While making use of modern technology, it’s easy to forget that we are constantly producing data that is constantly being collected. There are no breaks in the action, and there doesn’t seem to be a limit in sight. The end result is a phenomenon that is known as big data, and it is emerging as the biggest challenge in the information technology industry. Not surprisingly, the top software developers have been aware of the problem for some time. After all, things really started to snowball during the 1980s. More than 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are produced ever day. Learn more about what big data is and why it is important below.

Big Data is Constantly Growing

As more and more data-generating devices are put out into the world, the rate at which data is amassed continues to grow and multiply. Incredibly, nearly 90 percent of the data that exists in the world has accumulated during the last two years alone. By some estimates, approximately 10 percent of the photographs that have ever been taken have been snapped in the last year. That is just one tiny example of the massive, ever-growing effects of big data. Big data can be vastly useful; the problem is trying to harness and make sense of it.

How is Data Produced?

When you stop and think about it, it’s easy to see how we are producing so much data on a daily basis. Data is produced in a countless number of different ways. Every single post that is made to a social media site generates data. Every phone call that is made produces considerable amounts of data as well. Digital photos and videos add to the pile, and GPS signals from cell phones contribute to it too. Things like medical records and surveillance equipment add even more data into the mix.

An Ever-Growing Phenomenon

Big data is constantly growing larger. In response, software developers have been searching for ways to make it more manageable. The larger amount of data that is used, the more valuable and meaningful the results tend to be. Therefore, it is well worth it to find a way to make sense of all of this data that we are producing. Since 1980, the world’s ability to store data on a per-capita basis has doubled every 40 months or so. In other words, it doubles approximately every three years, and it only seems to be intensifying.

Volume, Velocity and Variety

Big data is characterized by three main things: volume, velocity and variety. These three factors all contribute to the unwieldy nature of the phenomenon. Volume refers to the sheer amount of data that is being produced and accumulated. Velocity refers to the exceptionally fast rate at which it is being accumulated. Variety refers to the fact that it is coming from so many different sources. These three factors all need to be taken into account when developing software that analyzes and otherwise makes use of all of that data, and that is a tall order indeed.

The Limitations of Standard Software

To put it mildly, standard software can’t handle the exceptional girth of big data. As a result, all of that data is just sitting out there, but very few people are able to put it to good use. This is precisely why so many software companies have started tackling the issue. Even if a standard program attempts to work with big data, the length of time that is required makes it a very impractical endeavor. What is needed is specialized software that handle those massive amounts of data in a relatively short period of time.

Solutions

As we “speak,” software developers are working feverishly to find ways to harness the exciting power and information that are a part of big data. One option is a massively parallel processing, or MPP, database. Distributed file systems and distributed databases are also being explored as solutions. Data-mining grids show some promise, and scalable storage solutions are being developed as well. One thing that is emerging as a very viable solution is cloud computing, which is steadily growing in popularity and may be able to handle the big requirements of big data.

Spread it Around

A regular computer could never process the massive amount of information that is being accumulated each day. In fact, a regular computer probably couldn’t handle a fraction of the data that is amassed on a daily basis. One way to make data a little more manageable is by spreading it around. After all, supercomputers can’t be expected to handle this information on their own. Besides, very few people have access to that kind of equipment. Cloud computing provides a promising way to spread the data around. Big data will still be big, but it will be spread across several systems that work together to make it more manageable.

The Benefits of Big Data

Companies of all shapes and sizes – and those from many different industries – can benefit enormously from the information that can be culled from big data. After all, information is power. Traditional-sized databases are effective in and of themselves. Imagine the exciting possibilities that would be opened up once big data is made to be more accessible. The software companies that develop the best solutions also stand to be big winners. Their programs will be snapped up by businesses that want to harness the power of big data.

The Future of Database Management

The databases of tomorrow need to be designed with big data in mind. To make sense of the information that is stored in those databases, special programs need to be developed and used. If you haven’t heard a whole lot about big data up to this point, you can rest assured that you’ll be hearing a lot more about it in the weeks, months and years ahead. Big data is only going to get bigger, and it is going to grow faster and faster as well. It is sure to have a huge impact on the future of technology as a whole.

Do you use any business software to automate your department or company work? CRM and ERP systems are seen almost everywhere in large companies but small or growing businesses still overlook the comfort they can have with business software. Usually, solutions are made on cloud computing technology that delivers the user from installing any programs on the computer or dealing with complicated systems. What is really good about cloud in this case is that you don’t need to think of how the whole system works and is being maintained. You have guarantees of having access to your data and the application whenever you need and from wherever you are, at the only condition of having the internet connection.

Cloud computing has been used for different areas of business automation. We can speak of solutions, made for software development (bug tracking), customer service (ticketing), office management, HR workflow automation, sales collaboration and others. Business automation solutions make it possible to track the employees’ time and performance, plan resources, track projects completion. You can always choose a solution according to your business needs. They are indeed numerous. Today I would like to speak about daily task automation which can be used at any company or department. Daily task management through online cloud-based systems spares you from additional emails, phone calls and meetings. You can see all of your tasks and your team members’ tasks in a single application. The status provided to each task reveals how much work has been done, what is about to be done now and how far you can move now.

How exactly daily task management systems work? When you type the login and a password on the application website, you get access to your task list. If a solution has integrated project management features, it’s usually possible to see the whole project plan for a long term plus single tasks that are planned upon this schedule. Tracker features make it possible to program your business process for a short or a long period of time. Trackers are schemes that are not just a plan, but they are an automated process. When one team member finishes his task, another one automatically gets an email notification about the necessity of starting his or her part of work. Trackers are good for companies that deal with repeatedly performed operations: this might be a support service or software development.

It doesn’t depend on project management or tracker if you will have your to-do list in an online daily task management system. Your tasks are usually seen in a single list with the marks of the importance level and the status. If the task is in progress or done, you can set a relevant status. If a tracker is not involved, nothing will happen further in the system. With a tracker, after you hit the ‘done’ button, the item will go down the scheme and new tasks will be generated and given out to your working fellows.

I have written mainly that daily task management systems are perfect for teams that are situated in different locations all over the world. But how often it has happened when we cannot deal upon a certain amount of tasks within one office? Daily task management systems usually come with a set  of online collaboration tools. Such sets may include wiki, notes, comments, forums, chats, even video chats, and email notifications. It’s possible to say that no daily task management system nowadays can go without online collaboration tools. So you can use the system that has the features that you like more or find more comfortable to use. I myself like notes, but you might prefer wiki, especially if you are in software development.

Cloud-based or SaaS daily task management systems store your data in cloud database and guarantee its safety and availability at any time you need them. Also, the costs of maintenance are usually smaller comparing to a cost of having a special IT support professional for maintaining additional system.

Author’s bio:

Anastasia Chumakova works in online workflow automation and project management and she got so passionate about the online collaboration systems that she started to write about it. First, she wanted to get rid of her friends, who couldn’t understand what her company was doing. Then, she started to write for blogs about new applications for entrepreneurs and companies.

In the ever-evolving world of mobile broadband communications, big changes happen all the time. On September 20, at the CTIA Wireless 2011 show, Nokia Siemens unveiled one change that should prove to be especially significant. Their new Liquid Net technology, which is being compared to cloud computing, is poised to revolutionize the way in which broadband capacity is distributed. The primary goal of this new technology is to make more efficient use of available capacities. As more and more smartphones, tablets and other mobile devices are being used to stream videos and for other bandwidth-intensive functions, this new technology is sorely needed.

The Announcement

The big announcement by Nokia Siemens did not come as a surprise, at least among those who keep tabs on the industry. There has been a pressing need for a change in the way in which mobile technology and broadband are delivered. Several different companies have been working on the issue, but Nokia Siemens has emerged victorious. In fact, the technology was being rolled out at the same time that the announcement was made. This dramatic announcement surely put even more pressure on other companies, who are feverishly scrambling to come up with similar solutions of their own.

