There’s absolutely no doubt about it, cloud computing has arrived and it isn’t going away any time soon.  However despite its growing popularity and use within IT, government, and across the world, cloud computing is lacking in several ways.  For example, cloud computing is lacking a standardized set of processes, methodologies, or systems for establishing, running or appending infrastructure(s).  This is slowly changing however as establishments like ITIL are starting to devote more attention toward establishing a definitive guide for cloud computing (infrastructure and operation), it’s definitely on the horizon, so to speak.

But aside from any planned long-term adaptation of ITIL to cover cloud computing concerns, the fact is that it (ITIL) can already be applied (to cloud computing) in a number of novel ways.  One of the most obvious things that ITIL can do for cloud computing is to assist in the construction of its infrastructure.  This is to say that elements from ITIL and the IT lifecycle can be leveraged against, or rather synched up with individual components or portions of any cloud service model.  For instance, in IaaS (Infrastructure as a service) ITIL can be used to help individuals or groups manage those areas which their respective vendors aren’t responsible for (like applications, data, runtime environment, and middleware).  This is of course the view from the cloud computing client’s point of view; those organizations which are actually providing cloud services can utilize ITIL to cover pretty much any area of any cloud service model.

Of particular interest is the way that ITIL can be used to handle on-site activities related to servers, storage, and networking.  Even though cloud computing uses a completely different (structure) model apart from traditional IT (grid-based computing / networking), it is still reliant on nearly identical IT-intensive duties, processes, routines, and concerns.  This is to say that the manner in which work is carried out by grid vs. cloud IT squads are certainly different but they’re not radically different; therefore, many of the same principles held in high regard by ITIL aficionados should also apply (to the cloud model).

At its heart, ITIL is really about creating as solid an IT infrastructure as humanly possible

Security is a big concern for cloud computing and ITIL can definitely be used to not only correct and prevent data breaches, but also to generate solutions so that IT can stay ahead of the game, so to speak.  What does ITIL do for cloud computing and its security?  ITIL is helping to centralize cloud computing so that it can become stronger, more transparent, and expansive.  One of the biggest perceived weaknesses in cloud computing is its apparent lack of a centralized establishment which is capable of creating guidelines for other startups to follow.  Currently, it could be argued that (the general idea is that) as more and more institutions begin exploring and setting up their own clouds, a body of logistics will emerge from those that were successful, while those that failed will represent the path(s) that should not be taken.  However, this is not so much a solution or intelligent advancement of cloud computing as it is wishful thinking.  This is of course the reason why ITIL has made such a big push toward establishing a body of knowledge surrounding cloud computing operation and methodology in recent years.  By now it should be obvious to everyone that ITIL is headed in the direction of dealing with cloud computing.

At its heart, ITIL is really about creating as solid an IT infrastructure as humanly possible, which is also very central to cloud computing as well (or any other form of computing / networking).  Since many of the hardware and software elements of cloud computing are merely repurposed from grid computing, it only follows logic that (at the very least) some holdovers from grid-based ITIL can be applied to certain cloud models.

But in order to truly understand how these two disciplines fit together (cloud and ITIL) you must familiarize yourself with both of them.  This is of course where ITIL training and certification, as well as cloud certification are of extreme importance.   Here are the facts:

• ITIL and cloud computing are slowly merging
• Businesses, employers and IT groups are coming to rely on ITIL (and/or are expecting their IT employees to be well versed in the subject)
• Cloud computing is everywhere and growing in popularity with each passing day

Every IT professional should be aware that neither ITIL nor cloud computing are going away any time soon.  The reality here is that both of these areas of study (cloud and ITIL) are part of an entirely new emerging trend in computing, networking, and IT; if you truly want to remain relevant in a changing environment you have to get with the program, so to speak.  Luckily, there are dedicated, cost-effective, digitally-delivered e-learning training and certification programs available for both Cloud Computing and all levels of ITIL.  If you want to stay ahead of the game and are a true careerist; training and certification in both of theses disciplines is highly encouraged.

