Enabling Interoperability And Portability In Cloud Computing
Introduction
Cloud computing is changing into a preferred method of getting work accomplished. As extra companies begin utilizing cloud providers, nonetheless, we’re realizing that there are some challenges with interoperability and portability on this new surroundings. The cloud shouldn’t be one homogenous surroundings, however somewhat many alternative ones, every with their very own strategy to requirements and protocols. Completely different clouds implement totally different requirements and protocols, making it tough to maneuver knowledge between them. An effort is beneath strategy to create a “Cloud Interoperability Discussion board” that may resolve a few of these points by specializing in (1) cloud service suppliers, (2) cloud customers and software builders, and (3) business companions
Cloud computing is changing into a preferred method of getting work accomplished.
Cloud computing has been round for a very long time, but it surely’s solely just lately that it’s gaining recognition. Cloud computing will be an effective way to get work accomplished–but it surely’s not the identical as on-premise computing or SaaS (software program as a service).
Cloud computing refers to utilizing servers hosted by another person over the Web, somewhat than having your personal servers in your workplace or residence. You employ cloud providers like Google Docs as a substitute of putting in Microsoft Workplace in your laptop; you retailer knowledge on Dropbox as a substitute of saving information domestically; and so forth.
Cloud computing presents some challenges for interoperability and portability.
Cloud computing presents some challenges for interoperability and portability.
Clouds will not be a single homogenous surroundings, so totally different clouds implement totally different requirements and protocols. This makes it tough to maneuver knowledge between clouds.
For instance, healthcare organizations want to have the ability to transfer affected person data between totally different well being programs with a view to present seamless care throughout a number of amenities or suppliers; nonetheless, there isn’t a normal method of doing this at present as a result of every cloud implements its personal proprietary protocols for transferring knowledge round inside its surroundings and into different environments (e.g., from one hospital’s EMR system by means of one other hospital’s EMR system).
The cloud shouldn’t be one homogenous surroundings, however somewhat many alternative ones, every with their very own strategy to requirements and protocols.
The cloud shouldn’t be one homogenous surroundings, however somewhat many alternative ones, every with their very own strategy to requirements and protocols. In consequence, it may be tough for organizations to maneuver from one cloud supplier to a different and even between providers supplied by the identical supplier if they’re utilizing totally different requirements.
The issue is exacerbated by the truth that many cloud computing suppliers don’t expose their APIs in standardized codecs resembling REST or SOAP/XML-based internet providers. As an alternative of exposing their interfaces in normal methods, most suppliers supply proprietary APIs which might be written in languages resembling Java and C++ (though some have adopted JSON).
Completely different clouds implement totally different requirements and protocols, making it tough to maneuver knowledge between them.
Completely different clouds implement totally different requirements and protocols, making it tough to maneuver knowledge between them. This can be a downside since you would possibly wish to transfer your knowledge from one cloud supplier to a different for no matter purpose, however the standardization challenge makes that tough if not inconceivable.
As well as, some cloud suppliers are open supply whereas others are proprietary (which means they don’t share their supply code). This may be important as a result of when you’re utilizing an open-source answer like Amazon Net Companies (AWS), then the entire code used to create that product has been revealed on-line–which means that anybody who needs entry may have no downside accessing it by means of GitHub or one other comparable web site the place builders share code with one another world wide. Alternatively when you use a proprietary answer like Microsoft Azure then there could also be restrictions on what sort of details about its interior workings will get out into public boards resembling social media networks the place individuals speak about issues like this all day lengthy!
An effort is beneath strategy to create a “Cloud Interoperability Discussion board” that may resolve a few of these points by specializing in (1) cloud service suppliers, (2) cloud customers and software builders, and (3) business companions.
An effort is beneath strategy to create a “Cloud Interoperability Discussion board” that may resolve a few of these points by specializing in (1) cloud service suppliers, (2) cloud customers and software builders, and (3) business companions. This group will present a possibility for all stakeholders within the cloud computing ecosystem to work collectively on frequent requirements and finest practices for interoperability and portability.
The Cloud Interoperability Discussion board’s work will probably be organized round three “workstreams”:
- Service Portability: Defining requirements for migrating functions from one supplier’s platform to a different; this contains defining an ordinary method of specifying what providers can be found out of your system so one other system could make use of them with out having entry or data about its inner construction or implementation particulars; additionally taking a look at how functions will be packaged up into containers to allow them to be simply moved throughout totally different environments with no need any adjustments made inside these containers themselves
Interoperability and portability are essential concerns when selecting a cloud supplier or working with knowledge hosted in a single
Interoperability is the power of programs, networks, and providers to work collectively. Portability is the power of knowledge to maneuver between programs.
Cloud computing suppliers are more and more supporting interoperability and portability requirements resembling Open Cloud Manifesto (OCM), Cloud Computing Interoperability Council (CCIC) and Storage Networking Business Affiliation (SNIA).
Conclusion
The cloud is an thrilling expertise that guarantees to alter the best way we work. It has many advantages, but it surely additionally presents some challenges for interoperability and portability. An effort is beneath strategy to create a “Cloud Interoperability Discussion board” that may resolve a few of these points by specializing in (1) cloud service suppliers, (2) cloud customers and software builders, and (3) business companions. This group will work in the direction of creating requirements that make it attainable for knowledge hosted in a single cloud supplier’s surroundings to be accessed by others with out shedding its unique format or integrity