Rackspace with Cloud Computing: Hype or Help? by:Kathryn Dawson

As basic a concept as shared server hosting, yet scaled up to unimaginable limits

cloud computing is being implemented by companies large and small as a solution to anticipated growth needs. By pooling resources across the world companies using cloud computing trumpet the versatility of access to a business network that gives you what you need when you need it, and nothing extra when you don't. On the office end, cloud computing purports to be the next generation of the elusive and seemingly mythical 'paperless office'. Actually taking steps toward a 'computer-less office', where workers share all employees have instant shared access to files, applications and online services from anywhere in the world.

Proponents trumpet cloud computing's reliability, pointing out that the inherent redundancy in the system makes it nearly impossible to lose data permanently. This can also be of ultimate benefit to corporate security. With all sensitive company information held, not on personal computers which can be lost or stolen, but on monitored servers protected by high levels of encryption security experts feel the ability to protect such files becomes a more attainable task. Investors and financial managers credit the ability of cloud computing to amortize technical costs and reduce the overall expenses of maintaining servers, computers and the staff to maintain such equipment will eventually result in net savings.

It would be hard to fault any modern business for desiring the benefits cloud computing offers. Less money spent on unnecessary bandwidth, the multiplicity of software licenses, the wasteful and possibly dangerous duplication of company documents and records, easy access to all company resources at your fingertips, whenever and wherever, it all seems too good to be true. Causing some pundits to wonder if there is a possible downside to 'putting all your eggs into one basket'. Case in point, a number of customers of the popular Rackspace Cloud Computing service were left high and dry when the company suffered a number of outages last year. Though the company claims it has addressed the issues the experience introduced a climate of cautious skepticism for those considering a migration of their business into a cloud computing environment.

These doubts have not deterred major corporations such as Google and Microsoft from pursuing aggressive cloud computing investment and research. Perhaps the best known company for cloud computing services was one of the earliest proponents. Rackspace, a Texas web hosting company that uses the principles of colocation, virtual private servers and primarily cloud computing to boast of an unmatched 100% server uptime for it's customers, trumpets the relative scalability of it's services as one of the most valuable benefits cloud computing can provide to it's clients. In fact a large number of small and medium sized businesses are now embracing the concept, citing the virtual growth capabilities of the cloud help them avoid costly mistakes with usage predictions and allow them to move forward without fear of under or over purchasing hardware, software or bandwidth.

Though many businesses find the allure of cloud computing irresistible some business managers and technical directors are still hesitant to make the commitment and move their computer business into the cloud concerned that the transition is too complex and or expensive. While this may be true for some large corporations the opposite is actually true for smaller businesses, which is why this is an area where cloud computing is seeing the most growth among business clients. While many questions still persist about the relative benefits and security of cloud computing the best place to start to explore the possibilities for your business is with a little research. Numerous companies such as rackspace offer detailed and helpful information about every aspect of this new trend so there is no reason to keep yourself in the dark.?

About the author

Kathryn Dawson writes articles for ConnetU, one of the best suppliers of high quality UK rackspace, colocation and dedicated server hosting. From 1U colocation rack space to private lockable 42U racks, with customisable power and transit, and complimentary off-site backups and comprehensive server monitoring. http://www.connetu.com/

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