What is Liquid Net?

To understand what Liquid Net is, it helps to think of it as being akin to cloud computing. It basically refers to making more efficient use of available capacities on a broadband network. Under a traditional configuration, there is no fluidity in the capacities that are available to broadband users. Therefore, users in big cities must share limited numbers of base stations, which can cause service interruptions, slow speeds and many other issues. Meanwhile, those who are in the suburbs or less crowded areas have more capacity than they can possibly use. Liquid Net adds fluidity to the way in which broadband capacities are made available to users.

The Problem with Current Technology

As noted above, the way in which traditional broadband systems work is woefully inefficient. Large chunks of broadband capacity sit untouched in parts of the country that are relatively uncrowded. Meanwhile, people in bustling cities are all competing for a finite amount of broadband capacity. When a new smartphone is unveiled or a major update is launched, capacities are maxed out and users experience major problems. This poses serious problems for mobile broadband providers, which is precisely why Liquid Net has been developed.

The Ever-Growing Demand for Broadband

Demand for broadband has been growing exponentially, especially over the last handful of years. After all, smartphones aren’t the only devices that are making use of these networks. Tablets, Blackberrys and other devices are sucking away at broadband capacities as well. The fact is that broadband networks need to be able to accommodate approximately 1GB per mobile user per day. If they fall short of that minimum, huge issues crop up and they are left with disgruntled users, which can seriously cut into their bottom lines.

How Liquid Net Helps

Currently, it is estimated that up to 80 percent of the processing capacity of today’s base stations is untouched. It’s also believed that up to 50 percent of core networks’ capacities are not used. At the same time, people elsewhere aren’t able to gain access to the broadband capacities that they need. With Liquid Net, the computing power unit is removed from the base station. Instead, it is shared between all stations. It is directed where it needs to go. This reduces the need for dedicated equipment and dramatically improves the efficiency of broadband networks. This change represents a new architecture for mobile networks.

Ebb and Flow

Due to the ebbing and flowing nature of broadband demand, it simply isn’t possible to use dedicated equipment to meet the needs of all users. There is no way to predict when and where broadband capacities will be needed the most. Instead of attempting to build even more base stations, then, Nokia Siemens’ Liquid Net works by directing broadband capacities where they are needed the most. In this way, the new technology is quite similar to cloud computing, which also pools resources and distributes them where they are needed effectively and efficiently.

Baseband Pooling

One of the key features of the Liquid Net is baseband pooling. Baseband pooling works by centralizing the resources that are needed to conduct certain functions. It is a way to share resources in a way that is cost-effective. Users themselves will never notice the change has been made, at least not in a negative way. If anything, users should notice more consistent speed and reliability. This should prove to be true in bustling urban centers and in rural areas alike. Those who live in less populated areas shouldn’t have to worry about decreased speeds; after all, many sparsely populated areas are only using about 20 percent of what is available.

Beamforming

Another important part of the Liquid Net is a process that is known as beamforming. Beamforming works by focusing specific radio connections and directing them at specific broadband users. This helps to streamline the process of making the most efficient and effective use of available broadband capacities. All of this work happens instantly and without any direction from everyday users. As the new technology is rolled out, broadband users shouldn’t notice any interruptions or problems. Nokia Siemens is already implementing this technology and will continue to roll it out even more in the weeks and months ahead.

When will it be Available?

Due to the fact that the new Liquid Cloud technology has been developed by Nokia Siemens, only users on those networks will have access to it right away. As with any other major change in mobile technology, however, other carriers and providers are sure to follow suit right away. It is in the best interests of many mobile providers to make use of this technology as quickly as possible. Their networks will pale in comparison to the speeds of those that are running on Liquid Net technology.

The Competition

As noted above, the competition is going to be hot on the heels of Nokia Siemens. In fact, Alcatel-Lucent has already developed its own version of the technology. However, their version is extremely stripped down and basic when compared with that of Nokia Siemens. On top of that, Alcatel-Lucent will not be making the technology available until 2012. They are just the tip of the iceberg however. Many other providers are sure to be rolling out their own versions of the Liquid Net in the upcoming months. It is the only viable way to keep up with broadband users’ demand.

Will the introduction of the Liquid Net have a major impact on the everyday use of mobile devices? That remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, though: It paves the way for even faster speeds and more innovative features. Under current technology, limits were rapidly being met. Thanks to Liquid Net technology, those limits have been pushed back by a large degree. This will free things up so that exciting new changes and upgrades can be made. As the technology is rolled out, reduced speeds, slow downloads and other problems should start to diminish as well and user satisfaction should increase.

If you think that cloud computing is a one-size-fits-all proposition, think again. While the basic concept of cloud computing is relatively simple to understand – it basically involves computer services that are provided over a network instead of “in house” – there is more than one type available. As this service has matured and evolved, a couple of different variations have been developed. These variations have been made to accommodate a wide range of different users. After all, what works for one company may not work for the next one. Learn more about the primary types of cloud computing in this informative article.

The Three Types of Cloud Computing

There are three primary types of cloud computing: public, private and hybrid. Each model includes slightly different features, and each one has benefits that may appeal to some but not to others. When most people think of cloud computing, they think of the public cloud. The majority of the people who use cloud computing are using the public cloud as well. However, the public cloud is not right for everyone. Private clouds have been developed to accommodate those whose needs aren’t adequately met by the public cloud. Not surprisingly, some people need the best of both worlds. In that case, the hybrid cloud is an excellent option.

Which Clouds do People Use?

The specific type of cloud that a company uses is going to depend on many different variables. According to a recent survey, whose results were made public during the GigaOM Structure Conference this past June, 75 percent of respondents believe that they will be using cloud computing within the next five years. The compound annual growth rate or CAGR of cloud services is holding steady at an impressive 67 percent. Clearly, people are realizing and enjoying the benefits of cloud computing.

As for the types of clouds that are actually being used, the answer varies. The public cloud is extremely popular. It is ideal for situations like the initial launch of a new site because it is highly scalable. It can accommodate virtually any type of setup, from simple ones to ones that are much more complicated. It is also the most cost effective option that is available today. If price is the top priority, the public cloud wins hands down. Additional situations in which it pays to use the public cloud include:

Cloud computing is quickly gaining attention because it is revolutionizing the way that people do business, but what many are not considering is the data protection issues that may inherently exist within such a concept. Understanding the impact that cloud computing has when it comes to data protection and data security laws are important. Government bodies and non-profit organizations, especially, need to consider the data protection impact of cloud computing on their organizations.

In the past couple of years, the concept of cloud computing has expanded from being a business concept with some promise to becoming one of the IT industry’s fastest growing segments of business. Now companies that were hit by the recession are realizing that by tapping into that cloud, they can gain quicker and more effective access to the best business applications, drastically improving upon their infrastructure at a cost that is fairly negligible. But what other costs are there that may have initially been missed?

1 – Every security system which has ever had its security breached was once considered to be infallible.
2 – There are risks involved in cloud computing, and understanding these risks is of vital importance when tapping into the cloud for better business.
3 – Looking at how hosting companies for cloud computing have approached the concept of security and data protection.
4 – Understanding the law and the jurisdiction where the data is being hosted or stored is an important part of getting the most out of data hosting.
5 – There are luckily a number of best practices in terms of security and data protection for companies that are in the cloud.

