Do You Trust Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing has becomeone of the biggest technology-related buzzword terms to arise in the past fewyears. So I watched with interest as Jon Titus posted his question: "Do youtrust cloud computing?" to the System & Product Design Engineering group.In his post, Titus mentions that EMC, a manufacturer of computer-storageequipment, ran a two-page ad in The Wall Street Journal that touts thebenefits of cloud computing for everything from home security toenterprise-wide applications. But, given recent problems with the Stuxnet wormin industrial controllers, WikiLeaks publications of supposedly secretinformation, and continuing identity theft, Titus wonders if cloud computingcreates great security problems.

"I still like to have control over my information, ensure I know where it is, who can access it, and have it properlybacked up," Titus said.

While Titus may be reticent about cloud computing, some engineersare decidedly on board with the concept, but with a good dose of skepticism, aswell. All of which suggests that cloud computing purveyors still face somethingof an uphill battle with the engineering crowd.

"I trust cloud computing to bea real source of continuing revenue for the service providers," said Pat Ford,realtime software engineer at Canada's National Research Council. "From what Isee, no longer will you buy software, but rather a subscription to use thesoftware for a given amount of time. So Microsoft, for example, will be able toforce upgrades on you, and you are at their mercy. No longer will you be ableto continue to use Windows 95 because it does everything you want, you will beforced to pay more. I don't really see any advantage

forthe consumer, only the provider. I know I'm likely being cynical but I don'ttrust faceless corporations, they have a legal obligation to maximize their ownprofits."

Jim Donelson, senior softwaredeveloper at iS3, noted that his view of cloud computing varies depending onwhat sort of information is to be stored there. "As far as backups go,considering most organizations don't do this well, it (cloud computing) isprobably more reliable," he said. "As for a euro ~hackability,' it is much more likelythat a reputable hosting service will keep up to date with security updates,patches and practices."

When it comes to choosingbetween the cost of maintaining your own server farm versus renting it from acloud computing provider, that's where the rubber hits the road for Donelson."The real cost savings comes in when you understand that you only need to rentthe capacity you need at the moment," he said. "You only pay for the amount ofservice you actually use. The alternative is to set up a system that can handlepeak loads and then have it sit idle much of the time, which is very costly."