Virtualization and Cloud executives share their predictions for 2013. Read them in this VMblog.com series exclusive.
Contributed article by James Strayer, VP product management, Racemi
2013 Progress led by Automation and Interoperability
Gartner's
Hype Cycle for Cloud Computing shows we're coming off the "Peak of Inflated
Expectations" and sliding into the "Trough of Disillusionment". We're in a
transition period in cloud computing where some use cases for public cloud have
been fully embraced, but others have been debunked.
Here are some trends we see:
- While businesses have embraced certain use cases for
public cloud, providers have to figure out how to expand their footprint in
accounts in order to continue to see large growth. This requires better
automation, reliability, security and performance.
- We've seen cloud providers push virtual private cloud hard
to the enterprise, as today enterprises typically use public clouds for short-term
development and QA workloads, as well as custom application development. We've
all heard phrases like, "buy the base and rent the peak or spike" and virtual
private cloud plays into that story quite well.
- Enterprises are attempting to reign in all the non-IT
personnel who have turned to public clouds to bypass perceived red tape and
bureaucracy of internal IT. This will require better, cloud-friendly management
tools than many IT shops have today.
In this Trough of Disillusionment phase, it's becoming more
and more evident that the cloud does not solve all problems - or world peace.
What's next?
- Ability to move
among cloud platforms - There are so many viable choices available that we'll
see a natural need evolve to move workloads from one cloud provider to another.
We'll see the tug-of-war heat up over standardization and innovation just like we've
seen in other technologies.
- Emergence of cloud
platform frontrunners - Following on the previous statement, there are many
good options available today and progress being made that will expand
capabilities and use cases. I think you'll see VMware vCloud, Amazon, and OpenStack
as the frontrunners, with CloudStack, Eucalyptus and others taking some private
cloud market share along with some small providers. But, for all kinds of
reasons - and again because we've seen this before with virtualization, for
example - there will be a number of cloud platforms options for the foreseeable
future.
- We'll see progress
towards migrating complex apps to the cloud with built-in failover and
backup capabilities. These capabilities will make it possible for complex,
multi-tier enterprise apps to migrate to clouds much more easily. There are
platforms that can handle multi-tier applications today, but they often impact
performance or require modification of the application itself, which inhibit
widespread adoption. We anticipate technology will improve here eliminating
today's constraints and make hybrid enterprise applications a commodity.
Automation and interoperability are the key
ingredients to make all of this a reality in the year ahead. It's simply not
possible moving things around manually. Software that can automate the
migration process is required, which can also help lend intelligence to handle
the different nuances from one cloud to another, as well as the special
requirements of complex apps.
###
About the Author
James Strayer, Vice President
Product Management and Marketing - Racemi
For two years, James
Strayer has led product management and marketing at Racemi bringing a decade of
experience in the IT industry. Previously, at Symantec, he led product
management for the Information Technology Service Management (ITSM) business
and worked with OEM strategic partners such as HP and Dell. Before that, at Altiris,
his go-to-market strategies fostered exponential revenue growth to over $200
million in annual license revenue. Under his direction, the Altiris product
line also led Gartner Magic Quadrants and Forrester Leader Waves for IT
Lifecycle Management, Asset Management, Service Desk, and Server Management and
won numerous industry awards, including multiple Network Computing
"Product of the Year" awards. He graduated from Utah Valley
University with a degree in Life Sciences.