All valid points. Especially the below quoted one is very valid.

“Always assume the power will go off. So backup all your data continually. Especially true for Amazon!”

But i also want to highlight the good side of utility computing here. Though utility computing may not be suitable for general purpose or data critical applications at this point in time but, It is very useful for computing intensive applications which has a definite state. A classic example could be our “Payroll experience with AWS”.

I believe that the utility computing has given enormous power interms of computing and we should reap the benifit appropriately.

You make some good points there. I agree; “always assume the power will go off! Back up your data!”

That’s about as good as IT advice gets.

We’ve recently had to move our ‘cloud’ away from a UK provider, because we were simply taking down their system and highlighted a number of bugs. But fortunately our code was designed to ensure we weren’t tied to a single provider.

Thats the key to the success. Always assume the power will go off. So backup all your data continually. Especially true for Amazon!

But cloud computing is here for 2008 and it can be relied on, but you have to take all the usual necessary precautions and simply can’t throw out all the rules we’ve been playing by for over 20 years just because we are buying per-CPU now instead of per rack height.

Thanks for the comments.

I especially like your litmus test question – very good! I too would feel extremely uncomfortable with my banking data in the cloud right now.

JC

The question I am using as my litmus test for when cloud computing becomes truly mainstream is “would I trust my bank to put my accounts into the cloud”. Today, the answer to that is a resounding “no!”