Week 7: Trends in Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is the delivery of computing

as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a metered service over a network (typically the Internet).  Cloud computing provides computation, software, data access, and storage resources without requiring cloud users to know the location and other details of the computing infrastructure.  End users access cloud based applications through a web browser or a light weight desktop or mobile app while the business software and data are stored on servers at a remote location. Cloud application providers strive to give the same or better service and performance as if the software programs were installed locally on end-user computers.

Cloud computing has made it easier for companies to experiment and innovate, and the trend will accelerate in the coming year which will be 2012.  Cloud computing is no longer the curiosity it was a few years ago. Today companies are increasingly looking to cloud computing as an integral component of their computing strategy.  The rationale is clear. Companies now understand that cloud computing offers the possibility of being able to more to seamlessly change IT without having the time and expense of setting up, configuring, and deploying new systems.  Many companies are discovering that it is much easier to experiment and innovate with cloud computing than with traditional computing models.  But as with any emerging area it is too soon to declare victory.  Cloud computing is complicated in many ways.  While 2011 was the year when cloud computing took its place as a legitimate strategy, 2012 will be the year when companies need to tackle operational issues of cloud computing.

Click on the link to read more and see the five big trends for cloud in 2012.  http://www.informationweek.com/news/cloud-computing/infrastructure/232200551