT services stay on track. As far as DevOps integration is concerned, if both groups were running what amounts to their own cloud infrastructures, integration could be initiated as part of a series of last steps after more thoughtful and stable creations and conditions are met. Additionally, operations personnel could also opt to create specially provisioned clouds for the development squad which might allow them to become more independent and able to requisition their own resources.

Regardless of the manner in which cloud technology is used in fostering a better DevOps relationship, there is great inherent potential. The ultimate goal of course is to allow developers to achieve true continuous delivery of software and give operations-minded teams enough control to ensure that service disruptions are a non-issue. It could be argued that something like this wouldn’t even be possible for most businesses without cloud computing (as it might be cost-prohibitive). Given that cloud technologies allow for deep savings with no loss of capabilities, it only makes sense to initiate a more cloud-centric approach to DevOps.

Cloud Computing Services + Tablets = the Future

Companies like HP, Apple and Microsoft are starting to push cloud / hardware integration

The notion of everyone carrying around touch-screen controlled tablet computers is a concept that has been explored via the medium of science fiction for decades. Today, tablets are just as common as laptops, but have yet to see them exploited to their fullest potential. Current tablet models, for example, are basically self-contained machines that are fairly powerful which are basically used as internet interfaces. Do people use them for other purposes aside from web browsing? Sure, but it’s pretty clear that these devices were built to surf the web and engage in social media activities. But the real question is what does the future hold in store for these types of devices?

Once you realize that your typical tablet is little more than an ultra-portable touch screen version of a laptop it becomes apparent that the purpose (in terms of design) of these devices is not to increase features, per se. The ideas behind the tablet computer are convenience and simplicity; something that is extremely visual, tactile, powerful and easy to transport. Of course computer hardware is going to continue its upward march toward increasingly powerful processing speeds and capabilities, but there is a more cost-effective alternative to investing millions of dollars in research to produce more powerful tablet computers. Naturally, we’re talking about cloud computing, which could easily replace the need for companies to invest large sums devoted toward improving their products’ hardware.

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As you are probably well aware, cloud computing offers its users access to nearly unlimited amounts of computing power. There’s also direct access to multitudes of applications and SaaS-style services which can be instantly culled up for use. If your average tablet computer were converted to make better use of connectivity with a corresponding cloud network, you would have access to vastly more powerful resources and loads of software (plus unique cloud services as well).

Take your average phone/device and contract/plan for example; often times, these providers will offer customers a free device for one monthly cost including additional services. Maybe you’ll have certain data restrictions or access to different types of web services through your contract, that’s pretty standard. This exact same model (a pay-as-you-go scenario) could easily be applied in exactly the same way to cloud computing services for tablet-like devices. In other words, you might pay a monthly bill which covers all your connectivity, service costs and access to your online storage database / virtualized machine(s).

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Given that companies like Apple, Microsoft and HP are moving toward implementing various types of consumer cloud computing programs and eager to get people set up with subscription services, it only follows logic that more conventional tablet-to-cloud interfaces will eventually be established. HP in particular, is about to announce a new tablet product line which is supposed to be cloud-compatible and angled toward businesses. They’re also promoting a new type of device which sounds an awful lot like a “cloud computer” (it’s touted to be a device that combines networking, computing and storage).

By leveraging the power of the cloud, companies that also produce tablets can potentially save quite a bit in terms of overhead in investment and production. Also, it makes perfect sense to apply cloud technology to devices like tablets which feature limited space for hardware. Since all it really takes to run cloud services on a device is a browser-style OS, tablets would be perfectly suited for this type of setup. But the real reason that we might actually see more dedicated “cloud-powered tablets” emerge (in the coming months and years) is due to economic forces. Simply put, there is a great deal of potential savings inherent in relying on the cloud in lieu of designing and producing new hardware. Likewise, it’s the dream of many big tech companies to get their customer base signed up for various types of subscription services, which is entirely possible through dedicated cloud-ready devices.

