Cloud Computing, A Win for All

Cloud computing is a form of computing in which all the information, resources and applications are managed in a virtual environment where resources can grow and shrink with your needs. This dynamic capability is referred to as elasticity.. The term cloud used in cloud computing represents the nature and structure of the virtual environment. Public cloud computing can be as narrowly defined as virtual servers that are available over the internet. Or it can be defined as anything that users do beyond their firewalls. In addition, companies are virtualizing their own infrastructure, enabling elasticity and using this to better manage their own data centers. This approach is referred to as private cloud.

To get a picture of what cloud computing looks like, all you need to do is turn to Google Apps. Companies who use this virtual platform can eliminated the installation of word processing software, multiple IT personnel, or in house e-mail servers. Rather Google makes all the services like the web hosting, document editing, and e-mail and much more, available directly through its web browser. Many users find Google Apps increases productivity, enhances security, and eliminates the need for data backup and lowers IT costs.

Even Microsoft has entered into the world of the cloud realm through its new offerings Windows Azure, SQL Azure, MS Exchange Online, MS SharePoint Online, Office Live Meeting and MS Dynamics CRM Online.

Variations in Cloud Computing Platforms

There are 19 categories of cloud platforms listed on Wikipedia, but they all fall into three general categories.

1. The Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) variation allows businesses to use outsourced options instead of purchasing expensive equipment for themselves. Companies who provide infrastructure as a service bear the burden of purchasing this expensive equipment including networking equipment, servers and hard drives. They then charge businesses for the virtual equipment on a cost usage basis.
2. Platform as a Service (PaaS) is a variation where the apps are run off of cloud servers hosted in the cloud. A small company can use a PaaS provider to host and manage the performance of an application instead of having the applications run off in-house servers. The company that sells the apps sells its cloud hosting services on demand or on a processor/ bandwidth basis. Some definitions consider PaaS and SaaS parallel concepts.
3. Software as a Service (SaaS) is the third, where the applications are paid for on a per use basis and not in bulk licenses. This is mostly efficient for those apps that are not used frequently. This is an attractive option for small companies. They can purchase a la carte licensing. Purchasing a license for every computer in a business can be costly and instead of a company purchasing multiple licenses, it can just pay for the software as a service, removing the limits on how many machines the software can be installed on.

PaaS Solutions for Business Transaction Performance Management.
Business transaction management (BTM) software companies are beginning to offer PaaS and SaaS solutions for managing mission-critical applications that span not only distributed and mainframe tiers, but also across the cloud. This has often involved creative partnerships. For example, there are companies that offer PaaS enabled business transaction management and performance solutions in partnership with companies that specialize in hosting Paas Solutions. This enables businesses that prefer using a cloud-based option. to use remote monitoring and management of business applications.

No longer does a business have to purchase more software than it can afford. While monitoring business transactions constantly is the optimum way to prevent problems from developing, for smaller businesses this may not be a financial option. It used to be that a business had to make a large investment in BTP software. Now with business transaction management software available as a PaaS product, many businesses can turn to a cheaper way to evaluate their business transaction performance.

When searching for a PaaS solution, it still remains important to make sure that the program offers a powerful and predictive complex event processing engine. You don't want to lose one of the primary advantages BTM software offers - the ability to deal with application issues at the first sign that a problem has developed. You don't want to waste days trying to resolve the cause of help-desk tickets, problem identification can be just minutes away.

Cloud computing is indeed a win-win situation for businesses of all sizes. It offers flexibility on many fronts, especially the financial one.

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