The Sun Certified Java Programmer exam is the entry level to take the java-programming exam.  The SCJP exam is a pre requisite to all Java related certification.  The SCJP 1.5 version released in April 2005 was developed to give a fairly detailed test of the basic knowledge essential in Java programming language.  It test loops constructs and variables.  It does not cover the technologies in GUI creation, Web or network programming.

The exam is an automatically administered with a multiple choice test system.  It has 72 questions which examinees are given 175 minutes to answer.  The passing grade should be at least 59%.  Exams are given at a Prometric test center, and must buy a voucher from Sun (approximately US$200 in the US, but £150 (excluding VAT) in the UK) and register at least a week in advance. Drag and drop questions are also included in the exam.

Sun’s terms in the creation of the exam is to create a test that is performance based rather than knowledge based. As knowledge based is based on memorization of details and performance based is more on dealing with real world activities such as writing code.  The SCJP 1.5 is more difficult than the SCJP 1.4 exam.  The 1.5 version tests the candidates knowledge of declarations, access control, object orientation, assignments, operators, flow control, assertions, string handling, I/O, parsing, formatting, generics, collections, inner classes, threads and the JDK tools.

Test in SCJP 1.5 is given in English, Japanese, Chinese, German, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish.

ITIL training is still confusing

In the past 12 months a lot of things have changed around the ITIL framework, the books, its certification scheme and training delivery in general.

• The ITIL V2-V3 Foundation Bridge exam stopped in January 2011
• The ITIL V2-V3 Manager Bridge exam stopped on 30 June 2011
• The ITIL 2011 edition of the core volumes was launched in July 2011
• ITIL 2011 exams were phased in from July 2011
• The ITIL V3 exams are no longer available from 31 December 2011

As accredited ITIL training providers it is sometimes difficult to keep up with all the changes (plus some additional specific changes in the background that are not visible to students and clients on top of this list). And this is our main business!

This made us wonder what the general understanding is of IT Professionals who use the ITIL framework and guidances as part of their daily jobs.

Even-though the ITIL 2011 framework is not much different from the ITIL V3 framework (which is why it is referred to as the 2011 edition ) the changes still impact IT Professionals who want to get their certifications.

Which is why earlier this year we launched a survey on our website where people could test their knowledge of the ITIL 2011 framework and ITIL training in general.

The results so far are quite different from what we anticipated. We expected that the ITIL 2011 questions would be difficult for people, but that most people would know about the changes in the ITIL training and certification scheme.

The results were the opposite:  the questions around the ITIL training and qualification scheme were missed by a lot of people.

For example:

Can you still sit ITIL V3 exams in 2012?

9% skipped the question

only 19% answered it correctly with “Only re-sits until 31 January and ITIL V3 MALC until 31 August 2012”

Most respondents answered “YES” – 42%

Do you need to upgrade your ITIL V3 certificates to ITIL 2011 versions?

22% Of people are under the impression that there are bridging courses required to upgrade from V3 to 2011.

Fifteen percent of people skipped this question entirely, which is a large number… the question is: did they skip it because they didn’t know the answer?

What are the correct answers to these questions?

1. you do NOT need to upgrade your ITIL V3 certificates. There is no V3-2011 bridging exam. Once you have the ITIL V3 Foundation certificate you can continue with the ITIL 2011 Intermediate classes. You will need to do the ITIL V3 or ITIL 2011 Foundation certificate to upgrade form previous versions as these bridging exams ceased on 31 December 2010.
2. You can NOT sit any ITIL V3 exams anymore. All exams have been changed over to the 2011 versions. The only exception is MALC (Managing Across the Lifecycle) which will stay active until 31 August 2012.