When it comes to data protection and security in the cloud, here are some best practices that are worth considering and putting into action.
- Companies should inquire about systems for exception monitoring,
- Companies should be vigilant about updates, ensuring that staff are not suddenly able to gain access to information of privileges that are not meant for them.
- Companies should ask about where their data is being kept. They should be willing to inquire about the details pertaining to data protection laws in the jurisdictions that are relevant.
- Companies should seek out the assistance of an independent security audit for the host responsible for the data to ensure the highest level of data protection and security
- Companies should figure out which third companies are being dealt with by the host, inquiring to find out who can and cannot gain access to your data
- Companies should take care to develop good policies regarding passwords and how they are chosen, changed and protected
- Companies should look into penalties and availability guarantees
- Companies should find out if their cloud providers are capable of accommodating their own personal security policies when their data is involved.

These best practices can certainly have a positive influence on data protection and security issues within the cloud.

The Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 was enacted on July 30 of 2002, and it is also known as the Corporate and Auditing Accountability and Responsibility Act, or as the Public Company Accounting Reform and Investor Protection Act in the senate and the house respectively. Also known as Sarbox or as SOX, this is a federal law that was enacted in the United States in reaction to the fact that many European countries were dealing with accounting and corporate scandals including WorldCom, Adelphia, Peregrine Systems, Tyco International and Enron. These scandals were costing billions of dollars to their investors, and huge companies were collapsing, which shook up the security’s market across the nation.

There are both pros and cons that are associated with hosting a company’s data abroad, such as hosting data from European countries and firms in the United States. In general, many European countries are strict about where they host their data, even when it comes to cloud computing themes, and European laws often reflect an interest in keeping information and data local, rather than hosting it in other countries. It could potentially be impacting the sales for those companies based on where they are hosting their data because some forms of hosting will be more secure, as well as more cost effective than others.

There are definitely a number of benefits associated with hosting European data abroad, including in America. The legal benefits of hosting data in another country are overwhelming. Additionally, there are always cheaper areas for hosting in terms of labor and equipment costs, and companies often seek out more cost effective methods of data storage and hosting even if it means taking the storage operation to another country. Hosting space tends to be at a premium in European countries, where it isn’t in the United States. However, it is important to consider that the internet backbone in the United States is generally much stronger in comparison to in Europe.

Another benefit of hosting European data in America is that there are more internet datacenters for storage located in the United States, meaning that space availability for hosting is certainly much greater here. These types of considerations can definitely affect sales for a European country looking to host their data in a more cost effective and more productive way.

There are also cons associated with hosting European data in America or in another country for that matter. For example, there are security concerns when it comes to hosting data in unfamiliar territory. While hosting internationally can give a company greater global reach, it also stretches the company thinner, which could reduce security and safety for hosted data. Another concern is always the laws associated with hosting data internationally, as all laws on the subject must be adhered to in the country responsible for doing the hosting.

Companies that are looking for an application that can handle SaaS or Software as a Service development and management are going to find a solution in the combination between SDFC or Salesforce.com and Google Wave.

The focus behind the design of Google Wave is for it to serve as part of the next generation in communication and collaboration through the internet. Google Wave works similarly to other messaging systems such as Usenet and email, but rather than sending a message coupled with the previous thread of messages, requiring that all responses be stored in the inbox for each user for the purpose of context, these message documents, which are called waves, complain the complete thread for each multimedia message, known as a blip, and these waves are stored perpetually on a single central server. The waves are then shared with the collaborators who are able to be added as well as removed from the wave as needed during the existence of said wave.

Google Wave makes it possible for applications to be developed that are basically placed inside what is known as a wave. Those applications are then capable of interacting with any of the people that are on the wave. What happens then, is that Salesforce can be engineered in such a way that it allows customers and companies alike to interact with the wave, providing the software in a more direct manner into the wave as a service.

What this is going to achieve has to do with allowing customers as well as companies to interact with one another in a way that is much more real time than what was previously possibly by any means. Google Wave is also going to make it possible for easy monitoring of all of the software in the wave by way of robots that Google Wave uses. What these robots can do is make the concept of real time monitoring a lot easier.

As far as many companies are currently concerned, Google Wave is providing the possibility for being the ultimate tool in collaboration, which aligns with the concepts of cloud computing and allows businesses to do more than ever before. By increasing the possibility of collaboration between businesses, employees and customers, Google Wave is making it possible for businesses to operate on a much more effective level than ever before. Google Wave, combined with Salesforce.com, is definitely going to be far reaching when it comes to capabilities of being used for the management of SaaS development.

Google Wave is making collaboration over the internet easier than ever. Google Docs and other Google services have been improving on online collaboration some time now, but Google Wave is quickly proving to be a much larger step in the right direction, making business and SaaS management and development a lot simpler than ever before for many people.

Google recently decided that they would be creating their own operating system, and then Microsoft decided that they were going to be putting their next Microsoft Office incarnation up on the internet for free availability. What this means is that Google is rivaling Microsoft by developing their own operating system (Google Chrome) and Microsoft is rivaling Google by offering online document applications just like Google Apps.

Microsoft Office happens to be one of the most important products among the company, as it offers Microsoft Access, Excel, PowerPoint and Word. The chances are that you have used one of these utilities before. As a result, Microsoft Office has basically become the standard on a global level when it comes to office software, and so it has been a cash cow for the company for most of its history.

So what does all of this mean? It means that when the newest version of Microsoft Office is released, it is going to be available in stores and for purchase online as per usual. But if you would rather use it online, you can simply visit the main website for Microsoft, log in and use all of the utilities there for free. It will be like having your own personal copy of Microsoft Word or Microsoft Excel running right out of your web browser. The buttons and then menus are going to be nearly identical, and yet its use is going to be absolutely free.

Of course you should realize that there are going to be some differences. For example, you are going to have to have an internet connection in order to use the new online version of Microsoft Office. You will not be able to gain access to all of the more advanced features that are built right into the paid version. However, for most people and for most situations, the online version is likely going to be more than enough to get the job done.

Google vs Microsoft Again

This plan is not going to come as a great shock, as pundits have been talking about this possibility ever since Google Apps was launched by Google. The competing suite of web tools includes spreadsheet software and a word processor and it is designed to be accessed completely online.

By taking Microsoft Office and moving it online, Microsoft is hoping to be able to slow down the growth of the Google Apps, so that they can begin to get more people using Microsoft Office exclusively, and maintain their market share. If it is being offered for free, why not use it? They do not seem to be worried about taking a hit in terms of revenue, either, because there will always be paid versions that businesses can use and some home users will still want to use the full paid version. This is a logical move on Microsoft’s behalf, and so we are not surprised to see what they are planning. The whole thing is slated to become available in 2010.

Hardware in the cloud doesn’t mean some UFO type of object floating amidst the clouds and scaring people on the ground and creating YouTube video opportunities. It’s a service through which you can use hardware (and in many cases also software) remotely and pay for as much as you use. For instance, if you want to manage an online service and don’t want to run your own servers, don’t want to use a run-of-the-mill web hosting company and at the same time need servers that work as your own servers, the service of your choice is hardware in the cloud. It is also popularly known as hardware as a service — HaaS.

Hardware as a service as a term was first coined by the economist Nicholas Carr on his blog back in Mar 2006 and it later on also came to be known as Infrastructure as a Service because when you hire such a service you basically go for the entire paraphernalia that you need to run your business or its component. Even in the 60s and 70s this trend was prevalent when different people shared mainframes and computers by getting the timings booked in advance.

Hardware in the cloud or hardware as a service is not exactly a totally new concept. Major hosting services have been providing this as dedicated hosting, but a cloud is a more scalable environment. You can run the hardware almost as your own private service using an intuitive interface. The best part is that you can avail the most advanced hardware-software combination and pay for just what you use. This way you can use the most cutting-edge IT infrastructure at a fraction of the cost you traditionally have to bear when you need to create your own set up. It mostly works on a pay-as-you-use model. This means you are not running the costs when you are not using the service.

