cloud computing

Data Center Markets Heat Up

Yes Virginia, there are federal penny pinchers!

Trading a real server for an imaginary one was a stupid idea 20 years ago, an awkward one 10 years ago and de rigeur now. Still, some IT managers can't let go of the hardware without suspecting they're outsourcing their own jobs in the process.

The search giant is unveiling a service aimed at a market heretofore completely untapped -- unless you count Apple's iTunes store and a bunch of other online music services.

Worried that a data center in the cloud is too risky?

A new survey by security vendor McAfee reveals that both data center managers and enterprise executives ignore potential security issues.

The real truth about cloud computing is that it can make IT vastly more powerful and efficient, but making it work means changing everything IT does every day and much of the infrastructure and processes it has spent 30 years building. No wonder it hasn't worked yet.

It has been rumored that our IT organization is considering using cloud based technologies inside and outside the company. Is this good or bad for me?

Read this, especially if you one of the more-than-we-thought who don’t have a DR plan.

So many different computing functions have moved into the cloud that the cloud has begun to look like the computing industry, or a single data center, itself. The difference is all those pieces are spread out and owned by different people. At what point will it make more sense to start consolidating "the cloud" into something that looks much more like outsourcing?

Most surveys show cloud computing is catching on so fast pollsters and providers can't keep up. A new one showing users with little enthusiasm except for specific services shows how big the difference is in segments that aren't really part of one "cloud market" at all.

Venture capitalists continue to bet big on cloud computing, with two cloud start-ups announcing new financing.