ITIL creates a solid foundation for Private Cloud Computing solution (as well as public ones… )

The growing importance and popularity of private cloud computing technology should be a signal to all IT professionals that a paradigm shift in expectations is occurring before our very eyes.  This is to say that formal training and study of cloud computing is fast becoming a necessity (if you want to remain valid in the industry, that is).  However, it should also be noted that our collective understanding of cloud computing is still somewhat limited.  While a great deal of headway has already been made into cloud-based technological research, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s still a “young” area, so to speak.  This is why it’s important to keep an open mind with regards to possible supplementary (or even unexpected) elements / methods / concepts of driving / molding cloud computing.  ITIL is one of these “supplementary elements”, and a very powerful / influential one at that.

Those who already know about the supreme influence of ITIL over traditional IT infrastructure and operation(s) should perfectly understand how ITIL can assist in the cloud.  Of course one would also have to know a thing or two about cloud computing, naturally.   The simple fact of the matter is that many of the technologies that you’ll find in “the cloud” are merely elements which have been adapted from traditional IT infrastructure.  For instance, much of the “action” in cloud computing revolves around “services”.  These services can be deployed singularly or in groups and may even be comprised of bundles of elements from a pre-existing infrastructure (traditional).  This is to say that many institutions often integrate their legacy systems / technologies / elements into a cloud computing infrastructure by confining them to “service silos” (or one service silo, to be more specific).  Because many of these legacy systems / programs can be perfectly managed via ITIL methodologies it only makes sense to utilize it (ITIL).

Public Clouds
While public clouds are largely vendor-managed, certain cloud models do allow for a certain level of user customization / exploitation; this might be limited to surface objects like apps, programs or services.  In other words, many of the fundamental elements of infrastructure might be restricted in a public cloud, yet the user might have complete control over what takes place on top of that infrastructure, if you will.  Since ITIL is already one of the most recognized sources for proven methodologies regarding establishing, maintaining, and / or modifying IT infrastructure, it only makes sense to apply it to management of a public cloud offering.

Private Cloud computing
Private cloud computing is not that common, as of yet.   The high initial investment costs and lack of a completely documented system for establishing a rock-solid infrastructure are big drawbacks for most companies.  This is especially true considering that most institutions become interested in cloud computing after they learn about its cost-effectiveness.  Building a private cloud computing solution is extremely cost-effective in the long run, but getting over that initial investment “bump” is a bit tricky.  Likewise, cloud computing is still young and hasn’t been fully explored and certainly isn’t fully developed.

On the other hand, there are alternative cloud-based solutions that aren’t quite as extensive or designed to replace traditional infrastructure entirely.  A great example of this would be integrating individual cloud services into pre-established traditional cloud architecture; i.e. merely adding cloud components to your current system.    This is a very popular choice for businesses and academic / governmental organizations as it allows for a slower, more controlled cloud transition.  Additionally, it’s far less likely that disruptions in service delivery will occur if individual elements are introduced, in lieu of a shift in architecture.  In this type of scenario, ITIL can be utilized as a primary management system / reference tool for ensuring proper functionality of IT infrastructure.

However, the one area where ITIL truly shines is prepping for a cloud transition.  Whether or not many people within the IT community want to realize it, cloud computing is probably going to replace a large segment of traditional IT infrastructure(s).  Obviously, it’s to early to tell whether or not cloud computing is going to replace grid computing / networking entirely, but it is being openly debated by IT experts and insiders.  For the average IT professional, this should be a sign that adherence to, and study of cloud computing fundamentals is definitely in order (if only to remain competitive / viable).

Two of the most important supplementary training areas for new and seasoned IT employees alike are Cloud Computing and ITIL.  The former (cloud computing) being a nod to the future, and the latter (ITIL), an integral part of the past, present and future.  Both (of these) areas of study should be intensely investigated by any and all IT personnel who wish to maintain an extended career (in the field of IT).

Shop e-learning solutions for cloud computing.
Shop e-learning solutions for ITIL.

IT professionals across the globe are hyped about cloud computing and the many (potential) changes that it is bringing to the (IT) industry and markets.   Cloud computing is really nothing more than a fierce attempt to reorganize computing / networking assets into more sensible, manageable, and economical forms; that is, when you take a closer look at it.  But the perks of cloud computing are not limited to mere reorganization, there is also a great deal of power residing in the cloud, so to speak.  For example, once a cloud service is established (through a vendor or by creation of a private cloud) it is possible to offer up nearly unlimited processing power to individual users/nodes connected to the larger cloud infrastructure. 

