Cloud Computing – Into the Wild Blue Yonder?

On December 17th, 1903, Orville and Wilbur Wright made the first successful heavier than air flight, launching the aviation age and giving the world a glimpse of what was to come. Many aviation pioneers would quickly follow the Wright brothers in a “race” to best the previous record, whether the marker was time in the air, speed, distance or one of the many other categories.

Charles Lindbergh became the first pilot to fly solo non-stop across the Atlantic on May 20^th, 1927. Just a year later, Amelia Earhart replicated Lindbergh’s historic flight, becoming the first female pilot to fly non-stop across the Atlantic. Following in their footsteps were a number of other brave men and woman, pushing the boundaries of aviation accomplishments, including: Howard Hughes, Jimmy Doolittle, Jacqueline Cochran, and Chuck Yeager. These advances in aviation opened up a world of possibilities for people of all ages. Distant lands that previously required weeks of travel by train, boat or car were now accessible in a single day by plane.  Markets that had been out of reach for most businesses could now be serviced quickly and efficiently as aviation advanced. The world changed and people were quick to exploit the opportunities that came with it. 

Cloud computing holds much of the same potential seen in the early days of aviation.  Freed from significant capital investments and the challenge of hiring and retaining scarce technical employees, companies can leverage the power of the web to receive powerful IT services across any distance. Through the cloud, geography becomes irrelevant. Whether you’re business is in Manhattan or Mumbai, you now have the same access to web-based applications.

Pioneers can develop markets were it wasn’t possible before, expanding their footprint to new cities, countries and continents. The IT world is changing, and the cloud is the new “Wright Flyer.”  In the early days of aviation, pilots didn’t have air traffic controllers, radios or GPS – instead they identified landmarks and followed them to their destination. In time, advances in navigation and the aircraft made air travel safer and less expensive than ever before. The cloud is at the same stage of development today as air travel was in the early 1900s. The very definition of cloud services needs to be communicated to the masses, as well as the process for using them.  Others want to know how to transform their existing business programs. IT service providers are learning how to add value and make money from the cloud. The pioneers are at the forefront of adoption, devising new ways to leverage cloud services to solve their client’s business challenges.  

In this pioneering spirit, CompTIA is working with the channel cloud community to clarify terms, identify channel roles and explore profitable channel business models. To help our members, we’ve published two new white papers (with a third to follow soon) to help advance the understanding of cloud computing and unlock potential for future development.

“Outlining Cloud Computing for the Channel,” clarifies some of the most common and disputable definitions regarding the Cloud. Readers will discover the agreed upon channel definition for cloud computing, what it isn’t, who the key players are in the industry, the vital elements for delivery, and much more.       

If you are intrigued by the opportunities that the Cloud presents, then make sure to read “Cloud Computing Business Models for the Channel.” This white paper not only defines the most popular business models (consumer, cloud provider, and channel), but it also outlines the relationships between cloud computing models and channel businesses. This is a great resource for helping cloud providers to better articulate the value of their services to their customers with clear terms that make sense to their businesses.

Stay tuned for CompTIA’s third white paper —coming in early2011. “Adding Value to Cloud Computing” will outline great options for service providers looking to make money offering cloud services. With four different opportunities highlighted in this upcoming article, readers will find actionable ideas for cloud service offerings their customers will value. In addition, solution providers will learn how to generate services revenue, despite tighter product margins. 

The early pioneers would be truly amazed at the aviation advances in the 20th and 21st century; widespread business travel, unmanned flight and even space exploration.  With the same pioneering spirit as those early aviators, CompTIA is proud to partner with industry leaders to advance cloud computing and the IT industry.  Join the CompTIA cloud community and help us change the world – send us an email at communities@comptia.org.