Comments on: Does Azure Imply a Cloudless Sky? http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/10/28/does-azure-imply-a-cloudless-sky/ A member of the Gartner Blog Network Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:31:31 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: keith scharding http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/10/28/does-azure-imply-a-cloudless-sky/comment-page-1/#comment-126 keith scharding Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:55:49 +0000 http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/10/28/does-azure-imply-a-cloudless-sky/#comment-126 The Azure Platform is just another jumping off point for the developments of Quantum Infomation Processing concurrancy and its need for parallel processing created high performance clusters HPC for 'semantic interoperability'. Cloud Computing will utilize these 'live services' for connectivity (synch framework and live.mesh); hosting and application services will transcend all traditional network modalities. The Azure Platform is just another jumping off point for
the developments of Quantum Infomation Processing

concurrancy and its need for parallel processing created high performance clusters HPC for ’semantic interoperability’. Cloud
Computing will utilize these ‘live services’ for connectivity (synch framework and live.mesh); hosting and application services will
transcend all traditional network modalities.

]]> By: Live Mesh is the son of Groove, the son of Notes - Relevance Found http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/10/28/does-azure-imply-a-cloudless-sky/comment-page-1/#comment-91 Live Mesh is the son of Groove, the son of Notes - Relevance Found Sun, 28 Dec 2008 11:23:50 +0000 http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/10/28/does-azure-imply-a-cloudless-sky/#comment-91 [...] then dependent on Microsoft as your sole service provider for your mission critical apps.” A Gartner blog adds: “But, Azure doesn’t support existing applications – applications need to be [...] [...] then dependent on Microsoft as your sole service provider for your mission critical apps.” A Gartner blog adds: “But, Azure doesn’t support existing applications – applications need to be [...]

]]> By: Thom McCann http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/10/28/does-azure-imply-a-cloudless-sky/comment-page-1/#comment-70 Thom McCann Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:13:58 +0000 http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/10/28/does-azure-imply-a-cloudless-sky/#comment-70 Your quote in comments is really great. "think a possible view of IT use in the future will be a few massive providers, lots of midsized providers focused on specific markets, quality of service, etc., larger enterprises with their own in-house IT (but also definitely using cloudsourcing for many specific needs, peaks, etc.)," I think this will define "cloud" computing. Below, I’ve linked an article on my blog about Azure. There are some questions about Azure (and clolud computing in general) that need to be answered. I’m not sure it is ready for adoption unless the plan provides a better path for corporate customers. http://blog.thommccann.com/2008/11/microsoft-windows-azure.html Your quote in comments is really great.
“think a possible view of IT use in the future will be a few massive providers, lots of midsized providers focused on specific markets, quality of service, etc., larger enterprises with their own in-house IT (but also definitely using cloudsourcing for many specific needs, peaks, etc.),”

I think this will define “cloud” computing.
Below, I’ve linked an article on my blog about Azure.
There are some questions about Azure (and clolud computing in general) that need to be answered. I’m not sure it is ready for adoption unless the plan provides a better path for corporate customers.

http://blog.thommccann.com/2008/11/microsoft-windows-azure.html

]]> By: Tom Bittman http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/10/28/does-azure-imply-a-cloudless-sky/comment-page-1/#comment-24 Tom Bittman Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:19:28 +0000 http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/10/28/does-azure-imply-a-cloudless-sky/#comment-24 Not only is S+S pragmatic for Microsoft, it is pragmatic for users as well. Unlike Google and others offering all or nothing cloud computing, Microsoft is somewhat unique in creating a bridge - much more palatable to enterprises, plus it evolves the MS business model rather than simply cannibalizing it. Not only is S+S pragmatic for Microsoft, it is pragmatic for users as well. Unlike Google and others offering all or nothing cloud computing, Microsoft is somewhat unique in creating a bridge – much more palatable to enterprises, plus it evolves the MS business model rather than simply cannibalizing it.

]]> By: JohnMullinax http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/10/28/does-azure-imply-a-cloudless-sky/comment-page-1/#comment-23 JohnMullinax Thu, 30 Oct 2008 16:49:36 +0000 http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/10/28/does-azure-imply-a-cloudless-sky/#comment-23 No question, Microsoft at PDC unveiled the transformational shift the company is undergoing. One of the most impactful statements at PDC almost slid by in David Thompson's keynote on Day 1: Microsoft will offer *all* enterprise software as either on-premise software or via a subscription-based Internet service. The cloud investments Microsoft has been making over the last few years will make this possible. I mention this because it illustrates that Microsoft is actively embracing (and investing to help create) a world where software and services platforms work well together -- including the flexibility you mention that enterprises want. No question, Microsoft at PDC unveiled the transformational shift the company is undergoing. One of the most impactful statements at PDC almost slid by in David Thompson’s keynote on Day 1: Microsoft will offer *all* enterprise software as either on-premise software or via a subscription-based Internet service. The cloud investments Microsoft has been making over the last few years will make this possible.

