Frost & Sullivan: 16 key attributes of cloud computing
Andrew Milroy
07/04/2011

The term, cloud computing is being used to describe a continually growing list of computing products and services. Indeed, many people use the term to include on-premise IT implementations, sometimes known as ‘private clouds’. This can create confusion.

A great way to simplify the concept of cloud computing is to list the key attributes of cloud computing using non technical terminology that non IT specialists can understand. Buyers of IT products and services can use such a list to determine where their computing resources sit on the cloud computing spectrum. They can also use it as a roadmap to determine what needs to be undertaken or negotiated in order to reap the benefits of cloud computing.

The 16 key attributes of cloud computing are as follows:

1. Cloud computing offerings are services, not products

2. Cloud computing allows customers to increase and decrease the number of users that have access to services, exponentially

3. Cloud computing allows customers to provision new services to users instantly or within hours

4. Cloud computing turns computing resources into operational expenses rather than capital expenditure

5. Cloud computing enables organisations to pay for computing resources based on consumption of the resources in question

6. Cloud computing allows multiple, diverse customers to share computing resources

7. Cloud computing service enhancements, such as updates, are automatic

8. Cloud computing resources can be accessed using any Internet-enabled device, from any location

9. Cloud computing integrates security into services

10. Cloud computing eliminates the need for support contracts

11. Cloud computing costs less than on-premise alternatives

12. Cloud computing allows the purchase of services without human interaction

13. Cloud computing integrates automatic backup into services

14. Cloud computing services are delivered from remote locations

15. Cloud computing services are delivered by a third party

16. Cloud computing services are delivered via the Internet or via an IP VPN

A spectrum of attributes like the one above allows us to illustrate where a service fits with respect to cloud computing. For example, services provided by public cloud vendors such as Salesforce.com, Netsuite and SuccessFactors satisfy most of these attributes. Hence, it seems reasonable to refer to their offerings as cloud computing services.

‘Private clouds’ typically satisfy less of these attributes. Hence, such offerings can be mapped on a different part of the overall spectrum.

This list can help organisations to clearly explain, in simple, non technical terms, what they mean by cloud computing.

- Andrew Milroy, Vice President, ICT Research, Asia Pacific, Frost & Sullivan.

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