Some of the benefits of using hardware in the cloud are:

• Dynamic scaling: The greatest benefit is of course dynamic scaling of costs and allocation of hardware resources. Scaling happens according to your current requirement so neither the resources go waste nor your money when peak performance is not required. Companies and organizations can create their own clouds and run operations on them.

• Latest technology within reach: You get to use latest technology as you don’t have to worry about constant upgrades. All maintenance and upgrading tasks are handled by the company leasing hardware to you.

• High-end security: Provided you partner with a trusted and reliable service you can rest assured that they keep their hardware and software totally secure and carry out regular backup routines.

• Focus just on your work: You don’t need to run a separate IT department as everything takes place at the company that provides its hardware to you as a service. You just need to use your business application and that’s it.

So is HaaS a contemporary technology with its feet firmly entrenched in future or is it just a passing trend? Companies like Google and Amazon are investing a lot in this technology and as more and more companies jump into the fray, it’s only going to grow. But why?

Simply because hardware in the cloud brings bleeding edge computing within the reach of a small business. Sitting in your basement, you can use the same set of hardware and software solutions being used by Fortune 500 companies to run your online business without having to sell yourself and your family. You just need to pay as much as you use.

Web 2.0 has so far been an Internet era of the user, and of greater interactivity. Prior to this we just had websites that dumped information — both text and multimedia — upon you without much scope for interaction or conversation. There were online chat platforms, online bulletin boards and forums, but they were mostly geeky and cryptic and too abstract to make sense to the common person.

I think when the Internet left the domain of the “Internet enthusiasts” and started attracting people who weren’t spending all their time writing data package handling routines, the new web, Web 2.0, came into being. The bubble-burst too played its part. They realized that in order to be successful on the Internet, more and more control, both in terms of content and presentation, had to be rested in the hands of the visitors. The web entities that grasped this concept in the very beginning were websites like YouTube, Flickr, BlogSpot, Delicious, WikiPedia, MySpace and Google.

Nobody had imagined how quickly posting silly videos and photographs and bookmarking and promoting links would become so overwhelmingly popular. But was it all about posting silly images and videos? It was not. It was about self expression. It was about unbridled interactivity.
Of course it was also about these services being totally free, but then, there are so many things free and they never gain so much popularity.

Web 2.0 also heralded the dawn of remotely hosted web services. Provided you have a decent Internet connection and a respectably updated browser you can use most of the software that you used to install on your PC online.

Online office applications like GoogleDocs and Zoho Office have made a significant dent into Microsoft Office’s penetration. People who need just basic word processing capabilities not only use these services on a regular basis they can also collaborate with people from all over the world without ever having to get up from their chairs.

With the Internet being easily available all over the place and more and more software moving online the next big thing on the Internet is going to be software as a service, what’s popularly known as SaaS. Google has already started offering the Google OS. A time will come when you won’t have to install anything on your computer; straight after booting you’ll go online and start using the online operating system and associated software. People may pay for it and they may not pay for it…it depends on what significance the service holds for you; is it worth paying for? Can you do without it? We’ll talk more about this in subsequent blog posts.

Cloud computing, which can be perceived as anything that you do outside of your firewall on the internet, is a relatively new concept that is quickly becoming a hot buzzword. Cloud computing, which includes the hosting of data, e-mail and applications, is a concept that is being offered by a myriad of major companies, including Salesforce.com, Oracle, Amazon, Google and Microsoft just to name a few. The jury is still out when it comes to whether or not cloud computing is just as safe as when you are doing business using your own servers.

Although cloud computing is being touted as the next big thing, as well as a natural progression in online business, some people are beginning to worry that the bubble is going to burst if we allow it to grow before the development and implementation of a code of standards. There are risks and rewards alike associated with cloud computing.

There are a number of pros associated with working in the cloud, including reductions in cost, improvements in IT flexibility and an increase in storage capacity. The cost of storing data and processing power for a cloud vendor is spread out among a number of users. More often than not, the service is free. Businesses, then, will not have to invest in training IT personnel, new infrastructure or licensing of new software every time it wants to be able to increase data storage or update applications.

For smaller businesses that do not have large IT staff, cloud computing is capable of virtually eliminating the need to have an advanced level of IT knowledge or IT resources. Cloud computing is also capable of allowing businesses to scale their computing resources and their needs in order to meet demand by users while storing data online, meaning that local servers can be freed up.

There are two primary risks when it comes to cloud computing, and these are reliability, and issues that relate to security and compliance. Your business is going to be in a serious amount of trouble should the cloud happen to disappear, for example. If the server for your cloud vendor goes down, then your business will be unable to access data, including important documents and email, until the server is restored.

There is also no security standardization when it comes to cloud vendors. You are not going to know where your data is actually being stored, and this raises some compliance issues if your data is being stored with an offsite third party in a country that has unique standards for data security and data privacy. Some cloud vendors are beginning to give more control to their users when it comes to data location, however, so this is not likely to be a risk associated with cloud computing forever.

There are both risks and rewards associated with using cloud computing for your business. The important consideration is whether the risks outweigh the rewards, or the rewards outweigh the risk in determining whether or not this technology is right for your business needs.

Cloud Computing focuses on providing access for users to services, applications or storage without actually having to reveal any of the underlying technology and science behind how the elements are made to work. There are numerous pros and cons for the use of Cloud Computing, with different pros and cons applying to different applications and usages. Cloud computing is not for everyone, so understanding the pros and cons is important in determining how it can impact your business.

Scale and Cost

The cost associated with cloud computing is said to be one of its greatest pros because costs are greatly reduced. Capital expenditure, also, is converted into operational expenditure. Another great benefit of cloud computing is the scalability, as on demand provisioning for resources makes it possible for cloud computing to offer greater scalability for many business types that use web services as their system interface.

Encapsulated Change Management

Encapsulated change management offered by cloud competing achieves a number of different business goals and business objectives, including improvements in customer service and in service delivery. Encapsulated change management may also lower working capital requirements while aiding in the management of resources and fixed assets.

Next Generation Architectures

Social networking and social media technologies are becoming increasingly important as a manner in which customers can find the information that they need. Cloud computing is utilizing these next generation technologies and architectures in order to allow companies to benefit from the web.

Choice and Agility

Cloud computing provides a great amount of choice for the businesses utilizing it, and the customers that rely on it to find the information that they need. Cloud computing is an agile technology that offers benefits to the businesses that decide to utilize its principles.

Security

While in some situations security is improved in cloud computing over other similar technologies, this is not always the case. There are concerns regarding loss of control over data that is sensitive, as well as concern over the lack of security over stored kernels. While security is being improved overtime.

Lock-in

Many of the currently emerging platforms for cloud computing are proprietary in nature, and what this means is that interoperability and portability are both going to be issues for many businesses. I believe the next big talk will be not about cloud computing but about how to connect different clouds without any hassle or they are already connected for the customers, and the customer will have a choice to switch between any cloud computing vendor.

Lack of Control

When the cloud computing system goes down, business managers can find themselves feeling completely helpless because they suddenly have no visibility of the infrastructure. Cloud computing can provide somewhat of a feeling of lack of control, where business owners find themselves having to rely on someone much higher up to find and rectify the issue.

Reliability

While cloud computing may be suitable for disaster recovery and business continuity, some major cloud computing services have experienced outages, and sometimes little can be done when businesses are affected. Good thing is we are almost close to start trusting the reliability of this cloud ecosystem.

Surprisingly, things that are good, are generally good universally, and this can be applied to green computing too.

