Cloud computing is nothing more than a self-service consumption model where business workloads are deployed and transparently executed, either internally or somewhere on the Internet, and delivered to businesses that only pay for what they consume. Private cloud, internal cloud, and public cloud make for great marketing lingo, but Cisco, EMC and VMware will spin their wheels and waste valuable time if “cloud” is what they try to sell. Businesses are focused on cost containment, consolidation, improved IT automation, instant access to IT resources, security, compliance, and delivering IT as a consistent predictable service.

I’m actually an advocate of cloud computing as it pertains to that definition, but when I speak and ask “Has anyone here adopted cloud computing?” or “Do any of you have plans to adopt cloud computing?” I typically get one or two hands in a room of 1000. There is still plenty of education and awareness that has to take place before a mass market jumps on the band wagon.

With today’s Cisco, EMC, and VMware (Acadia) announcement, EMC also launched www.privatecloud.com. A nice effort, but still a relatively meaningless term… unless you are a vendor.

Related posts:

1. Cisco, EMC and VMware Round Up
2. Private Cloud: Dream or Goal?
3. Cisco, EMC, and VMware… Acadia?
4. VMware’s Risk with Cisco and EMC
5. Cloud Computing: How to Get Some

Tags: Acadia, Cisco, cloud computing, EMC, private cloud, privatecloud.com, VMware