The Importance of Infrastructure

When we talk about cloud computing we can define it across three levels: software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS), and infrastructure as a service (IaaS). Each level has it’s own unique properties, value proposition, and implementation. Often the consumers of these services move between them. Each is critical in its own way. That is, the things that make up the service are relevant even if they are hidden or abstracted “in the cloud”.

So it is with the infrastructure components of the cloud. James Urquhart, writing for CNET in his blog, posed the (rehtorical) question: “The new cloud infrastructure: Do you care?” Well, according to James, you’d better. Here’s why: “What is happening in data center infrastructure is a complete rethinking of the architectures utilized to deliver online services, from the overall data center architectures all the way down to the very components that serve the “big four” elements of the data center: facilities, servers, storage, and networking.”

He then describes how Cisco’s Unified Computing System, Rackable Systems‘ CloudRack C2, and Google are changing the very fabric of infrastructure to meet the needs of services in the cloud. And, therefore, “whether you are a technologist or a business manager” you need to understand how infrastructure and the data center are changing because your service — your value and the revenue that goes with it — are dependent upon it. He also asks, “What I wonder is if (when?) the large cloud vendors will begin to fork their infrastructure designs as they gain more and more control over the data centers that host global IT.” Then he closes with a call for standards, as I have previously argued, to minimize risk and to ensure the evolution of the cloud.

I’d also like to point to Chris Hoff’s blog post, Does Cloud Infrastructure Matter? You Bet Your Ass(ets) It Does! because he’s written articles similar to James’ and because it give more evidence to the fact that infrastructure, while sometimes (usually?) not very sexy, it is still quite critical. You may want to check out Chris’ related blogs on this topic: The Cloud is a Fickcle Mistress and Cloud Catastrophes (Cloudtasophes?) Caused by Clueless Caretakers?