So how do we explain cloud computing?
The cloud as electric utility analogy doesn’t work for me. A power utility takes in raw materials (coal, gas, uranium, etc.) and produces electricity. We supply money and the utility supplies us with this electricity: two distinct processes. Similarly, computers take in raw materials (data and electricity) and produce data. When the CPU moves into a cloud, we don’t stop feeding data in. But how many of us provide coal to the power company? To me, this is the root of why the power utility analogy breaks down.
So how do we explain cloud computing? Dry cleaning? Seriously: you drop off your shirts, they put them in a bag with your name on it, and they’re processed and stored awaiting your pickup. This process meets the fundamental characteristics of cloud:
– Elastic: You can bring in one shirt or 100
– Shared: Everything is washed together
– Usage-based: You pay by the shirt
– Supports many devices: You can bring in all sorts of clothes
– Self-provisioning: Self-service dry cleaning is possible
The analogy carries over to the security issues, such as: shirts getting mixed up (isolation break down); damage and loss of shirts (leakage, reliability and insider threat); and the drycleaner going out of business before you pick up your shirts (financial stability).
This analogy isn’t perfect since I’m not sure how to explain private versus public dry cleaning. But I hope this furthers the discussion around ways to describe the cloud. Please provide your thoughts.
