subject: Business Benefits of Cloud Computing and the Dynamic Data Center by:Richard Stasior [print this page] Cloud computing incorporates virtualization, data and application on-demand deployment, online delivery of services and open source software to provide significant business benefits. With virtualization, cloud computing allows a dynamic data center where servers are utilizied based on demand. As needs change, resources ramp up or down dynamically in order to meet the growing or shrinking workload. Applications in the cloud may replace traditional IT services, such as file serving, messaging, CRM, storage and more.
The benefits of deploying applications using cloud computing include driving down run time and response time, minimizing the purchasing and deployment of physical infrastructure. Considerations for energy savings, flexibility, simplified systems administration, pricing based on consumption, and maximizing the footprint of the data center make the case for cloud computing even more powerful.
Pay-by-use cloud computing
For smaller organizations in particular, where restricted budget, floor space constraints and generalist IT staff are common, pay-by-use, or public, cloud computing yields significant business advantages. Layered service providers offering cloud-based solutions can be adjacent to company's equipment leases. Public clouds are run by third-party service providers and applications from different customers are likely to be mixed together on the cloud's servers, storage systems and networks.
- Expense-based, reduced capital outlay
- Up to date software licensing
- Automated software and security updates
- Robust, automated DR policies
- Reduced technology asset management issues
- Less hardware to dispose of
- Eliminates depreciable expenses
- Add/reduce capabilities and capacity as needed
Private and hybrid cloud computing
Private cloud computing can be provided using an enterprise data center's own servers. Private clouds are created for the exclusive use of one client, providing the utmost control over data, security and quality of service. Private clouds can also be built and managed by a company's own IT staff. The mix of virtual machines and virtual appliances used for server deployment objects is one of the key features of cloud computing. Also, companies can merge a storage cloud that provides a virtualized storage platform and is managed through an API, or web-based interfaces for file management and application data deployments. Hybrid clouds utilize both public and private cloud models, and may be used to handle planned workload spikes or storage cloud configurations. Dedicated audits for security policies are a must.
- Greater data security and control
- Better manage quality of service
- Leverage existing infrastructure and staff
- Permits use of hybrid cloud services to suppliment private cloud capabilities.
To learn more about how cloud computing can positively affect your organization's IT budget, productivity and physical resources, please visit http://shopricom.com.
About the author
Richard Stasior is a technology industry veteran and owner of RICOM, a technology reseller, integrator and managed services provider based in Irvine, California. For more information about this topic, please visit http://www.shopricom.com
