[dba-Tech] The Cloud

Many of us thought the Cloud technology was little more than a passing phase
or at worse, just a niche market product. It has been felt that its impact
on clients and the industry as a whole would be minor.

That assessment was given less than a year ago and at that time it was
probably true...but in the computer world one year real time equals ten in
the computer world. Pundits are now giving Cloud maturity point as between
eight and ten years.

So what makes the Cloud so appealing? 

It is because there will be two choices for Businesses. One, the traditional
method of managing your own IT department, with all its inherent costs in
hardware and staff. Two, the new Cloud method where much of the hardware and
it associated IT staff are moved out of the Business. 

It is much like owning a car. Some people may just buy it out-right and
assume complete responsibility of any maintenance costs or go the leasing
route and pay monthly fees forever. Leasing in reality is more expensive and
less flexible but there is, supposedly, no (or very limited) repair or
maintenance costs.

It seems that the BE market is now either custom or cookie-cutter. It can be
argued that the Cloud is still flexible or that in-house servers can be very
standard and require very little management...

Here is another interesting article on the Cloud and it impact and time-line
on the IT staff.

http://www.techrepublic.com/blog/cio-insights/revealed-the-jobs-that-will-be
-wiped-out-by-cloud-computing/39748762?tag=nl.e101

It is also noted in this article that one of the big positives will be that
within the next decade, most of the Baby-Boomers will be gone and as
universities are churning out less IT graduates, existing IT people will
find the market becoming much better through less competition. 

The one big issue that has and will stop further expansion of the Cloud is
the poor web and cell coverage outside the main population centers.
Unfortunately, numerous infrastructure monopolies see no short term profits
from further expansion. Until society views the internet as just a utility,
this situation will limit further technological advancements and Cloud
deployment as well.

In the meantime, start learning how to use the Cloud.

Jim