I mention this because it illustrates that Microsoft is actively embracing (and investing to help create) a world where software and services platforms work well together — including the flexibility you mention that enterprises want.

]]> By: Justin Duewel-Zahniser http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/10/28/does-azure-imply-a-cloudless-sky/comment-page-1/#comment-21 Justin Duewel-Zahniser Tue, 28 Oct 2008 13:55:45 +0000 http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/10/28/does-azure-imply-a-cloudless-sky/#comment-21 Thanks for the clarification. I agree on your last point that large IT organizations could move more towards a cloud-influenced model in the same way that Amazon originally built AWS and Google originally built BigTable (et al) as a way to facilitate the scale of their development operations with quality. That makes sense to me as an in-house role for the cloud model, whereas using outside cloudware to supplement needs where appropriate is clearly beginning to take shape already. Fun times :-) Thanks for the clarification. I agree on your last point that large IT organizations could move more towards a cloud-influenced model in the same way that Amazon originally built AWS and Google originally built BigTable (et al) as a way to facilitate the scale of their development operations with quality. That makes sense to me as an in-house role for the cloud model, whereas using outside cloudware to supplement needs where appropriate is clearly beginning to take shape already.

Fun times :-)

]]> By: Tom Bittman http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/10/28/does-azure-imply-a-cloudless-sky/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Tom Bittman Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:55:47 +0000 http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/10/28/does-azure-imply-a-cloudless-sky/#comment-20 The power of the cloud is definitely economies of scale, but also more efficient and agile sharing of whatever scale you have. Since the vast majority of in-house providers build little islands of computing, each managed independently, if they could behave more like a cloud provider, they could reduce their costs dramatically and increase their flexibility and speed. I've even talked to in-house IT shops that feel they are good enough to consider selling some of their capabilities in the cloud as providers. See my previous posts to see some of my thoughts here: http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/09/15/can-a-cloud-computing-provider-be-too-massive/ and http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/09/15/building-private-clouds/. I think a possible view of IT use in the future will be a few massive providers, lots of midsized providers focused on specific markets, quality of service, etc., larger enterprises with their own in-house IT (but also definitely using cloudsourcing for many specific needs, peaks, etc.), but most small business and lots of medium business in-house IT will be completely delivered from the cloud. Azure has a future I believe both as the external provider for smaller businesses and specific apps for large business, and as an architecture that can be adopted/adapted internally by large IT organizations. What do you think? The power of the cloud is definitely economies of scale, but also more efficient and agile sharing of whatever scale you have. Since the vast majority of in-house providers build little islands of computing, each managed independently, if they could behave more like a cloud provider, they could reduce their costs dramatically and increase their flexibility and speed. I’ve even talked to in-house IT shops that feel they are good enough to consider selling some of their capabilities in the cloud as providers.

See my previous posts to see some of my thoughts here: http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/09/15/can-a-cloud-computing-provider-be-too-massive/ and http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/09/15/building-private-clouds/.

I think a possible view of IT use in the future will be a few massive providers, lots of midsized providers focused on specific markets, quality of service, etc., larger enterprises with their own in-house IT (but also definitely using cloudsourcing for many specific needs, peaks, etc.), but most small business and lots of medium business in-house IT will be completely delivered from the cloud.

Azure has a future I believe both as the external provider for smaller businesses and specific apps for large business, and as an architecture that can be adopted/adapted internally by large IT organizations.

What do you think?

]]> By: Justin Duewel-Zahniser http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/10/28/does-azure-imply-a-cloudless-sky/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Justin Duewel-Zahniser Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:21:27 +0000 http://blogs.gartner.com/thomas_bittman/2008/10/28/does-azure-imply-a-cloudless-sky/#comment-19 I definitely agree that the loss of direct data control and housing is a challenge for enterprises fully adopting cloud computing. But I do wonder about this concept of bringing the power of the cloud in house, to some degree, as a reaction to that concern. What's the power of the cloud if it's not economy of scale, if it's not platform outsourcing, if it's not liquid scalability? I suppose bringing the cloud in-house means private slices of the cloud in some meaningful way and not selling the software and consulting to tons of service providers to build their own disconnected cloud computing systems on a smaller scale for the reasons cited above. Could you perhaps clarify your thoughts (or my mis-reads) there? I definitely agree that the loss of direct data control and housing is a challenge for enterprises fully adopting cloud computing. But I do wonder about this concept of bringing the power of the cloud in house, to some degree, as a reaction to that concern. What’s the power of the cloud if it’s not economy of scale, if it’s not platform outsourcing, if it’s not liquid scalability?

I suppose bringing the cloud in-house means private slices of the cloud in some meaningful way and not selling the software and consulting to tons of service providers to build their own disconnected cloud computing systems on a smaller scale for the reasons cited above. Could you perhaps clarify your thoughts (or my mis-reads) there?

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