Comments for The real value of Cloud Computing at http://www.enkiconsulting.net , comment 0 to 2 out of 2 comments http://www.enkiconsulting.net Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:52:18 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.enkiconsulting.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=114&Itemid=61#pc_28 Thanks for the comments, Paul. I agree. Perhaps the title of the blog should have been "the underappreciated value in Cloud Computing." I was at last week's Cloud Camp, and there was a lot of discussion about "what is cloud computing?" and your observations cover a lot of what was discussed in a very clear summary. I think we're in violent agreement here, since the services that Cloud Computing enables also help to enable flexibility that goes even beyond cost-effective computing resource allocation and allows businesses to respond rapidly to changes in mission or business strategy. - ENovikoff Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:40:51 +0100 http://www.enkiconsulting.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=114&Itemid=61#pc_27 Good post but I would go one step further beyond just services. The value of Cloud Computing comes from a mix of cost, services and flexibility. In fact comparing the value of Cloud computing to a fully owned brick (or stucco) and mortar data center can be a challenge if one just looks at cost. Companies have a difficult time measuring their true server cost. There is the capital outlay, power, cooling, network, storage, support, maintenance and licenses. When one includes all of those costs (and potentially more), then the virtual server sitting in the cloud starts to match and in some cases beat that server in one's own data center. Value comes from more then just cost though. The majority of Cloud Computing value in my opinion is in flexibility. If I need to rapidly increase the number of servers or storage for a project, Cloud Computing lets me quickly scale my systems to meet demand. If I need a number of test servers to carry out some QA for an upcoming upgrade, I can quickly set up the servers, run the tests and then put it to sleep for another day. No longer do I have to budget for real hardware that ends up sitting under utilized most of the year. Cloud computing changes everything. The trick is getting business to understand that "Cost" is only a piece of the Value pie. When you step back and look at the total value, then Cloud Computing makes beautiful sense. e tutto per oggi! - Paul Laskin Mon, 30 Jun 2008 13:14:20 +0100