With all of the hype surrounding cloud computing, it can be difficult to discern between truthful information and overblown sales pitches. While the outlook from the programming and technological community is generally favorable, a small percentage has raised the alarm concerning everything from the security of your data to that of your very liberties! It would be safe to say the opposition can be equally reactionary, but the truth is that there are concerns that should be addressed.
Cloud computing is best described as computing which takes place elsewhere – as in, not on your computer (or the computer you are using). We already use cloud computing quite regularly, whether or not we realize it. Your social networking profiles, online image services, and network music play lists are examples of cloud computing. The logical extension of this, and the direction in which many companies and most programmers seem to be heading, is the development of networks comprised of these dedicated websites and services. However, Google recently announced their own operating system which will do nothing more than start your computer and browser, allowing you to log in to a remote desktop, where you can access all your many online apps and services.
Naturally, some people worry that their data will be easier for others to access – even alter or delete – if it is saved anywhere other than on their personal computers. However, programmers developing cloud computing technologies have already considered this. In fact, home computing security has been increasingly moving toward online models the last several years. Now, instead of connecting to the Internet to download updates and patches, your cloud computing provider will handle everything from their end. It’s safe to assume the leaders in Web technologies, such as the aforementioned Google, are far less likely to forget to update their anti-virus software or install that latest browser patch than the typical home-user!
Some experts (and many not-so experts) have also raised red flags where it concerns your personal rights and liberties. If your information exists on someone else’s computer, do they not have every right to know what that data contains? Where do their rights end and yours begin and vice-versa, and who truly owns the content you produce, regardless of where it exists? First of all, the simple truth is that if you are doing nothing wrong, and you really have nothing to fear.
However, the latter is a valid concern, raised by the Terms Of Service already in place on many cloud computing sites, including the most popular social networks and blogging communities, which indicate the company hosting the content owns the rights to it. But it is extremely unlikely any cloud computing model will contain such a clause, and almost none would insist on it. After all, no respectable company would ever attempt to consider someone else’s intellectual property their own just because it resides on their servers. The free social sites usually do this in order to use content appearing there for promotional means. This helps pay for the site, and keep it free. The big difference between today’s free social network and tomorrow’s subscription-based, cloud computing network is just that: payment.
If you are paying a company (or network of companies) for access to their applications and services, as well as to host your data, said companies are not going to assert unfounded rights to your data. Besides, consumer watchdog agencies are sure to be monitoring the emergence of such a market already guaranteed to be closely watched by the public.
Before you decide against cloud computing, consider the matter from a logical standpoint. If you already possess the hardware and technological expertise of a major Web network, such as Google, then maybe cloud computing isn’t for you. Likewise, no serious technological firm is going to assert rights to your content just because they host it. Cloud computing is much safer than you may think!
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