Sunday May 27, 2012

JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION

What do you think of cloud computing?

Have Your Say Jul. 02, 2011 - 04:33AM JST ( 10 )

Order by Time Order by Popularity

10 Comments

-1

theFuJul. 02, 2011 - 08:39AM JST

Cloud computing makes lots of sense when you need to have stuff public, but not very much sense when you need things to be private. Anything you place on a cloud-based service will eventually be leaked, somehow. That is the test before using any cloud-based service - can this data be put on the front page of the largest newspapers around the world and not cause legal or embarrassment?

These days, department managers are choosing these services due to quicker-to-market and lower initial costs, usually without considering other important issues. Legally, where does the data reside? Which laws apply when your data is stored in 3 different countries. What is your corporate liability then?

Once you put data into these cloud services, how do you get the data out, if you can at all? Lots of services are one-way data-suckers.

When the data is placed into the cloud, what are your protections that it won't be used by that company or a "partner" company for commercial gain? The big social networks consider any data you give them ok to use in any way. Is that really what you want?

Still, if a cloud service is free to you and meets some need you have, it is hard NOT to make use of it. If you want privacy in the data you put into the cloud, then you need to ensure that yourself, probably using strong encryption.

If I come across as concerned, I am. Certainly, using the cloud make perfect sense for some specific needs, but not for as many as we're seeing today. Another alternative is to create a private cloud computing center inside your company. You gain the flexibility, but don't lose control over the critical data. This can work for every sized company from the smallest 1-man shop to the largest multinational companies (who have been doing this for the last decade).

Again, check with your IT-knowledgeable lawyer before using the cloud.
-1

FoxieJul. 02, 2011 - 08:39AM JST

It is basically a great idea. You must know how to use it to your benefit without exposing your privacy.
0

GWJul. 02, 2011 - 04:25PM JST

I am pretty sure most email being fired around is hardly private, your data can be taken whether its in a cloud or not if yr connected to the net...........................
0

ihavegreatlegsJul. 03, 2011 - 11:13AM JST

VPN is my way to go. No way am I on a cloud 9
0

SmorkianJul. 03, 2011 - 02:15PM JST

I wouldn't use it for anything remotely critical.
0

SamuraiBlueJul. 03, 2011 - 08:44PM JST

It's basically a scheme to ensure software vendors a steady stream of revenue and not much advantage for private users. As most of you know software vendors doesn't sell and end product but a license to utilize the product therefore there the liability of defect within product had been negated but they had to constantly issue updates free of charge to solve issues that they could not foresee at time of launch which did not bring in any revenue whatsoever. That is why they had to market a new version every few years that really did not had much new features. With a cloud system software vendors can obtain a steady monthly income based on subscription and they do not need to develop a new version every few years minimizing cost.
0

BadseyJul. 04, 2011 - 02:37AM JST

It is a great way for Gov to control server data and websites. Most people will want to remain independent, but will eventually get sucked into the cloud. -Just when people were getting independent from Windows --> they get sucked back in !!
-1

cncJul. 04, 2011 - 10:22AM JST

It never overcast all the time. What happens when the clouds go away? There is nothing you can do.

We live in a world where people hack into supposedly secure systems just for fun. what do you think will happen when you put all of your data out there for anyone and everyone to see.
0

tranelJul. 04, 2011 - 02:05PM JST

Can't really see why everybody is so excited about cloud computing. Would you want anything ever remotely sensitive in the cloud? I think not! The recent hackings of Sony, Sega and Nintendo should be food for thought. I am actually quite worried about this development, because the risk of a big enough disaster returning civilization to the stone age (occuring at a time when everyone and everything around the world is completely addicted/dependent on the cloud) is too great.
0

wanderlustJul. 07, 2011 - 09:31AM JST

It's too dependent on the 'network' and communication systems, you have to rely on them for everything. Lose your data link, you lose the ability to work, communicate, access data, and who knows who is snooping on your data?

Great business for the likes of Cisco and hardware vendors, promoted heavily by media who get advertising revenue from those same companies. And for little companies and businesses who have problems, do you really think these massive cloud companies will respond quickly to your cry for help?