The IET publishes the CLOUD Guide

There has been much publicity around moving to the Cloud over the past years although much of the Cloud concepts and business risks are still not understood by many.

In order to help and inform the public and SME’s, the IEThas published a set of three factfiles that are freely available.

Cloud Computing (part 1)- Introducing cloud computing and examining key factors in its design, implementation and adoption

This paper introduces cloud computing and examines key factors in its design, implementation and adoption. Cloud computing stems from technical developments that remove the physical ties between the hardware and software components of computing systems. The factfile covers the ways in which cloud services can be offered; cloud service provision; the private and public cloud; the issues with cloud computing; and performance.

Cloud Computing (part 2)- Commercial opportunities and business cases

This factfile is not primarily aimed at consumer use of Cloud based software applications but at the commercial opportunities Cloud computing can provide for business and government. Having summarised the nature of Cloud Computing in the first of this series, this factfile will address questions such as:
• Why should I be interested?
• What is in it for me?
• How will it benefit my business?

Cloud Computing (part 3)- The security challenge

This, the final fact file in the cloud computing series, examines the many aspects of security in the context of cloud computing and offers some evidence based advice on the considerations needed to enter the world of cloud computing with confidence; and, conversely, to know when cloud adoption may not be appropriate.

There is no attempt to discuss specific solutions to IT security issues as there are many other sources of expert guidance on that subject. The fact file, will however, attempt to discuss these issues in the context of Cloud computing models and contrast these with those found in a typical in house IT department and infrastructure.

These take a non-technical approach to explain both the opportunities, the risks and practical considerations that need to be addressed when moving to cloud based computing for business.