Why do we care what is the core of Azure? Continue reading
Cloud Computing
15 posts
More than a year ago I was (as a lot of others where too) excitedly speculating about Microsoft Windows Nano Server. Continue reading
At least not in emails. Continue reading
[Update 2017 May 05 ]
One succinct text on what constitutes good VPN architecture might be found here.
[Original post]
Amazon has (at last) released Virtual Private Cloud (VPC). An integral part of its successful Amazon Web Services Cloud platform. I too have skimmed through this one article.
The other day I stumbled upon one very good feedback on Azure feedback site. (unfortunately it is not moderated and is by now full of escort services offers in comments) Continue reading
To return to feasibility the enterprise has to innovate
Why is that a feasible strategy? To innovate means to disrupt. And Disruption is feasible if it transforms into improvement. And that transformation from disruptive innovation to feasibility is made possible only by the use of the discipline of Architecture. Continue reading
Let’s suppose “Company X” , has managed to move all of its IT services into one cloud. Now , let us imagine this is a Google Cloud. So, what ? What is this “sky wide pie” all about?
[Originally published 2010 June]
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[Update 2015 Mar 30]
An very good article very much in the same direction has appeared on ZDNET.
[Originally published Dec 2013]
Really? How can a terminology hurt me ? Well it can: Indirectly through your wallet. And this is because PaaS/SaaS/IaaS v.s. Cloud nomenclature is not well understood. There is no consistent terminology. Thus people residing on this brave Cloud Computing Planet, do make fundamental mistakes that can cost them a lot. All just because of the initial misunderstandings on the terminology level.
A lot has changed in Cloud Computing in last 4 years. Still, let us not forget: 90% of IT users, needs clear exp-lanation on the benefits.
[Original Post: 2010 Mar 19]
By “you”, I mean a “normal” human. The average software user. Not geek or hacker, or software developer. What I would like is to explain to you : what does cloud-computing, mean for You, not for us “techies”. And most importantly : Why The Cloud?
“There are two ways of constructing a software design. One way is to make it so simple that there are obviously no deficiencies
and the other is to make it so complicated that there are no obvious deficiencies.” — C A R Hoare
How very witty, true and simple. Perhaps we could just follow this witty but actually very crucial IT Systems advice. Is IT that simple? Are we done here then ?
Well … perhaps not. I think, it is not that simple for the organization, to come to feasible Cloud Computing Architecture, also tailored for the Enterprise.
Especially if the “one” is a large corporation or any kind of large institutions. Any kind of IT enterprise which is currently severely exposed to myriad of mission critical but in the same time “deep legacy” systems. The kind of IT systems which are here to stay “forever” inside any given large organization today.
The really big issue hidden here is the one, we all dread and we all know is beneath:
Legacy systems are staying with us, “for good”.
All together with “legacy strategies”, vested interests and a such.
When faced with the Cloud marketing, “defenders of the legacy” (people and organizations) will surely mix-in an additional requirement and difficulty: One Cloud is not Enough! Meaning: no single Cloud Computing Vendor can produce an SLA that can satisfy. Very often (or always) it is claimed that due to compliance and security requirements, (which are sometimes pure assumptions), one Cloud provider can not satisfy.
There and then, will mushroom all sorts of reasons (some less true, some more), where Security and Compliance are unbreakable and unquestionable, and they will always come firmly on top of the list of the reasons of actually not going for the Cloud. And remember: Legacy IT is not secure and not compliant.
Thus the added (non) critical decision to be made: Single or multiple Clouds, public or private or any combination of the two. Saas? PaaS? IaaS? None of which can deliver the ever elusive “full compliance”.
Should we just give up then? Not yet.
Enterprise Cloud Agnostic Architecture
Day before yesterday, I was aked and I did an impromptu explanation to few investors on the following subject: “What makes Data Centre (DC) a good investment”. And (lo and behold) I managed to explain one highly technical and potentially highly expensive concept to few real (v.s. potential) investors. And they went away satisfied. Which is always a good thing.
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A bit pompous title about Typical Cluster Technical Architecture. But so true. Continue reading
Well … no it will not if there is no Cloud. It is as simple as that. But what that actually means ?
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