6/24/2010 3:00:00 PM
Future of data storage is in the clouds
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Vijay Subramanian, software practice manager for Itasca-based Laurus Technologies, says cloud-based services are not only a more secure form of data storage, but are also a way to drive down the long-term costs of managing a data infrastructure. (Photo by Dietrich Wolfframm) |
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By Elizabeth Koss
Staff Writer
Cloud Computing has many business owners dreaming of lower start up costs, increased data protection and greater reliability. Yet, cloud computing also has many business owners running in fear from the idea of new, non-traditional IT services. Regardless, those that transition to off-site, cloud-based services can experience rewards that far outweigh the risks.
In simple terms, cloud computing refers to internet-based computing services provided to business owners on-demand from an off-site location. As a new delivery model for IT services, cloud computing is a way for business owners to increase computing capacity and instantly add capabilities without investing in new infrastructure or having to train new personnel.
Cloud-based services can range from simply storage and e-mail, to network devices, advanced applications, spam filters and even off-site servers.
To some business owners, the idea of having one’s server and computing applications all operating from an off-site location might generate some anxiety. However, as Jason Ulm, vice president of channel sales for Appia Communications, describes, the off-site nature of cloud computing is actually one of its strengths.
“At the end of the day, most businesses don’t know how to take care or manage a server,” Ulm said. “So by getting those things off-site and allowing someone who every day takes care and manages those servers, you’re essentially allowing your business to focus on the aspects of its own business.”
Additionally, the off-site nature of cloud computing helps increase data protection and security. Vijay Subramanian, software practice manager at Laurus Technologies, says it’s actually a myth for organizations to think data is not secure if it’s not on the premise.
“When you have your infrastructure in house and you have your data within your organization, for you to protect that data, you have to take into account a lot of security services or secure steps,” Subramanian said.
“But for a cloud provider, since they are working with multiple organizations, they have a much better infrastructure to support your data, and they are a lot more secure than your own data centers.”
Different deployment models of cloud computing also offer added security. Two of the main deployment models, the public cloud and the private cloud, both offer Web applications and Web services from an off-site location. However, the private cloud model capitalizes on greater data security and reliability.
The main difference between the two models the connection. The public cloud is the Internet in its most basic form, where anyone can jump on and get to where they want to go. Yet the private cloud is where customers go out across a private connection to access services. With a private connection, data is much more secured and protected from outsiders.
Furthermore, providers of cloud-based services must receive certification that insures providers’ reputability. One such certification, the ISO/IEC 27001, spells out specific requirements for the establishment, implementation, safeguarding, review and improvement of a management system for managing an organization’s information security risks.
The Statement on Auditing Standard (SAS) 70 Type II, is another certification that insures a data center’s reliability. The SAS 70 Type II is a report on the processing of transactions by service organizations in which professional standards are set for a service auditor who assesses the internal controls of a data center.
“These are not just certifications where you get it once, and then you’re certified for life,” Subramanian said. “These are regular audits that have to happen. Certifications are another step that has been taken to make sure cloud computing is more secure.”
Still not sold on cloud computing? Often, the lower costs of cloud-based services compared with the costs of investing in and managing one’s own server and applications have many business owners transitioning to “the cloud.”
“In many instances, cloud computing will drive down costs because you’re not going to spend on infrastructure, you’re not going to spend on managing it, you’re not going to spend time on administrating it, and you’re not going to spend time worrying about upgrading the software,” Subramanian said.
“If these things are managed by a cloud service provider, business owners don’t have to worry about it. And odds are these service providers have a bigger and better infrastructure to support business owners who might not be able to afford that level of service on their own.”
Cloud computing also provides users with the opportunity to scale with demand. As demand changes, users can expand or reduce their services almost on a daily basis. Information can also be spread over multiple machines as opposed to just having one device that could get bogged down from day to day.
However, before transitioning to “the cloud,” business owners must understand what their business goal is and identify their business requirements, and decide if cloud-based services will meet both.
The first step is looking at the business’ requirements around data compliance issues, which tells an organization which data to keep within the organization. If that’s not an issue, Ulm says the next step for businesses is deciding where to put the data from a geography point of view. Would a business be interested in a data center only four hours away or a data center halfway across the country?
Also, business owners need to decide on what type of connection is best for them – public or private – and what they are going to do if that connection goes down. The final consideration for business owners would be the cost analysis.
Regardless of the steps an organization takes to invest in cloud computing, it never has to be an all-or-nothing transition.
“If the best way to get into the cloud is slowly, then you can do it step by step,” Subramanian said. “You can start pushing the non-critical applications out to get yourself accommodated and more comfortable with the cloud service provider, thereby minimizing the risks. Once you’re more comfortable, then you can start easing in the other areas of your infrastructure or applications into the cloud.”
As with most forms of new technology, there will always be skeptics who decide that cloud computing is simply not for them. Yet many people might be unaware that by simply having an e-mail account through Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo, they are already in the cloud.
“Cloud computing services in general just make a lot of sense because of the type of people that we are,” Ulm said. “We’re very mobile, we’re very right now, eccentric. No matter where we are, no matter what type of access we have, we want to be able to manage and maintain our business.”
In a constant battle between those who are jumping right into cloud-based services and those who are completely against it, Ulm says the winners will be those in the middle who are comfortable with the old model but looking to move forward and grow their businesses.
“That’s also where the battle is going to be won for the people selling the cloud, who can go to those people at those hinge moments and be able to say, ‘this is the time for you to make a decision. Are you going to move forward with a new direction and a new scalability platform, or are you going to continue to stay where you’re at with the status quo?’” Ulm said. “Some will stay where they are, and some will move forward.”
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