10 misunderstandings of cloud computing

First, grid computing is cloud computing

Grid computing is a computer science that studies how to divide a problem that requires a very large amount of computational power into many small parts, then distributes those parts to many computers for processing, and finally combines these calculations to get the final result. 

Grid technology is an integral part of cloud computing. How to provide resources to a work task is the main difference between them (grid and cloud). Grid computing is concerned with moving a work task to what it needs, generally a remote and already available resource. Usually, a grid is a group of servers, and a large computing task can be split into multiple small tasks that are assigned to these servers to run in parallel. Grid computing is mainly used in education and research institutions, but less in enterprises.

We can think of cloud computing as a phase upgrade of previous generation computing models (such as grid computing, transparent computing, utility computing). We can define cloud computing in this way: Cloud computing is a computing model in which applications, data, and IT resources are made available to users over the network in a serviced manner. Cloud computing is also a methodology for infrastructure management. A large number of computing resources form an IT resource pool for dynamically creating highly virtualized resources for users to use. In a cloud computing environment, all computing resources, such as servers, can be dynamically generated from the hardware infrastructure and modified to suit the needs of the task. Therefore, cloud computing can support grid computing as well as non-grid computing, such as a three-tier architecture application or Web 2.0 application.

Second, the implementation of cloud computing needs to abandon the original IT infrastructure resources

The essence of cloud computing is to maximize the utilization of IT investments through consolidation, sharing, and dynamic provisioning, including new investments and existing resources. Therefore, implementing cloud computing does not require abandoning legacy IT infrastructure resources. Cloud computing systems can leverage existing IT infrastructure resources, and cloud computing systems can efficiently manage existing and new IT infrastructure. Resources.

Third, cloud computing is only suitable for small and medium enterprises

SMBs can get great benefits from cloud computing because cloud computing allows them to lease resources from cloud providers without spending huge amounts of money and IT technology to maintain such an infrastructure. Clouds can help these SMEs incubate their innovations in the cloud and shorten the time it takes their products to go to market. In this model, we will deploy some public cloud like Wuxi cloud computing center to provide this shared service and resources.

At the same time, the cloud has another application model in the enterprise environment. We call it a private cloud model. The enterprise builds its own cloud computing infrastructure and provides cloud computing services to internal users or external customers. The company has the autonomy of the infrastructure and can improve its services based on its own needs and carry out independent innovation.

Fourth, cloud computing is a technology or product

The most complete and complete requirement for cloud computing customers should be an end-to-end solution that is integrated with multiple products and services. The cloud computing concept is implemented by means of a variety of technologies, such as virtualization, automation, Web 2.0, etc., to integrate these technologies into a series of solutions to help customers manage their IT environment more efficiently.

Fifth, cloud computing is SaaS

Saas is a mode of providing software through the Internet. Vendors deploy application software on their own servers. Customers can order the required application software services from the Internet according to their actual needs. How much and how long the service is ordered? Pay the vendor and get the service provided by the vendor via the Internet.

SaaS is just one piece of cloud computing. The ultimate goal of "cloud" is IT as a Service (ITaaS). Of course, SaaS can benefit from the rapid deployment and resource expansion provided by the cloud, so that applications on SaaS can scale well in both the number of users and the rapid deployment.

Sixth, cloud computing is virtualization

Virtualization means that computing components run on a virtual basis rather than on a real basis. It is a solution to simplify management and optimize resources. Just like the now empty and transparent office building, the entire floor can hardly see the wall, users can build a more self-contained office space with the same cost, thereby saving costs and maximizing the utilization of space. This idea of re-planning limited fixed resources according to different needs to achieve maximum utilization is called virtualization technology in the IT field.

Virtualization is an integral part of the cloud. Cloud is more advanced than virtualization. The cloud can directly deploy the customized IT environment for the end user on the virtual machine. The cloud integrates existing technologies for virtualization, grid computing, and utility computing and builds clouds based on it.

Seven, cloud computing can not guarantee the security of enterprise data

This depends on how the company stores their data. Some public clouds do not meet all the needs of the enterprise. However, they can be shared for mail, photos and videos, or some other personal application service. For businesses, storing data on a standardized and standardized cloud ensures the secure and efficient use of their data.

8. Will the financial crisis affect the vast realization of cloud computing?

According to IDC's analysis, the trend of adopting cloud technology will be strengthened due to the current economic crisis. From an economic point of view, the cloud is very attractive to businesses: the cloud can help save up to 80% of the area used, 60% of power and cooling consumption, up to three times the utilization of facilities, making it Some resources are more efficient. In the economic downturn, cloud computing will become a competitive advantage. By analyzing Gartner's conviction that the cost of investing in most data centers in energy will be equal to the investment in hardware within five years. The energy crisis will drive big companies to transform their data centers more efficiently, and the government's incentives and shared responsibility for “green” have prompted them to do so.

Nine, cloud computing technology is not mature

Cloud computing is not a rhetoric. Government departments and companies, such as the Wuxi government and iTricity in Europe, have been able to get cloud computing into their production environment with the help of IBM and pass on the convenience of cloud computing to their customers.

However, to make the benefits of cloud computing a reality and reduce risk, I would recommend that my customers adopt the 80/20 approach, which is to transfer 80% of their business to the cloud, which should be obtained from dynamic resource management. The benefit is to retain 20% of the critical business in a proprietary private environment.

Ten, the world only needs a big "cloud"

A public cloud computing is not enough. Public clouds are provided to end users by third parties and are generally free or inexpensive to use over the Internet. There are now many types of clouds that serve end users through a public, open network. Business users are concerned about the security, privacy, compliance and standardization of this common model. While this model saves you the cost of buying and maintaining a data center, companies are more willing to choose a private cloud to keep data safe.

Moreover, in addition to general services, each cloud should be customizable in order to provide the best quality of service to end users. User groups can define special services and applications based on their own characteristics.