This of course demonstrates the elastic nature of cloud computing dynamics and how power, resources and energy are distributed (to the benefit of both user and those paying the upkeep bills).  In other words, cloud computing is designed to create additional possibilities on multiple fronts while at the same time assisting in cutting costs and transforming IT management into a much more streamlined affair.

However, despite its inventive design and novel concepts for achieving multiple goals (simultaneously), cloud computing is prone to misstep or error.  But is this really a surprise to anyone?  If there were such things as perfect and infallible IT infrastructures we wouldn’t need IT, would we (or perhaps the entire IT career field would shrink)?

Since cloud computing is obviously not perfect, it must be supplemented with additional systems and methodologies which are able to add extra stability and correct issues as they arise.  This is of course where training and certification in programs like ITIL comes into play.  Though ITIL is not specifically designed for cloud computing technologies it is important to note that it can still reinforce its overall functionality.  ITIL is a compendium of IT infrastructure wisdom that applies directly to grid computing / networking models; but one should also realize that cloud computing is an extension of this previous model as well.  The main difference between grid and cloud models is in how they utilize software and hardware, of course.  Cloud computing is very software-intensive and reliant on virtualization; grid computing also relies on software, but it is definitely a more hardware-intensive type of infrastructure, by and large.

ITIL can be applied to the manner in which operations are carried out as well as how user defined / managed elements of a cloud service model are handled.  Our current major cloud service models are designed to limit interactivity on the part of cloud users / subscribers, but that doesn’t mean that customization and control are out of the question.  The IaaS model (Infrastructure as a Service) offers the greatest level of control to cloud subscribers, literally providing them with the ability to manage around half of their total components.  If someone owns or leases their own private cloud of course, all of these points are moot.  Private cloud owners can implement ITIL in a dizzying number of different ways.

ITIL training and certification is also one of the absolute best ways to prepare IT personnel and current / established infrastructure for transition to the cloud (or simply facilitating the addition of individual cloud services to an existing grid infrastructure).   This is not conjecture, it has been demonstrated (through real world trials) that those IT institutions that have strong backgrounds in ITIL not only make a much smoother transition to the cloud, but also face far fewer problems.  Simply put, ITIL is an organizational tool in addition to being a definitive reference for IT infrastructure methodology.

This of course leads us to ITIL Intermediate training and certification and how is can specifically enhance any IT professionals career, even those seeking to specialize in cloud computing.  Aside from the volumes of knowledge contained within the ITIL itself, an ITIL training program introduces other important concerns to IT professionals.  For example, ITIL Intermediate places a large amount of focus on creating a link between the solutions touted by ITIL itself with their position from within the IT service lifecycle.  This is important for cloud computing aficionados because this knowledge can be applied directly toward establishing a better management of individual services with regards to their relative importance (to the IT service lifecycle in general).  Simply put, much is still being defined in cloud computing and one of the best ways to bring some semblance of order is through long-term implementation of ITIL programs.

ITIL certification and cloud computing certification are both “hot button” areas of continuing study amongst those in the IT community; luckily, they are also quite affordable and easy to manage as well.  Virtually all quality advancing IT training programs are delivered digitally via an e-learning format; this allows companies to spend their development budgets on hiring more knowledgeable and experienced personnel (in lieu of printing, classrooms, and/or instructors).

 In other words, you get a more detailed and tailored program, designed by a highly experienced individual / group, at a fraction of the cost of on-site courses, and you can receive your materials instantly.  Add to this the fact that there are both ITIL and cloud computing e–learning programs available which are viewable on any device (including tablets, smartphones, PC’s, Mac’s, and laptops) and it’s clear to see why an online program is the clear winner.  Likewise, e-learning training and certification programs for both ITIL and cloud computing routinely produce a dominating percentage of passing candidates.