A public cloud, using a simplistic definition, is a cloud infrastructure network that’s open for anyone to use. More specifically, aspects such as infrastructure, CPU, Storage, and other virtual services are made available to any company that wants to use the cloud while accessing it over the Internet. Technically then, the public cloud is a shared resource. As a result, businesses spend much less for the same infrastructure that would cost a bomb.
In a recent survey by IDG research that involves 100 IT companies with more than 1000 employees, cloud computing is very much on, and how!
At least 84% of the companies are now running at least one application on the cloud. About 42% of these companies have a cloud strategy in place, and 33% have a moderate to aggressive approach to cloud computing. A healthy 9% are “aggressive” adopters as far as cloud computing is concerned.
The overwhelming response to cloud computing is obviously because the cloud allows for enhanced efficiency, automation, reduced capital expenses, ability to be agile and react to new market demands, and boosted availability of applications company-wide while obviating the need to invest in excessive infrastructure.
The era of the Public Cloud
Approximately 40% of the respondents of the above mentioned survey expressed the desire to use the public cloud when it comes to launching new products or services since companies don’t have to deal with scaling up or down or to meet unpredictable market demands.
The image below shows (from the survey) the state of the overall cloud strategy of the respondents.
It’s not a bed of roses though. There are expected concerns such as security (26%), a perception that companies lose data control (12%), and worry about application support along with compatibility (11%).
Yet, the growth and adoption of the public cloud is unmistakably evident. The IDG survey predicts that 72% of the companies intend to host business applications on the cloud while 54% of these companies cite that managing IT operations on the cloud is the top priority. Yet another 50% want to enhance their disaster management capabilities using the efficiencies of the cloud while about 40% want to use the public cloud for development, testing, and new product launches.
A GigaOm Post showcases an Infographic (by Column Five Media) which already shows a possible chance of shortage in available services in the Public cloud – now, we believe that the growth is phenomenal if we are already talking about “Shortage”.
The post further states that by 2020, work almost never happens on the desktop anymore. Instead, most work is set to happen on the cloud (Aren’t we seeing this trend already?).
What do you think about Public Computing? Have you been using it? What are your thoughts? Please share it with us. We’d love to hear from you.
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