CREATING THE HYBRID CLOUD, 2012
Published: 02/02/2012
Description
Hype surrounding the cloud has been building steadily over the past 3-4 years and is now at massive levels. However, the reality of limitations has set in and many governments interested in utilizing cloud computing have found that security concerns, a lack of industry standards, and divergent vendor/buyer philosophies about contract language greatly limit the potential of the cloud. This report examines the key drivers behind the 'hybrid' cloud as a transitional consumption phase toward more robust cloud uptake: Formal and informal hybrid cloud definitions and deployment models Characteristics of actual hybrid cloud acquisitions High profile and indicative hybrid cloud opportunities and implementation in the state and local market The hybrid cloud represents a generational process of the long-term migration from fully on-premise to maximal off-premise (i.e., predominantly cloud-based infrastructure). At this point, emerging hybrid cloud uptake has only just begun to displace on-premise infrastructure options. While hybrid cloud options remain technologically disruptive in terms of facilitating a long-term transition toward a service-oriented architecture (SOA), the ROI is uncertain in the minds of most potential buyers and there is no driving policy imperative for adoption.