Computers, if used recklessly, can be big polluters. Do you know that if your computer is left on for a year it requires 500 trees to consume the CO2 produced by it? With millions of computers quietly (and in some cases noisily) buzzing all over the world, you can very well imagine how much carbon dioxide is being produced and released into the atmosphere. Add to it the toxins like mercury, cadmium, lead and chromium oozing out of the computer junk (batteries, motherboards, cathode ray tubes, circuit boards, mercury switches) that is being generated at a phenomenal rate, and you’ve got a really dark side of one of the most revolutionary technologies developed by the human race.

A big problem with computer technology is that it becomes passé very fast. Some industry experts claim that average computer technology becomes obsolete every two months. It doesn’t mean we’re trashing our PCs and servers every two months but if millions of people change their computers even every 3-4 years you can easily calculate how much hardware is being dumped just like that.

It’s not merely a problem of dumping obsolete hardware — although it’s a very serious situation — even when we’re using our computers actively they are putting a strain on the environment. Computers don’t just consume electricity for running, their fans also constantly release hot air, causing extra stress to your cooling system and consequently, increasing your overall electricity bill. Despite their humongous utility value computers:

• Create lots of toxic waste
• Use lots of electricity
• Put a strain on the environment because more natural resources are used to create power required to operate computers and their accessories

So how do we mitigate the negative effects? We can’t just stop using computers; in fact that’ll be disaster since almost every aspect of modern-day living is controlled by computers. What we can do is, as individuals as well as businesses, devise procedures, habits and corporate philosophies that help us use these magnificent machines in a less damaging manner. Here are a few things we can use:

• Switch off computers when not in use: Yes, there is a misconception that if you switch off and on your computer everyday it causes wear and tear. An average computer can be switched on and off 40,000 times, so switch off your computer without fretting much, because it uses up lots of energy even while running in idle mode.

• Pay attention to energy-saving settings on your computer: Lots of energy can be saved if you set your computer to hibernate or go to “sleep” when it is not being touched for some time, and no, a screen saver does not save electricity.

• Don’t upgrade unless it is absolutely necessary: Upgrade or purchase new hardware only if the existing one is a hindrance rather than a productivity tool. Many schools and offices in the 3rd world countries are still using those 386s and 486s and they manage pretty well. It’s imprudent to upgrade just to show you’ve got the latest gadgetry.

• Donate, rather than discarding: As mentioned above, in many countries people are still using those early-90s computers and they’ll love to receive more: old technology is better than no technology. By donating your old computers you’ll avoid turning them into pollution-causing junk as well as opening new doors of opportunity for underprivileged people.

• Use optimized software: Badly coded software too can cause unnecessary strain on your computers and force them to consume more electricity than needed. By software from reliable vendors who have a good track record of supplying efficient software.

• Use computer parts that use less electricity: Smaller computer screens use less energy compared to the larger ones. Flat screen monitors use less electricity. Compared to desktop computers laptops are much better in terms of electricity consumption. Similarly, a laser printer uses 90-100% more electricity than an inkjet printer.

• Share resources: If you can use a mainframe, opt for it rather than giving individual computers to your employees. Even if computers and desktop can be shared by more than one individuals, explore the possibility in order to reduce your hardware/software cause as well as electricity bill. In many offices printers and scanners are already being shared.

• Use latest technologies that help you avoid setting up your own hardware/software infrastructure: With cloud computing you can do that. HaaS (hardware as a service) for instance allows you to use hardware from a remote location through visualization. This saves you the hardware, software and power cost.

All you have to do pay as you use — this means you neither pay more nor less, just as much as you use. In fact more and more work is happening in the cloud these days and the best examples can be the remotely hosted office applications such as GoogleDocs, Zoho and MS Office Online and great project management tools like HighRise.

As Internet connectivity and surfing speed improve we’ll witness more and more people accessing the cloud to perform their daily computer chores rather than cracking up their hard-disks and expensive processes. This will significantly reduce the negative impact computers have on the environment.

There is a thin line between ‘innovation’ and ‘value innovation’. Many organisations spend millions in innovation, but, they fail to calculate the financial implication of their innovation. It is therefore very critical to realise some of the benefits of the innovation up front and the cost of introduction of innovation and the sales from acceptance of acceptance of innovation. If I had to calculate ‘Value Innovation’ I would do so by using the following formula

Value Innovation = Sales from customer acceptance of innovation – Cost of Introduction of Innovation.

I work in the IT Industry, where, Innovation is an everyday word. The benefits of integrating IT with Business Process are many and I do not want to discuss them all here. What I really want to discuss is the failure to comprehend the word innovation especially in the IT industry. Innovation should be aimed at making the life and daily task of a consumer easier. There can be no other purpose of innovation there should not be. Many innovations are simple invention that can generate no revenue yet waste precious company resources. ‘Value Innovators’ understand the demand in the market; they see the market gap, the need of product, the customer segment that will use the product and the choice available (there are many more). They then design and develop a product that will meet this demand. They keep it simple and the ease of use the product is also simple. I can instantly give you two such examples, Apple iPod and Google Search.

Also, many companies understand the need of the time and provide ‘innovative services’ or come up with ‘innovative solutions’ that help to save money and reduce the cost of operations. The idea of using Cloud Computing is one such innovative idea. Here the cost of introduction of a service can be reduced tremendously. Companies like Google, Amazon and Salesforce are helping customers to realise the benefits of Cloud Computing.

The Cloud Computing stack involves different layers of functionality and usability. The layers begin with Clients at the top, followed by Application, then Platform, then Infrastructure, and finally Servers at the very bottom of the stack. Application is comprised of user interface and machine interface. Platform is comprised of components and services. Infrastructure involves storage, network and compute. Here is a look at the cloud model in depth:

Clients

A cloud client generally consists of computer software or computer hardware that relies on the use of cloud computing for the delivery of applications, or that is designed specifically for the delivery of cloud services. In either case, a cloud client indicates that the software or hardware is completely useless without the presence of cloud computing. Clients can fall into three categories of examples, including mobile, thin client and thick client examples. Examples of clients include Android, Windows Mobile and the iPhone. Other examples of clients include Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Cherry Pal and WebKit.

Application [User Interface / Machine Interface]

Cloud applications leverage the use of cloud computing in their software architecture, and this typically eliminates the underlying need to run the application on the user’s own computer. This alleviates the burden of maintenance of software, ongoing operation and ongoing support. There are a number of examples of applications in cloud computing, including web applications, P2P or peer to peer applications, SaaS or Software as a Service applications, software plus services and distributed storage. Examples include Skype, Facebook, YouTube, Google Apps and SalesForce.

Platform [Components / Services]

Cloud platforms, or PaaS, deliver a computing platform or a Solution Stack as a Service that consume cloud infrastructure while supporting cloud applications. They facilitate the deployment of many applications without the same complexity and cost of purchasing and managing whatever underlying layers of hardware and software would be required. Platforms in Cloud Computing fall into a few different categories, including services, solution stacks and structured storage. Examples include OpenID, Google Checkout, PayPal, Alexa, Heroku and a number of Amazon platforms. Other examples of platforms include Yahoo! BOSS, Amazon Mechanical Turk, Google Apps Engine, Amazon Simple DB, Queues like Amazon SQS and Rack Space Cloud Files.

Infrastructure [Storage / Network / Compute]

Cloud computing infrastructure, also known as IaaS or Infrastructure as a Service, involves the delivery of a computer infrastructure as a service, such as a platform virtualization environment for example. Cloud infrastructure includes compute, network and storage examples, and both physical machines and virtual machines. Some examples of infrastructure in the cloud computing environment include Amazon EBS and Amazon VPC, Go Grid, Softlayer, Amazon Cloud Watch and Right Scale.

Servers

The cloud computing services layer generally consists of computer software or computer hardware products that are solely and specifically designed to be used for delivering cloud services. An example of this layer is Cisco USC for fabric computing.

