On-demand services are a must in today's busy, complex IT world. With ever-changing and evolving technology, businesses rely on on-demand, or software as a service (SaaS), tools to manage their IT resources. The addition of virtualization and cloud computing into the on-demand world is changing the IT landscape even more as SaaS, virtualization, and "the cloud" work together to make on-demand IT more accessible and manageable for the average user as hybrid-utility computing.
Evaluating each method individually first will help complete the picture for how these technologies work together as hybrid-utility computing.
The Concept of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is the next generation of hosting software. Instead of hosting their own software applications, users rely on "the cloud" to deliver the software on-demand when they need it. Typically, this software is housed in a data center, which is managed off-site from the user.
Being "in the cloud" simply means that your data is not located on your home desktop; it resides elsewhere. Check out " Cloud Computing Explained" for background on this concept.
On-Demand Software as a Service (SaaS)
Selecting software on-demand is called software as a service, or SaaS (pronounced "sass"). Users select the software applications they want by using their Web browser and purchasing the software over the Internet. The application is then provided as a service to which the user subscribes via the Internet. The key concept to SaaS is that it's available on-demand.
Maximizing Economy with Virtualization
Beyond the concept of cloud computing, virtualization creates a virtual environment for software and hardware. Virtual machines (VM) are created to separate hardware from software. This makes it so no matter what system, software or hardware a user has locally, the VM provides an abstract level of resources.
With VMs in place, hardware is no longer the deciding factor for how, where or what you deploy for your software. Resources can move across platforms without expensive and complex customization. Virtualization makes compute power less expensive, more flexible, and more dynamic by offering scalability and accessibility in a more efficient manner.
Cloud Computing, SaaS, and Virtualization Create Hybrid-Utility Computing
Hybrid-utility computing uses elements of cloud computing, SaaS, and virtualization to give users the most compute power possible. By wrapping these technologies together, the user is able to create whatever environment they want with software and hardware where they want it, when they want it. The combination of external and internal clouds with the functionality of on-demand and virtual environments and VMs is a powerful collection of software, hardware and services working together.
Using resources—including scanners, printers, local servers, premise-based devices and the like—as efficiently as possible in any location is another key component and benefit of hybrid computing. With these benefits and uses, hybrid-utility computing is on its way to being the next evolution in IT services.
In his October 21, 2009 article, Dana Gardner analyzes a study conducted in September 2009 by Kelton Research for Avanade, a technology services firm. The study confirmed the assertion that hybrid-utility computing is becoming a leading technology. Of the companies surveyed, 54 percent reported using a hybrid approach to IT, a jump of 21 percent over only a nine month period. Clearly, hybrid-utility computing is gaining significant traction as an IT services solution.
Practical Real-World Applications of Hybrid-Utility Computing
With on-demand hybrid-utility computing, users are able to access their data and hardware resources securely from virtually anywhere they can access the Internet. SaaS, cloud computing and virtualization can be realized using a variety of tools, from tools designed specifically for businesses to tools for the average at-home user.
Major players in the IT marketplace, including Apple and Oracle (which closed its purchase of Sun Microsystems in January 2010), are embracing the idea of hybrid-utility computing with hardware, IT devices, and software designed for real-world use. Practical applications extend to laptops, iPads, iPhones, smartphones, or any other Internet-enabled device. Digital video recorders (DVRs) are another good example of hybrid-computing in action.
Hybrid-Utility Computing is the Next Generation of IT Services
As more and more practical uses are realized, hybrid-utility computing will continue to gain momentum as the technology services solution for businesses and individual users. With the combination of best practices from on-demand SaaS, cloud computing and virtualization, hybrid-utility computing is the latest evolution of IT services and solutions.
Other References:
Cloud Computing and Virtualization Impact
Jeannie Meagher Chapman - Jeannie's love of writing began in high school and developed in college, where she was writer, editor, and proofreader for her ...
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