The cloud: the next big thing?

Cloud computing is the next big thing, apparently – but what is it, and why should we care?

IT’S THE BUZZ-PHRASE that’s turning into a reality. Everyone’s talking about cloud computing, but what exactly is it, what does it mean for individuals and businesses, and why is Ireland becoming a hub for it?

So break it down, what is cloud computing?

Cloud computing is the provision of services and resources – from software to applications and more – over a wireless network or “cloud”, rather than physically on your device. Instead of installing software, you can use those available in the cloud to process and store data and access programmes when you need them.

“I use the explanation of electricity,” says Paul Rellis, managing director of Microsoft in Ireland. “Years ago every organisation had its own generator and produced its own electricity, but then big companies, governments and semi-states created an electricity grid, transformed lives and created a huge industry. Cloud computing acts in the same way. Today, everyone has their own technology, but cloud computing is about pooling it altogether and providing it over the internet at a very high quality utility speed.”

The cloud becomes a utility like water or gas that individuals, businesses and the public sector can use. In theory, you could have minimal programmes on any device – just an operating system and a web browser – and everything else can be accessed via the cloud.

Why is everyone talking about it right now?

A few things have coincided to bring cloud computing to the fore in Ireland. First off, it’s central to the Government’s technology development plans. At the end of May, Cork Institute of Technology announced Ireland’s first undergraduate and Master’s courses in cloud computing.

Yesterday, Dell announced that some of the 140 new jobs it is creating will be in its first cloud research and development centre in Dublin. The centre aims to develop the architecture of cloud computing, research how the next generation of the technology can work, develop new concepts around it and examine how these innovations can be delivered.

“We performed a site assessment and chose Dublin,” says Steve McKenna, executive director of Dell’s services solutions group. “We already had a well established presence here. A lot of our tech support is driven out of Dublin, and the complementary skill sets, availability of resourcing and getting those skills relatively quickly is the real success story. The guys who came over from the US were blown away with the range of talent available in the market, so they decided to go and do the whole thing in Dublin.”

Nowadays, there is no such thing as a technological shift without Apple, who on Monday announced its own foray into cloud computing, iCloud.

I’m still trying to work out how to use my iPhone, so what on earth is iCloud?

iCloud is Apple’s cloud that will allow you to store photos, music, documents and apps remotely and access them with all of your devices.

Hang on, if all my data is available remotely, isn’t that a bit of a security risk?

Security is the number one underlying concern with the cloud. Dell says “huge advances” are being made in overcoming security issues. Recent hacks of the Sony Playstation network created a nightmare scenario, so getting security right is a priority for developers.