How Do You Define Cloud Computing?

By Dawn M. Foster (84 posts) on November 16, 2009 at 11:06 am

I've been blogging about cloud computing fairly often lately, and it is part of our focused topic for October and November on the Open Source at Intel website; however, I haven't really spent much time talking about the various definitions of cloud computing. Jim Kaskade recently compiled a large list of cloud computing definitions from various analysts and industry leaders, and I wanted to highlight a few of them.

The 451 Group

'Cloud computing' describes a service model that combines a general organizing principle for IT delivery, infrastructure components, an architectural approach and an economic model – basically, a confluence of grid computing, virtualization, utility computing, hosting and software as a service (SaaS).

Or, put more simply, the cloud is IT, presented as a service to the user, delivered by virtualized resources that are independent of location.

IDC's Frank Gens

Cloud Services = Consumer and Business products, services and solutions that are delivered and consumed in real-time over the Internet

Cloud Computing = an emerging IT development, deployment and delivery model, enabling real-time delivery of products, services and solutions over the Internet (i.e., enabling cloud services)

Forrester's James Staten

Forrester defines cloud computing as a standardized IT capability (services, software, or infrastructure) delivered via Internet technologies in a pay-per-use, self-service way.

Burton Group

Cloud computing is the set of disciplines, technologies, and business models used to render IT capabilities as on-demand services. "On-demand" permits agile deployment of services within an enterprise; it also permits delivery of services as utilities in an open market subject to competition.

I only mentioned a couple of definitions, but you can read at least a dozen more from Jim Kaskade's post.

How do you define cloud computing? Which of these definitions do you agree with and which do you think aren't quite right?

Categories: Open Source

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