When introducing the iCloud, Apple Founder Steve Jobs didn�t see it as merely a useful software tool. He viewed it as a fundamental piece of Apple�s future.
The movement to the Cloud includes businesses, large and small, as well as governments worldwide.
Why is the Federal Government moving to the Cloud?
There are several key factors that explain why it is critical for the U.S. Government to adopt cloud computing:
Government IT is outdated and often ineffective for certain applications. Users work on mainframes while in the office and on a variety of internet-based platforms when traveling or at home.
Federal data centers now number more than 1,000. Consolidations is essential but so are smarter methods for using apps that leverage the cloud.. The private market is cutting back in data centers through private clouds, hybrids and public services.
Cloud-based, data driven services can drive policy. What this requires are platforms that provide a base for interaction between constituents and stakeholders in federal agencies. Interoperability between agencies across platforms requires cloud-driven services with core sets of standards. In such an environment, apps provide a level of portability and means for decreasing the need for multiple on-premise servers to run one application.
Transparency means the capability to get real-tine access to public data. The cloud makes that more of a reality.
Why has Apple moved to the Cloud?
The iCloud represents a major movement toward shared storage devices. Regardless of your platform, each device can sync with each other in real-time rather than waiting for the owner to connect the device to the PC for transfers.
What qualifications do I need to become a Certified Cloud Technologist?
A Bachelor�s degree with a minimum of 2 years paid experience in IT: application development, systems design, help desk, hardware maintenance, server deployment, network administration, DBA, OR management of the product deployment life-cycle.
What makes security of the Cloud different from servers?
While servers are accessed in a LAN or WAN which can be controlled by policy and IP, the cloud is usually accessed wirelessly by mobile devices. Securing these devices can be challenging. How do you secure the device, the server, the connection and the payload? In a server environment, the dangers are largely known, but in a cloud environment, the threats are less clear and many are very sophisticated.
Cloud infrastructure providers are making massive investments in security and data privacy. Often, these investments and their core focus on security and privacy as a value proposition are greater than any small or medium, even large, company can afford or manage.
For institutions migrating to the Cloud, selection and qualification of their service providers will be key. With proper due diligence and care, the Cloud can be even more secure than legacy systems and networks.
What is IaaS, PaaS, SaaS?
IaaS is Infrastructure as a Service, PaaS is Platform as a Service, SaaS is Software as a Service. These emerging concepts and practices will be taught in the course.
Is this a passing fad?
The Cloud is here to stay. It is a new way of doing business that enables firms to focus on core competence without worrying about IT. Today, IT infrastructure is being provided by highly respected market participants like Amazon and Google. "Always On Always" Connected Devices like the iPhone, Android and iPad have established themselves as important and valuable tools. These devices can ONLY talk to the Cloud. All businesses, large and small will eventually need to develop a strategy to move their operations to the Cloud.
Initially, it may be the easy-to-migrate services like email, but in time, it will be virtually their entire operation.
