Cloud Computing Craze (C3)

The Cloud computing craze continues to grow. You know the craze is in full swing when other technologies start to utilize "Cloud" in their names and companies try to protect a common term like "cloud computing" with a trademark. Thankfully the USPTO came to their senses and rejected Dell's trademark application. (Guess you can't blame a company for trying...heck Microsoft has been able to maintain "Windows" as IP or was it Lindows?) Some of the latest terms being thrown around:
- Applications in the cloud - can you say SaaS, which was sexy along with web 2.0 until cloud became sexier (why does this remind me of the fashion world or Hollywood)
- Platform in the cloud - wasn't this originally called PaaS when SaaS was still sexy?
- Infrastructure in the cloud - this is your little brothers "Cloud"

With all seriousness, its amazing how portions of the technology field gravitate towards the next cool thing and then marketing organizations tag right along, renaming their products to sound sexy. Along with this mania, some techies will find a reason to use this technology whether its a fit or not. Some of the latest crazes that also follow this model are Ruby on Rails, Open Source, and VoIP. Just a few that quickly come to mind. These technologies aren't the panacea of their related technology areas. They are a tool in a tool belt of technologies we have available to us.

Cloud computing is great and offers a lot a benefits but it's not the end all, be all for IT. Many people such as Nicholas Carr and technology marketing departments like to make it out to be the killer app. They rally behind it because it helps to sell the books or technologies they happen to be pushing at the moment.

For those of you that make technology decisions for organizations - don't get caught up in the hype. Cloud computing has plenty of value but don't over subscribe to utilizing it. Be sure to analyze the appropriateness of it within the context of your overall architecture and business needs.