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I was fortunate enough to have been interviewed by Patti Putnicki, Business Writer | posted August 13, 2011 | for this article.
Introduction
If you were ranking the most talked-about topics of 2011, Cloud Computing would probably fall somewhere in between Charlie Sheen and the Royal Wedding. But, in most cases, that talk hasn't translated into a groundswell of action. According to a recent Alsbridge eSeminar survey, one of the stumbling blocks appears to be the initial planning – namely creating a viable Cloud strategy. How do you start the process? What factors do you need to consider? How can you develop an approach that best mitigates risk
We asked some industry experts to weigh in with their advice. Go to:
http://www.outsourcing-center.com/2011-08-keeping-your-head-in-the-clouds-creating-an-effective-cloud-strategy-article-45315.html
Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.
The possibilities are numerous once we decide to act and not react.
http://govwin.com/lindleyashline_blog/cloud-is-no-passing-fad/104876
Original Blog - Added 02/17/2011 - 14:23 by Lindley Ashline Expert
In today’s GovWin webinar, “To the Cloud!,” a range of experts concurred: Cloud computing is no passing fad. The government agrees: Federal, state and local governments are clamoring for cloud services and guidance.
The panel, which included a range of industry experts, discussed cloud computing as a concept, its security implications and what contractors can do to get involved.
Cloud computing offers major advantages for government agencies even beyond the immediate cost, energy and environmental benefits. Agencies with no previous redundancy or facility control for data storage will both as they move data sets to the cloud, putting them on a level with security-conscious agencies such as the Department of Defense. Small agencies can get the same technology, security and services as major ones at the same price point.
The government says that three factors will be required to make the cloud work: security, interoperability and portability.
The security debate for cloud computing is "just warming up." Chris Mankle, CTO and Vice President of Innovation at ACS, thinks that the concept of "security" will be replaced with that of "trust" and networks of trusted entities. Government moves to the cloud may even have an unexpected side effect: Security could get tighter across the board as new security initiatives affect all government computing. "You're going to see security get higher where it was lax before," said Ted Brufke, U.S. Software as a Service (SaaS) Sales Leader, IBM.
A poll of webinar attendees was evenly split when asked whether moving to the cloud would make the government more secure, less secure, or neither.
Though community clouds are perceived to be the most secure, the experts -- and the audience, when polled -- agreed that there are no major differences in security between cloud types. Bill Perlowitz, Vice President of Advanced Technology at Apptis, said, "A leak is a leak. It doesn't matter what type of cloud it came from." Mankle cautioned that "We get focused on Internet security, but USB is always an issue. Maybe devices [that connect to the cloud] don't always need to have USB."
Identity management is still an issue with government use of cloud computing; Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) "appears not to have been the answer." Whether there will be a government-wide solution anytime soon is unknown, but in general, "you use whatever you'd normally use when working with the private sector," said Perlowitz. The cloud "doesn't really change the way you do business." The resources are shared, but all other factors remain the same.
Chief security officers at agencies are still responsible for their data, whether it is housed on site or remotely. "You can scatter the data where you want, but it will all be in hardened data centers," Brufke said.
Some agencies will use the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) security guidelines released this week [PDF]; others will add to them as needed. Perlowitz pointed out that the continuous monitoring required by FedRAMP also provides a minimal level of security.
The government is also looking to implement security solutions that private-sector organizations such as Amazon have been using in cloud computing for years. The NIST has five working groups dedicated to cloud computing; one of these groups deals exclusively with security. The NIST will reveal the groups' findings at an early April conference.
Contracting and the Cloud
Amy Rutt, President of Ciracom, said that her company's handling of cloud migrations is very process driven. "When an agency wants to move, we begin with a full assessment of all layers of the network, security, process and workflow." The process of migrating an agency to the cloud can take up to 60 months.
Government agencies need help migrating to the cloud, and are looking to the private sector. Agency buyers are interested in a complete package: They want contractors to come to them with "not technology, but a solution." Perlowitz advised contractors to "get past the immediate discussions, look at where the technology is headed and figure out how to make that usable and palatable to the government. If you can do that, you'll have a product that has longevity in the marketplace."
The government is looking to not only decrease its number of servers and data facilities, but increase the productivity of its employees, and will be open to contractors that offer training and integration as part of larger plans.
The panelists encouraged contractors to look at cloud computing with a long-term perspective. "It's here to stay, so take advantage of it," said Brufke.
Responding to a question from the audience, the panelists also provided an update on the General Services Administration (GSA) Apps.gov cloud computing services. The service, provided by 12 contractors, is predicted to be available in April, as soon as the first provider completes its authentication.
Green Cloud Considerations
An obvious benefit of cloud computing is the environmental advantage it gives by consolidating servers and other equipment. Buyers of cloud services no longer need to worry about environmental mandates; cloud vendors will already be taking them into consideration. Vendors also have incentive to run as efficiently as possible to save money on their own facilities.
Green considerations are important, but as an "add-on" for contractors rather than a make-or-break selling point.
Leveling the Playing Field
Jodi Kohut, Director of IT Practice Area at EyakTek, noted that getting into cloud computing "is not as scary as some people think. It's just a different style for delivering computing."
ACS' Mankle predicts increasing diversification and large numbers of small, targeted applications within a larger, standardized cloud framework. For small- and medium-sized businesses, cloud computing is, Kohut said, "a really good leveler and opportunity to showcase their specializations and core competencies. If they specialize in a particular item or are developing a particular application, they have access to the same computing power that Microsoft does."
The Cloud as Solution
Is cloud computing a fad that will vanish as soon as its evangelists turn to the next big thing? "There's no way this is turning back," said Rutt. "I think you'll have different architectures based on the customer's requirements, with private or shared clouds, however they feel most comfortable and can mitigate risk." The term "cloud" may have appeared overnight, but the underlying technology has been in use for years.
Popular culture may help the transition: The average person is using more cloud services such as Web-based e-mail. "I go home and use the cloud, so why can't I go to work and use the cloud?" asked Rutt. Brufke agreed: "This is the new normal."
However, "It's not a cure-all," Mankle said. "Look at it as, 'What are the requirements I'm trying to solve, and how do the different aspects of the cloud address that?' "
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