Cloud Computing

What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing allows organisations to rent or subscribe to data storage and computing capacity, rather than purchase and maintain equipment and software needed to store it themselves.

What are the benefits and risks associated with Cloud?

The main recommendations for Cloud are:

• Availability including guarantees – everything within the cloud solution is normally redundant, including the hardware, networking, back end connections and even internet links from the data centre. Cloud should have a minimum 99.9% uptime guarantee.
• Quality – generally due to the “pooling” of multiple clients the installed infrastructure is vastly superior to what an organisation would or could afford locally.  Our Cloud runs on our IBM Pure server (it connects at up to 200GB to the network) with V7000 midrange storage (we have demonstrated performance improvements of up to 50x) and IBM switching (up to 40GB with the fastest switching on the market that is used in the NYSE).
• Flexibility – a Cloud solution is one of the most flexible solutions, allowing remote access and the ability to easily incorporate additional servers and integrated solutions as required.
• Speed – Cloud is normally built for speed from the ground up, using latest technology connections.
• Scalability (Growth) – solutions can scale from your current users to thousands of users very easily and other solutions can easily be incorporated.
• Managed solution – Cloud solutions are generally a completely managed one, including updates.
• Security – Cloud security solutions are normally multi-layered and of a higher level than an organisation does locally.  Two-factor authentication can be added.
• Power – as the solution is delivered via the provider the cost of server power is borne by the provider.
• Disaster Recovery is built in.
• Redundancy – Cloud normally includes redundancy– where servers can be “rolled back” in 90 minute increments up to two weeks. We have full disaster recovery included in our solution.
• Security and Control – Cloud solutions include many layers of security that are beyond a standard office environment. We implement the latest security technologies and can offer multiple levels of authentication if required.
• Cheaper desktop hardware – Cloud can remove the need to buy high-end desktop hardware, saving significant amounts. If thin clients are purchased there is substantial licensing saving as well (ie no anti-virus licensing for the desktop is needed etc)
• Portability – As Cloud is a managed solution staff are able to have the same desktop experience and access to data from multiple locations.

The reasons to be cautious are:

• You are dependent on the provider.  Know your provider, know their infrastructure.
• Where is the data?  Is it local?  Is it on the providers network or in a 3rd party network?  Where is the DR – again is it local and is it on the provider network?
• Who owns the infrastructure and can you get access?
• Does the data leave Australia?  If it does you lose sovereignty and is a large risk.
• Is the provider American or related?  If so you will be subject to the Patriot Act which guarantees visibility to your data for the American Government.
• What is the size of link needed at the client location to guarantee good responsiveness, can it be obtained and at what cost?
• Ideally backup the full image to the client location regularly to have a localised copy on the client network.  The worst case scenario is a third party taking control of the provider network including your solution.
• Do you use printing?  If so how is this being managed?  Printing and scanning are generally the biggest issue with Cloud.  A well designed solution fixes this as it manages printing properly.