Cloud computing is currently being perceived as a big thing for businesses on the internet. Everybody appears to be looking forward in an attempt to move their data toward cloud computing. But what is going to happen after the cloud? More specifically, what’s next after cloud computing?

The concept of Cloud Computing focuses on being able to provide user access to services, storage and applications without needing to reveal any of the underlying science and technology that makes the elements work.

Cloud computing has already existed for quite some time now, but many people are just now beginning to realize its full power and potential thanks to the improving of speed in computers and the internet. Cloud computing allows businesses and organizations to store their applications and data in a way that they can access them from absolutely anywhere. Some cloud computing applications are capable of being extremely reliable and secure, making it a nice option for many businesses.

Cloud computing makes it possible for online applications to interact with other applications and websites. Cloud computing has made it possible to interact on the internet without having to install certain applications on your computer, negating the need for software and hardware updates and making it simpler to access information and data online. Just as you can access an e-mail account from virtually any computer with an internet connection, it is quickly becoming possible to access a myriad of other types of data and information in the same way. There are many examples of what cloud computing is attempting to achieve, such as Google Apps and Google Docs, Amazon Turks, YouTube, Flickr and other web based applications and storage systems for example.

There is a lot of information moving around on the internet. There are purported to be more than 5 billion users on the internet today, and with so many people online, there has never been more information available at our fingertips. With so much information moving around, now is as good a time as any to begin to work with more capable information systems, and cloud computing is making this happen. By making it possible for different web technologies to communicate with one another, a business can easily take all of its important information and communication to the web for easier accessibility, better security and increased usability. The improvements in accessibility and usability that cloud computing is achieving are making the internet simpler to use both for businesses online and their customers as well.

Cloud computing technology may have been around for a while now, but we are only beginning to realize its full potential. Right now, cloud computing is the future of the internet, and the future of technology collaboration for many businesses. The future is currently in our hands, and it will be interesting to see what can be done by leveraging the power of cloud computing to improve business on the internet.

Hot Topics in Enterprise Cloud Computing (PaaS and SaaS) from American Data Company on Vimeo.

On Monday, Salesforce.com and Cisco Systems made an announcement that they would be offering a service uniting the on-demand software for customer service from Salesforce.com with the unified communications technology from Cisco to support small and medium sized businesses.

This offering, this Customer Interaction Cloud, is designed to be aimed at businesses that have between 30 and 300 call center agents or sales representatives. One of the main motivating forces in this partnership is to create a complete contact center rooted in cloud computing, which is a concept that is gaining serious popularity as of late. E-mail interactions and phone interactions within traditional business call centers may still be on the rise, but as many as 50 percent of all customers are now turning to a variety of social media technologies in order to find the answers that they seek.

This offering is tying together the Service Cloud 2 from Salesforce.com with the Unified Contact Center from Cisco. It will be made available on a general basis during the first quarter during next year, 2010, and it will be sold by both of these companies, at least according to a recent statement. Pricing information for this offering was not immediately made available.

The partnership between Cisco and Salesforce.com is designed to bring a Customer Collaboration vision to market, allowing the partnership to deliver a complete and total contact center in the cloud computing concept through combining the Service Cloud by Salesforce.com with the Unified Contact Center solutions offered by Cisco Networks.

The Customer Collaboration is compelling, revolutionary and groundbreaking. It is providing clear choices and options for companies that want to cater to the exploding numbers of people using social media to find the answers that they seek online rather than phoning up traditional customer service call centers.

This new partnership is really just the most recent move by Salesforce.com in expanding its unique technology footprint through the forming of partnerships rather than through development internally. Last week, Salesforce.com partnered up alongside Unit 4 Agresso in order to form a new website, FinancialForce.com, which is a brand new financials software company rooted in SaaS, which is Software as a Service.

Also during the statement on Monday, Salesforce.com made an announcement about an up and coming five minute upgrade, which is an option that would be made available for the Service Cloud. What it means is that customers are going to receive access to an application on a read only basis during certain scheduled maintenance windows, except for a specific five minute period of time known as a cut over time. This is being made possible by the mirrored data centers provided by Salesforce.com, according to the statement that the company made.

This is an option that is going to set a brand new standard for providing on demand software, according to the statement made by Salesforce.com.

The CEO of Salesforce.com, Marc Benioff, is likely going to discuss these announcements in much greater detail during a presentation during an upcoming DreamForce event in New York.

I do not think that you can blame technology anymore for the failure of IT projects. Technology has made rapid advancement since the very first time it became associated with business processes. The power of computing, the speed of internet and customer experience of technology has improved manifold. The superiority of technology capability to deliver value is improving even as I write this blog. Then what or who should be blamed?

There are essentially two important ingredients (if I may call it so) necessary to build a ‘commercially successful’ IT system or application – first ‘Technology’ and second ‘Economic Rationale’. Let me try and explain each of the ingredients in details.

Technology is the ‘real’ necessary ingredient (Both Hardware and software). You can draw parallels with your cooking utensils and the food to be cooked. Without technology you cannot imagine IT. Technology has evolved and changed over the years. From simple ledger keeping system technology can now understand react to human behaviour. The computing power, the speed of internet and the processing capability of chips have increased and improved manifold.

Now lets us talk about the next ingredient – ‘Economic Rationale’. IT applications like any other goods and services are governed by the Law of Supply and Demand. Therefore, before we start to develop an IT system we got to understand the need or the demand of the IT application. This is a ‘compulsory’ ingredient but often found missing.

A decade ago many IT projects failed because of technology issues; latency issues, hardware failure, poor customer experience or even availability of the application at places where or times when required. Therefore, earlier you could blame it on technology and many did even if technology had no hand in it. What about the second ingredient? It definitely did matter. In the early 1990s IT was consider essential to gain competitive advantage over rivals. Organisations invested millions in developing IT applications that streamlined business processes, reduced operational cost and allowed faster time to market. IT brought in many benefits and companies were quick to cash on IT. IT professionals and companies soaked themselves in millions and banks invested in anything that was .com. This created another problem and many know about the dotcom burst.

Now times are different. The capability of technology to deliver and generate value has increased tremendously. But, unfortunately this has led to other problems, technologist in their effort to prove their worth embedded solutions and functions that were not needed or asked for in the scope of the project. This proved to be a disaster. Many projects failed miserably because it failed to deliver what was asked for but instead provided ‘excitement’ functionality that was unnecessary. IT project managers failed to understand that IT too is governed by demand of feature. Consumers did not appreciate the extra bells and whistles. (I hope you appreciate the Google webpage because of its simplicity). Consumers need simple solution that solved their problem. Therefore, I believe that now IT projects fail because of failure to understand ‘Economics of IT application’.

Since the Oracle Corporation is one of the biggest players in the database management industry, it’s not surprising that it has made a concerted effort to keep abreast of emerging SaaS (Software as a Service) and CRM (customer relationship management) software trends. With its acquisition of Siebel, Oracle also built its On Demand CRM, providing a means of expanding its market share and allowing it to potentially become more relevant for a greater number of businesses. Above everything else, Oracle’s foray into the world of CRM software solutions is a strong indicator of its attempts to further immerse itself into the exciting trend of cloud computing.

What Is Cloud Computing?

The world of information technology is always abuzz with new trends, phenomena and innovations; for the last year or two, cloud computing has been the term on everybody’s lips. As organizations strive – as they do – to not only remain afloat but to increase their bottom lines as much as possible, they are always on the lookout for ways to decrease their day-to-day operating costs. Cloud computing has generated so much excitement because it is a viable alternative to straight outsourcing that can actually enhance an organization’s productivity while cutting its costs considerably.

