Have you heard the one about cloud computing?

Stop us if you’ve heard this one: a data center manager puts his computing into the cloud…

Have you heard about Cloud Computing? Probably too much and not enough at the same time. We’ve been laughing about a great post decrying the overload of cloud computing coverage at Cloud Ave: “Cloud Computing is Dead.”

We’ve taken more seriously recent news about Google’s Gmail disruption and what it might reveal about becoming too cloud dependent.

On Wikipedia, the definition of cloud computing seems to say everything and nothing all at once. Plus, the definition contains a helpful note that “this article seems to contain a large number of buzzwords” which is always a warning sign:

“Cloud computing describes computation, software, data access, and storage services that do not require end-user knowledge of the physical location and configuration of the system that delivers the services… Cloud computing is a natural evolution of the widespread adoption of virtualization, service-oriented architecture, autonomic and utility computing. Details are abstracted from end-users, who no longer have need for expertise in, or control over, the technology infrastructure “in the cloud” that supports them.”

Just Like Your Data Center
We especially like the part that says “details are abstracted from end-users.” It sounds so fluffy and cloud-like that it makes you forget an important fact: the “cloud” isn’t a cloud at all. It’s comprised of physical space, just like your data center. It requires electricity and cooling, just like your data center. It houses high-density computing, just like your data center. And it provides many mission-critical applications and services, just like your data center.

But, unlike your data center, public cloud computing is off premises “somewhere.” Unless you’re a cloud services provider, you don’t get to see and touch your cloud computing infrastructure too frequently. But, it’s still a physical infrastructure. And it has all the requirements and challenges of a physical infrastructure.

Our point? If you’re considering cloud computing – and there are many great reasons to use this technology – then conduct the due diligence! Check to see that the facility is SAS70 compliant, find out where your data will be stored (and who will have access to it), ask about the cloud computing provider’s business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) strategy, and make sure you know the specifics of the physical cloud computing data center infrastructure.

We think this last one is very important: let us say it again:

“Make sure you know the specifics of the physical cloud computing data center infrastructure.”

If you are planning on placing your data and applications “into the cloud” you should take every step to ensure that the cloud infrastructure is as good as – or preferably better – than the data center you have built for yourself. That means power, cooling, rack and cable access, and a host of other concerns are all met.

What do you think?