Publication Summary

Cloud computing has several years to go before reaching maturity, but the current opportunities it presents, especially for new ventures, overshadow the risks. This article delves into the business and technical aspects of cloud computing and highlights how several companies are using it to their advantage.

Cloud computing provides computing services at several levels: application, platform and infrastructure. It can be public or private, insourced or outsourced. And cloud computing means different things to different companies. For entrepreneurs, it could be the basis of new business opportunities. For startups, it can reduce or eliminate the capital expense required to establish initial technology capability. And for more established companies, it can be the basis of significant cost savings, as well as a source for competitive advantage. Widely publicized in the technical press, cloud computing has several years to go before it reaches maturity. Yet the current opportunities and benefits, especially for new ventures, overshadow the risks. This article addresses both the business and technical aspects of cloud computing and includes numerous real world examples.

Table of Contents

11 Pages

INTRODUCTION

DISCUSSION
Software as a Service (SAAS)
Platform as a Service (PAAS)
Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS)
Virtualization
Hypervisor
Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA)
Ubiquitous Broadband
Browsers and Advanced User Interface (UI) Tools
Massively Parallel Distributed Computing on Commodity Servers

BUSINESS POTENTIAL
Improved Performance
Reduced Technology Risk and Startup Costs
Competitive Advantage
Increased Pace of Innovation
Reduced Costs
- Disaster Recovery (DR)
Improved Business Productivity
New Business Opportunities
- Shared Services
- The Future

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS

MARKET INSIGHTS

REFERENCES

VENDOR INFORMATION

GLOSSARY

SOURCES OF FURTHER INFORMATION