The “cloud” in “cloud computing” refers to the Internet at large. Therefore, “cloud computing” refers to the idea of basing software and applications on the Internet in a more virtualized way. Rather than having to install multiple copies of the same software across dozens of different workstations, for instance, a company can sign up for a cloud computing package and pay a monthly fee based on its total number of active users. Often referred to as “on demand” computing, this is proving to be a viable way for companies – especially small to midsized organizations – to reduce the cumbersome costs of things like EULAs (End User Licensing Agreements) and other software-related expenses.

Cloud computing is also looked upon favorably by many companies for lifting a lot of the burden of keeping software up to date. Since things like CRM software are continually evolving and changing, updates tend to be quite frequent – as are patches. To keep going and remain profitable, an organization once had to employ an inordinate number of IT professionals, which cut into their bottom line and made their costs skyrocket. Even as many businesses eagerly enlisted the top-of-the-line solutions offered by the Oracle suite of database management and marketing enterprise software, they found themselves bogged down with keeping all of that high-end software running smoothly.

Oracle On Demand Meets Cloud Computing

Not surprisingly, Oracle quickly picked up on the emerging and promising trend of cloud computing; after all, if there is a product line that could benefit from such a setup, it is Oracle’s. The ability to market its comprehensive and incredibly innovative software while promising less “upkeep” was undoubtedly quite tantalizing to Oracle executives. Companies that were once wary of implementing Oracle’s products due to staff and time constraints could now be pointed in the direction of cloud computing and on demand services offered by Oracle.

As cloud computing took off, so did the demand for more intuitive, efficient – and effective – CRM software solutions. Without a doubt, CRM and cloud computing go very well together; companies that are eager to implement CRM software solutions can do so much more quickly and for much lower start up fees by working with an SaaS outfit. Upon acquiring Siebel, Oracle moved aggressively into the CRM softwere domain, using its already well-established presence as a SaaS provider to full advantage.

Besides its CRM software solutions, Oracle On Demand encompasses a vast array of different applications and functions. Customers can sign up for any number of different Oracle SaaS or other products, plug in to “the cloud,” and be on their way. Even brand new organizations can quickly get off to a running start by spending the money on Oracle On Demand; the need to hire and train a crew of IT professionals is largely reduced by this technology. In many ways, cloud computing has evened the playing field, making it easier for small to midsized companies to get in on the action – and opening up Oracle’s compelling benefits to a whole other market.

The Benefits Of Cloud Computing And Oracle On Demand

In the past, any company that seriously wanted to take full advantage of the full breadth and scope of Oracle’s impressive suite of software solutions had to invest a great deal of its money on the right kind and number of professionals to keep it chugging along. While such employees are definitely still necessary, it is at a much smaller scale with Oracle On Demand and cloud computing. Under optimal circumstances, a small organization can compete much more effectively with one that has many more employees if it uses cloud computing and Oracle On Demand to their full advantage.

Companies that were already relying heavily on many Oracle products – and who were encumbered by the need to continually update and install patches for them – surely breathed huge sighs of relief when Oracle entered the cloud computing scene. Rather than paying for hundreds of EULAs and other necessary legalities, these companies can pay a monthly per-user fee that is easier to budget for and that can help reduce total expenditures in the long run. Oracle On Demand within the cloud computing domain not only increases productivity, then, but it saves money too.

If one thing’s for certain, it’s that cloud computing won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. Companies that get on board now and take advantage of what cloud computing and Oracle On Demand services have to offer will have an important edge on the competition. Even larger organizations can stand to benefit from these services, since every penny matters and the bottom line is king. Most likely, the business world can expect to see an increasing number of innovative software solutions that run in the cloud by Oracle On Demand.

Although the term was first coined back between 2000 and 2001, SaaS – which stands for Software as a Service – has only truly come into its own in more recent years. Original incarnations of this form of software deployment were greeted with enthusiasm by many customers, but fell far short of realizing their true potential. In the meantime, the Web 2.0 revolution has occurred, further changing the game and raising customer demands considerably. Today, SaaS has reached a point where it can offer truly amazing benefits to companies of all shapes and sizes – and has become affordable enough for more companies to participate in than ever before. In order to see how SaaS has gone from point A to point B, it is necessary to take a look at its evolution in a more in-depth way; but first, it is necessary to have a firm grasp of what it is and all that it entails.

What Is SaaS?

Software as a service is an application that is hosted on remote servers and accessed through the Internet. Rather than having to install multiple copies of the same expensive software on every employee’s computer, an organization can sign up for SaaS solutions that are paid for on a recurring basis. By doing this, the organization can avoid the hassle of having to continuously update many forms of software, and can reduce the amount of time that it spends applying patches and other maintenance to that software. In addition, SaaS largely eliminates the problem of maintaining costly EULAs (End User License Agreements) for a large percentage of the applications and software that are relied upon by a company’s employees.

By implementing SaaS solutions, an organization can cut many of its information technology expenditures considerably. Many forms of commercially available software have been introduced by SaaS providers; for a monthly fee, for instance, an organizaton and its employees can gain regular access to these applications through the Internet without ever installing the actual software on their computer hard drives. At the same time, SaaS can be configured to allow individuals within a company to collaborate on projects and other important functions on the same platform in a virtual way. Software updates for SaaS applications are handled remotely and are no longer the responsibility of a company’s IT department.

The SaaS Evolution Defined

The concept of evolution is an important one; it refers to the “survival of the fittest,” and creates an environment where continual improvement is the consistent goal. The evolution of SaaS has been no exception to these concepts, and has benefited enormously from them. Interestingly, although original inceptions of SaaS were greeted with enthusiasm and excitement by many business owners, they fell short in many key ways. The promise of SaaS as it was originally introduced failed to live up to the big dreams that many held for it on the onset, and the benefits that it provided – while exceptional – were limited almost immediately by practical concerns. The SaaS evolution is the process by which this form of software deployment has matured over time – and it continues on to this day. By definition, evolution is a never-ending process; as evidenced by the distinct phases undergone by SaaS, evolution continually hones and perfects a concept, while weeding out inferior models.

The Phases Of The SaaS Evolution

Defining the precise phases of the SaaS evolution is hardly cut and dry; many different changes have occurred over time – many simultaneously and overlapping – making analysis difficult. However, four general phases can be discerned from the time that SaaS was originally conceived all the way through to the present day – and into the future. As outlined below, these phases in the evolution of SaaS have taken it from an infancy marked by immediate but restricted benefits, through a more robust and functional adolescence into a maturity marked by increased customization. Many people believe that the true “golden years” of SaaS are yet to come, and that its potential is only just being tapped into in earnest.

Phase One Of The SaaS Evolution: Inception

During its initial inception and original incarnations, SaaS immediately allowed those implementing it to reduce their costs and increase the return on investment of their information technology processes. The quick realization of these benefits made SaaS skyrocket in popularity right off the bat; where it once made up approximately eight percent of all software, it was expected to include thirty percent of all software by 2009. However, those immediate benefits that organizations enjoyed when implementing and using SaaS were also quickly hampered by a lack of automation and customization; companies could tap into applications remotely, but could not easily customize them to enhance their benefits.

Phase Two of The SaaS Evolution: Increased Functionality

Convinced that they were off to a powerful and promising start, SaaS providers began working on and developing ways to enhance the experience for organizations that chose to implement it. The clamor for a more intuitive, customizable experience was intense, and SaaS began to meet those demands more and more. Where original examples of SaaS allowed users remote access to the same programs they’d always used, this new phase in the evolution of SaaS made it more adaptable on a business-by-business basis. Within an organization, users could now enjoy broader solutions to their software needs. When a particular type of software didn’t meet an organizations needs, it no longer needed to add a whole new kind of software in response; rather, it could customize the existing software and make it work in a more effective way.

