This document defines cloud computing as using remote servers on the Internet rather than local servers. It discusses how cloud computing is hosted in large data centers by major providers and offers savings over maintaining one's own servers by paying only for utilized resources. The document outlines the three main forms of cloud platforms - SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS - and compares cloud to locally hosted servers, noting the cost savings and reduced management needs of cloud. It provides three tips for using cloud, including understanding its benefits, architecting for cloud, and taking advantage of free trial offerings.

1. WHAT IS CLOUD COMPUTING?
…and why should you care?
A managers view

2. Definition
Cloud Computing
noun: cloud computing;
the practice of using a network of remote servers hosted on the Internet to store,
manage, and process data, rather than a local server or a personal computer.

3. How is Cloud Computed!?
Cloud computing hosted in large company data centres. There are 3
main players.
Smaller companies, traditional hosts and resellers enter the market all the time,
offering greater or lesser features

4. Cloud Saves Unused Resources
Most computing resource you pay for is never used. Saving you these costs of
hosting your own dedicates servers (virtual or physical).
CPU Utilisation Over 7 days
21.00
18.00
15.00
9.00
12.00
6.00
0.00
21.00
18.00
15.00
9.00
12.00
6.00
3.00
0.00
21.00
18.00
15.00
9.00
12.00
6.00
3.00
0.00
21.00
18.00
15.00
9.00
Computing Cost
12.00
6.00
3.00
0.00
21.00
18.00
15.00
9.00
12.00
6.00
3.00
0.00
21.00
18.00
15.00
9.00
12.00
6.00
3.00
0.00
21.00
18.00
15.00
9.00
12.00
6.00
3.00
105%
100%
95%
90%
85%
80%
75%
70%
65%
60%
55%
50%
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
0.00
Average CPU Use
3.00
e.g.
You save this
bit! :)

5. Three Main Forms of Cloud Platform
Each builds upon the layer below
SaaS
PaaS
IaaS
•No need to provision any services. Pay as you go use of web based applications
•Websites
•Webservices – Hosted APIs that you use but don’t control or manage
•Applications - e.g. SalesForce, BaseCamp, DropBox, G-Drive, Outlook, SkyDrive
•Provision your own services using Cloud provider consoles, APIs, CLI or dev tool integration. Hosted on Virtual Machines
but VM provisioning is transparently handled by provider software (i.e. don’t manage individual servers)
•Microsoft Azure – Web and Worker roles
•Amazon Web Services – Elastic Beanstalk, Autoscaling…
•Google AppEngine
•Working at the server level, you provision and manage your own compute and storage VMs, as you do in your own data
centres
•Microsoft Azure – VMs
•Amazon EC2 and S3 instances

6. Comparing Cloud with COLO
In-house you need to…
In Cloud…
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Manage availability and hardware redundancy
Provide cooling
Rent/Buy floor space
Pay utility overheads (e.g. electricity)
Manage whole security and infrastructure stack
Operate backup and DR
Assign staff to manage it
Pay for peak usage demand at all times
Have full control of all VM hosts and guests
Setting up new infrastructure takes time
Everything packaged “…as a service”
–
–
–
–
•
•
•
•
•
Unused storage & CPU isn’t paid for
No internal staff need manage it
Auto-scale services according to demand
Very cheap provision compared to in-house
Very high availability
–
•
•
•
•
•
No extra costs
No data centre floor-space rental
No backup power costs
No redundancy costs
99.95% per VM typical. Some achieve 8 ‘9’s or even
100% for AWS Route 53
Potentially limitless computing power
Potentially limitless storage
Take control of VMs if needed
Can run Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) or hybrid
with existing datacentres or servers
Can provision services in minutes

7. Sounds Rosy! :)
BUT…

8. Pitfalls…
• Only AWS has achieved adequate PCI-DSS
provision for hybrid/VPC
• Special security, such as multifactor
authentication, can spiral operational costs!
• Not all platforms support all features, so check
what you need
• Microbusinesses will pay more for cloud than
virtual server hosting
• Have to explicitly architect solutions to gain
greatest yield

9. Top-3 Tips for Using Cloud!
…to take away and use!

10. Tip 1. Understand Cloud Benefits
• Cost EVERYTHING!!
–
–
Systems, People, Knowledge, Processes, Costs, Buildings, Cooling, Utilities, Replacement Parts…
ITIL can aid investigation
• Examine Requirements
– Particular pain-points include security & data transfer
• See if any skills can be leveraged
– Otherwise procure the services of skilled consultants who can
find the optimal platform for you
• Compare with AWS costs to host same services.
– cheaper + meets all requirements -> choose cloud
– cheaper + meets some -> hybrid. Cloud used for painless
provision
– Not cheaper -> choose COLO/VHosting
Devil is in the detail!

11. Tip 2. Architect For Cloud
•
•
•
As with all platforms, cloud needs to be architected for
If you don’t have the skills in house, procure services of skilled cloud specialists
Be aware of your scaling profile
– When is your peak computing usage?
– How much does your data storage requirements increase by across your estate per
hour/month (including DR)?
– How much compute and storage capacity did developers use and need? If you scaled your
teams, what would it be then?
•
•
•
•
Use asynchronous design to minimise thread locking, requiring less VM
provisioning
Use load-balancing and cloud IP to decouple hardware
Use message passing to decouple application components
Scorecard all options
– Cloud offers plenty of options, some better than others for your needs
– All meet your functional requirements
•
use qualitative factors to compare providers rigorously
Every Cloud Has A Silver
Lining.

12. Tip 3. Take Advantage of ‘Free’ Clouds
• In scramble for new customers, big Clouds
provide 12 months free hosting and use
• Use EVERYTHING!
Utilise teams closest to
cloud, use slack time to
– Download APIs
spike.
– Play with Consoles
– Programme PoCs, ancillary or low risk services to
Cloud to learn
• Monitor the benefits to check assumptions
• Based on that assessment, decide what and how
much to move to Cloud

13. More Information
External Links
• Amazon Web Services (http://aws.amazon.com)
• Windows Azure (https://www.windowsazure.com)
• Google App Engine (https://developers.google.com/appengine)
Dynacognetics are Cloud experts on Azure, AWS and Google. We are both Microsoft
and AWS Partners and always aim to sell services that specifically meet your business
needs, by offering solutions across all major providers including Google.
Find out more at www.dynacognetics.com!
@Dynacognetics
facebook.com/Dynacognetics

14. THANKS FOR COMING :)
[Fin]