We’re actually already starting to see more and more of these institutions pushing cloud products over more traditional hardware and software releases. Microsoft, for example, is heavily promoting their new flagship version of office, which is powered by SkyDrive, MS’s cloud service. Additionally, both Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 are integrating cloud computing into the very fabric of their designs as well. Once again, the idea is to get consumers to acquiesce to the concept of cloud subscriptions at lower costs vs. the higher costs associated with purchase and ownership. Whether or not this will lead to the creation of specific tablet-like devices which make better use of cloud computing in the near future remains to be seen.

Windows Server 2012 is a significant breakthrough for Cloud Computing

Everyone has been waiting for a more standardized “plug-and-play OS sort of approach” to setting up a cloud datacenter. Well to make a long story short, it looks like we have a contender. Windows Server 2012 is basically a great piece of cloud software which allows hardware to take better advantage of cloud technologies (in a more streamlined way). There’s also much reference to its ability to easily allocate 64 VM’s through Hyper-V 3.0 and of course, the use of up to 4 terabytes of RAM (*fun fact: 4 terabytes of space roughly translates to 1200 hours of video). Quite simply, we’re talking about software that can certainly get the job done.

Microsoft has also included direct interoperability between Server 2012 (WS2012) and its flagship cloud solution, Azure. This is a very significant pairing because you can do pretty much anything with Azure, including:

• Running cloud services
• Hosting sites
• Creating a backend for mobile app services
• Using Virtual Machines (VM’s)
• Host Media content (audio, video, images, documents, sharing, etc…)
• Conventional Storage
• Setting up a Private Cloud

That last possibility in particular, setting up a private cloud, is something that most businesses should get excited about. What we’re looking at here is essentially Microsoft placing an extraordinary amount of technological power directly into the hands of businesses. It could be argued that WS2012 offers a much more direct, affordable and user-friendly way of setting up a dedicated private cloud infrastructure; nearly anyone should be able to see the inherent value in that. This is very obtainable IaaS we’re talking about here folks, in all actuality.

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Rest assured, this is not rabid, unwarranted approval – Windows Server 2012 really is an attempt to develop a more accessible approach for (any and all types of) businesses when it comes to directly implementing any type of cloud computing infrastructure.

In all honesty, the sky’s the limit with regards to what you can do with a service like Azure. Likewise, the fact that Windows Server 2012 is now able to seamlessly leverage the power of a cloud service is also sort of ground-breaking. Perhaps some organizations might even elect to use their Azure compatibility strictly for storage backup solutions and so forth?

However, the larger issue here in terms of the connection between Windows Server 2012 and Azure is that we might actually be looking at the first bona-fide cloud OS. If this is the case, then it would not be an understatement to say that the inherent power of something like Server 2012 is indeed boundless. Because the cloud is (by its very nature) seeking to create the demand for increasingly inexhaustible resources and storage space, it would seem that WS2012 is definitely loaded with infinite potential.

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Since this new piece of software seems to have been designed to make it easier for anyone (or group) to implement a cloud computing solution, isn’t it safe to assume that it will also create a new development platform / movement as well?  In other words, won’t this lead to the formation of a cloud community surrounding Windows Server 2012?

As we are already aware, Microsoft’s major software releases always tend to create proliferating trends and circles. Over time, these communities often help to incubate new ideas inside of and beyond the scope of the systems facilitating the interaction. The point is, the emergence of Windows Server 2012 will greatly simplify everyone’s ability to use and develop concepts and components for use in cloud computing scenarios.  In short, we may soon see an explosion of activity emerging from MS’s cloud enterprise.

It’s also worth noting that Microsoft isn’t alone in pushing their new amazing cloud OS. Major companies like Rackspace and Dell are also backing Windows Server 2012 in big ways. For example, Dell are bundling the software along with their latest (12th generation) PowerEdge servers, and Rackspace is integrating it directly into one of its PaaS products. It’s entirely within reason to assume that these organizations will soon have plenty of company as more and more corporations begin to see the value of Server 2012 and start adopting it themselves.