An innovators look at the proprietary vs Opensource debate happening within cloud computing

1. My 2 cents
@paulq
A provocative look at the
Proprietary vs Open source debate
in cloud computing

2. Setting the scene

3. There is considerable discussion within cloud circles
about Opensource

4. ..some (including me) predicting that proprietary software is in
big trouble

5. … OSS pundits are building platforms and attempting to
build standards

6. …and some downright vilification
of some vendors

7. Cloud ‘Developers’ are making
choices based on their world view

8. …seeing some of their partners
start to go direct…
Obviously, AT&T, Peer1, and Hosted Solutions weren't
overjoyed about competing with their storage vendor, which
is undoubtedly a major reason why EMC shut down Atmos
Online.

9. …hearing some of their peers
being caught out by company
failures or acquisitions

10. While being bombarded with
FUD…

11. ..or bringing their own ‘religious’
beliefs

12. Which are all valid concerns, but they tend to
ignore customers and what they want

13. ..customers have long since abandoned even the
pretence of caring about the definitions….
Proprietary vs Open source

14. …instead they are making decisions using the same
trusted criteria they always have
…Technology they know and trust
…are trained in (and have built their careers around)
…have already business cased (and put their
heads on the block)

15. …or taking the least risk approach…
“In the enterprise, Private cloud will Mature First, and it
will be built on the technology already in the data centre”

16. Why is there such a big divide?
Proprietary Open Source
You got open source
on my proprietary
cloud
You got proprietary
on my open source
cloud

17. Well… lets view this from an client
adoption of innovation Point Of
View

18. Cloud computing is still early in the
product lifecycle

19. Which means there is lots to DO to get the majority clients
over the line
Source : http://pharmtech.findpharma.com/pharmtech/Manufacturing/Nanotechnology-the-next-silver-bullet/ArticleStandard/Article/detail/605695
16%
34%34%13.5%
2.5%
90%

20. And the key things to ‘DO’ from a client POV are mainly
about service reliability
“Availability and performance were tied at #2 last
year, and are there again this year.

21. So… how do you build in performance, availability
and dependability into your product?

22. ….you build your products using proprietary,
interdependent architectures
• This approach gives you
control of the entire
system…
• And this control improves
the reliability
• Source: Http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/aSGuest9801-134609-christensen-education-ppt-powerpoint/
Good enough line

23. And you keep at it until you get past the good
enough line….
• Source: Http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/aSGuest9801-134609-christensen-education-ppt-powerpoint/
Good enough line

24. …and competition changes, in order to differentiate you need
to provide more choice, customisation and speed.
Good enough line

25. And to deliver these you need
modular, open architectures….or OSS

26. Where are we seeing this?

27. Strong growth of Opensource in commodity areas and ….

28. …Funnily enough proprietary PaaS…which appears to deliver
the speed, choice and customisation

29. Conclusions…
• In general, all big debates that the clouderati are having
don’t mean much to clients
– Cloud might be a new, but all the old rules apply (innovation
adoption, profit, channel dynamics, human dimension, who wins
and who looses)
• The whole debate of proprietary and OS is just a question
of timing… and customers dictate that not us.
– Watch for when the ‘good enough’ line is crossed…
• The customer outcome that PaaS & open source
architectures provides are pretty much the same…
– Flexibility, agility, customisation
• If you are a developer you are going to have to place your
bets, but pick a big player…
– And expect to eventually compete with them at the high end