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Tuesday, 17th January 2012, 14:08:28
Virtualisation 'can help companies improve storage and sharing'
An increasing number of sectors and industries are looking to move their online presence to virtualisation platforms, with both public and private companies looking for ways to improve their operating systems and storage solutions.
While those in support of the cloud platform claim that it offers a new model for cost-effective and affordable procurement of IT services, a new wave of enthusiasm and demand is set to hit the industry with the launch of G-Cloud, which is the government's formal channel for procuring cloud services.
According to Kevin Holland, who has worked with G-Cloud for two years and is service management consultant for NHS Connecting for Health (CfH), making the most of the cloud will involve new skills in service integration across the public sector.
Speaking to the Guardian's government computing column, he explained: "Instead of having one service provider or multiple suppliers of software, the cloud means you will now have an increase in the number of providers involved in the services you deliver to your end users. Hence the challenges - they are going to have to get those skills to manage those providers for an end-to-end service."
Mr Holland added one of the main challenges that lies in the future of the G-Cloud is the ability to manage suppliers efficiently, but this should be eased by existing cloud technologies that enable a user to have all resources under one space.
Furthermore, according to the CfH consultant, cloud computing will bring with it a change in mindset among the many that will come to use it in their day-to-day practices.
Mr Holland cited the success of CfH's management of the NHS National Programme for IT as an example of the potential success that integrated cloud systems can have as a basis for housing many resources and different technology providers.
He continued: "When everything works smoothly you don't get involved, but when they don't, the relationship management model comes in. As the service integrator you have relationships with all of the service providers involved in the business transaction."
Last week, it was reported that universities and research institutes are used to pooling IT resources, but the implementation of cloud computing could revolutionise the way information is shared.
The public sector institutions would be able to save their research and resources into a virtualisation system and easily share new findings and materials instantly.
Technology writer for the Guardian S J Pritchard suggested that this decision could move the learning industry onto the next level.
"Universities are moving to the cloud to improve the services they deliver and it is helping to promote best practice," commented one debate member at the newspaper's roundtable, which included key members from the technology industry.
Looking ahead at likely trends in the world of cloud computing over the coming year, John Dunn - security editor at Techworld, a website offering news and features on technology and computing - suggested that virtualisation platforms will move towards a neutral space to house many different types of information and software.
"What the cloud is actually trying to do is create a more neutral space where you can integrate lots of different parts of software. You've got private clouds, public clouds and hybrid clouds, and you've got the different bits of technology that make that infrastructure possible," Mr Dunn explained.
He added that the public cloud could pose more challenges regarding regulatory issues and worries about technology, while private clouds are relatively simple to set up and use.
In addition, Mr Dunn recently explained that many organisations are considering moving their online security to the cloud as it offers a place where regular updates can be easily accessed without the need to buy completely new software.
Moreover, companies in both the public and private sectors are moving away from fixed products, brands and platforms in favour of modern and flexible alternatives, Mr Dunn said.
Posted by Judy Gifford
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Categories: | Virtualisation / The Cloud |
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