Phases Three and Four Of The SaaS Evolution: Collaboration Among Organizations

The third and fourth phases of the SaaS evolution represent current conditions and the expected future of the platform. Rather than simply allowing an organization and its employees to work together on projects within the business itself, new incarnations of SaaS are increasingly allowing collaboration between separate organizations within an industry – and beyond. This is streamlining process improvement for many companies, and the spirit of collaboration fosters a spirit of continual improvement unlike any other phase of the SaaS evolution. Going forward, SaaS and CRM products that fail to provide these types of services will be weeded out, and SaaS will continue to become more sophisticated and beneficial for companies of all sizes.

SaaS: Customized and Intuitive Solutions For All

As SaaS continues its evolution, more and more companies will be able to run it. Where SaaS was once reserved for businesses with a certain budget, it is increasingly becoming realistic for a much wider variety of companies to enjoy. Applications and software that once cost an organization tens of thousands of dollars every year now cost only a couple of hundred in many cases – all thanks to the intuitive solutions offered by SaaS. There is little doubt that this evolution will continue on, and that innovations and improvements to the products provided by SaaS companies will become more and more customizable and beneficial to the organizations who choose to implement them. Where creating custom applications to run on SaaS platforms like Salesforce.com once required highly trained – and highly paid – IT personnel, creating them will become cheaper and easier as time moves on. A truly customized, specially designed software solution will one day be within the reach of virtually any sized business – and the promise of SaaS will be realized in ways never dreamed possible.

Virtualization – the abstraction of computer resources and the simulation of their underlying hardware – is a concept that has existed since the 1960s. Many would argue that the full scope and promise behind virtualization is only now becoming realized as cloud computing becomes a more and more popular and relied upon kind of technology. Without virtualization, cloud computing would not exist; without cloud computing, many would argue that virtualization’s full potential cannot be realized. In combination, these two concepts form the perfect environment for creating business computing solutions that enhance productivity and innovation.

Virtualization Meets Cloud Computing

Cloud computing refers to accessing various types of software and applications remotely over the Internet; in fact, the Internet is what the “cloud” in “cloud computing” implies. In this instance, SaaS (Software as a Service) and PaaS (Platform as a Service) combine to create cloud computing that lifts the burden of running many instances of software and platforms from the shoulders of an organization’s IT department. Virtualization is the key to cloud computing; without it, the benefits and capabilities of the technology simply would not be possible.

In the past, businesses were restricted to purchasing multiple copies of a certain kind of software in order to give access to it to all of its employees; EULAs (End User License Agreements) had to be purchased in conjunction with this software, increasing the costs significantly. Every time a new edition was released for an application, the organization’s IT department had to purchase new EULAs and install copies of the new version on each user’s computer system. Updates and patches had to be performed manually; everything was reliant upon the physical machines and software, making hands-on intervention necessary.

The virtualization behind cloud computing has lifted much of this burden and is changing the face of IT departments around the world. Since software, applications and platforms are accessed virtually, there is never any need to manually install these products on employees’ workstations. Updates, patches and other types of maintenance are all performed automatically under the scope of the virtualization of cloud computing.

A More Intuitive Business Computing Experience

Thanks to virtualization, cloud computing is creating a means for businesses to not only cut costs and increase productivity – but to generate more customizable solutions in general. As virtualization in the business world increases along with cloud computing, many organizations are going to realize potentials that they never dreamed possible. In the business computing world, virtualization and cloud computing meet to create a truly winning combination.

When new types of technology emerge, they almost always immediately begin to cleave and form different versions and take on different forms. Cloud computing is no exception to this rule, and people who have been following this emerging trend have witnessed the seemingly inevitable rift between two competing types of the cloud computing model: open cloud computing and proprietary cloud computing. Although proprietary cloud computing tends to be the standard, many would argue that open cloud computing is the only means by which this technology can grow, expand and evolve into something even more powerful and beneficial. Here, we take a look at the two competing technologies and look at some of the pros and cons of each.

The Basics Of Cloud Computing

Before getting into the details behind open cloud computing and proprietary cloud computing, we must first define precisely what cloud computing actually is. Basically, the “cloud” that is referred to in the term “cloud computing” refers to the Internet; cloud computing is essentially a business model wherein a company accesses applications and software virtually through the Internet, instead of having them all locally installed on its own machines. Although the term – and the concept – have been around for some time, the popularity of this technology has only really taken off in recent years.

To gain access to “the cloud,” a business generally needs to sign up with an “on demand,” “pay as you go” service provider. Upon doing so, the company and its employees can access the applications and the software necessary to run their business. One of the major perks of signing up for a cloud computing service is that it cuts down on the costs associated with EULAs (End User License Agreements) and having to pay for multiple sets of software for multiple workstations. With cloud computing, an organization generally pays per user – drastically cutting down on the rather exorbitant prices that go along with many types of software.

Beyond saving money and improving its bottom line, though, a business can improve the productivity of its staff by signing up for cloud computing solutions. Where IT staff once spent a large percentage of its day installing updates, patches and performing other types of maintenance to the software installed on many people’s computers, it is now largely freed up to undertake more critical tasks. Software is kept up to date automatically in the cloud, allowing IT personnel to work on projects that help an organization grow, expand – and become more competitive.

The Proprietary Cloud Computing Model

As it was originally conceived, cloud computing required that its applications and software run on a specific platform. Providers quickly realized that there was great money to be made in providing this platform, and this is where the pay-as-you-go and on demand services originated from – and where they began their ascent into major league popularity. In order to run the applications and software that they needed, companies had to remain within the cloud platform provided by the company that they were paying; this was touted as an advantage, and it is in many ways.

One of the biggest concerns about cloud computing that immediately cropped up for many businesses was the issue of security. How secure would their data be when using remotely accessed applications on the Internet? In response, providers provided their own proprietary platforms where these applications existed on the web. Security features were inherent to these platforms, reassuring businesses that their employees could safely use applications in the cloud and carry on about their normal business.

However, if one thing is certain it’s that there can’t possibly be a “one size fits all” model that is applicable to all businesses. In order to succeed, a company has to be innovative – meaning that it needs innovative computing solutions in addition to tackling problems and strategies in new ways. Many businesses quickly realized that the basic applications that could be accessed via the proprietary cloud couldn’t do what they needed – and that custom applications were increasingly necessary.

In response, cloud computing came to realize its next big advantage – incredibly simple app development. In many cases, custom applications could be developed at the click of a mouse button. In other cases, only a modicum of code know-how was necessary to create applications that suited a business’s needs. However, even these custom applications were restricted; because they were generated on a specific platform, they had to remain on that platform to work. Companies were roped in to the providers that they signed up with – which was good for the providers, but not necessarily great for their customers.

The Open Cloud Computing Model

Under the proprietary cloud computing model, businesses were not only restricted to running their applications on their providers’ platforms, but interaction between separate clouds is not possible. Many people believe that the future of cloud computing demands an open model that allows communication and interaction between apps from separate clouds; otherwise, businesses will begin to experience the repercussions of these restrictions and begin looking elsewhere for solutions.

Most likely, the open cloud computing model will ultimately end up winning out over the proprietary cloud computing model. When combined with virtualization, the open cloud computing model gives developers greater say and control in what their applications can do for a business. At the same time, people who develop applications can actually market and sell them to a greater audience – increasing their profitability and their ability for success.

Ultimately, open cloud computing takes the best aspects of cloud computing – convenience, API management, security issues, data sharing and more – and allows developers to create more intuitive applications. Different clouds can interact with one another, creating a much more amenable environment for expansion, growth and innovation. Many providers are already looking to the future and preparing for this next phase in cloud computing; those who do not face a very real risk of falling behind the trends and losing valuable opportunities for growth.