The Cloud database conundrum

Large corporations seem to routinely have lots of DBs setup by proactive managers that don't seem to understand what it takes to Maintain and update them .

On last count the corporation I worked for had 10,000 databases With only about 1000 in apparent use. I say apparent because some were being updated, even though nobody used them.

In this scenario the synergies that one Gets With Cloud computing is are clearly visible .

1) Getting a tried and tested DB off the shelf : Many of the databases did exactly the same thing but were developed by different developers using different coding. A useless waste of resources.  The information would have been of better use if the groups would have coordinated each other and integrated the information. That would have also led to fewer inconsistencies in similar data. Cloud applications allow companies to better communicate with each other find already developed databases that serve their purpose and implement rapidly. Avoiding the whole project management cycle.  This also saves server space and hosting space and makes updating the database easier.

2) Updating issues and usability: Applications on the Cloud can be easily accessed from multiple platforms making updating information in different global teams easier.

The idea that databases can be compatible with many languages and integrate on the Cloud is not new. Salesforce have attempted this with the database.com and other providers exist too.
http://www.readwriteweb.com/cloud/2011/01/7-cloud-based-database-service.php

http://techcrunch.com/2010/12/07/one-database-to-rule-the-cloud-salesforce-debuts-database-com-for-the-enterprise/

The question is whether the idea of whether databases being hosted so far away from their desks and the constant issue of data security can be addressed adequately.

There is also the issue of regulation and trust. The Federal government convinced Amazon to stop providing services to Wikileaks. Could it do that to companies as well. Online gambling comes to mind and possibly tobacco companies. Laws can always change. It is not so easy to find a Cloud provider where you don't pay a hefty premium every month. However, if you are a small operation with a server stack and a couple of developers it is always possible to plug into the internet somewhere.

Anyway, to sum up, if you are a large corporation with lots of money and loads of employees all over the world, the cloud is for you, when it comes to databases. Everyone else, hire a developer and setup your SQL database.

Password madness

So here we are in the age of the cloud, so tell me why do I still need to have 12 super complicated passwords to access my blog and twitter accounts and my online document sharing service iTunes and the rest. Yes, I have heard of Hootsuite and all sort of random devices that may or may not integrate all of this but it is still easier to log in separately. Sadly, half of the security flaws on the web are surely related to people using the same password for most of these services. Anyway, a challenge to you out there. Is there some way of making all this easier to manage or do I just have to cut down on all this web madness and go walk the dog. Happy Easter.

Fort Knox: debunking security fears in the cloud

Would you rather save your gold in Fort Knox or thousands of local sheriff's offices across the state ?

Recently I have seen lots of articles talking about the risks of cloud computing. These tend to be the same people I see in my global corporation that constantly ask for more money, for newer and more advanced servers and software, and praying that somehow backing up everything 10 times will save the day. After eventually getting hacked they hired an expensive security consultant and made everyone change their password 3 times a day for 3 days.

This happens across thousands of businesses across the world and often the bigger you are the more vulnerable you become because it becomes a challenge to break your system.

So, how does that compare to an eco-friendly massive data center with high security and state of the art security software. It is true that you might lose a tiny amount of information if someone hacks into the public website and replaces a few pictures, but that is the maximum damage they can do.

The advantage of the cloud is the economies of scale that economists have been talking about for centuries. Why not update your hardware and software in one data center instead of thousands of companies across the world. So, back to my question, that is why we put all our valuable items in one safe place. Whether it is the gold in Fort Knox, or the most lethal top secret virus. We lock it up in one place and put lots of security around it. So, why is it any different in the cloud.