Cloud Storage

Looking at Cloud Storage

Detailing its specific elements and function(s)

When we refer to cloud storage, we're really talking about storing and retrieving data for businesses. While cloud storage for consumers is certainly important, it is the business side of cloud computing that is driving development forward, which in turn, gives way to other possibilities for average consumers. Larger organizations in particular, have a desperate need for large scale cloud storage solutions. More often than not, it is the promise of extensive storage capabilities that draws these larger companies into the cloud computing arena.

Specifics of cloud storage, what characterizes it?

Gartner states that cloud storage consists of or comprises the following characteristics:

From the Gartner hype cycle:

'….pay-per-use model, software-agnostic, reservation-less provisioning and provider-owned; it is also frequently geographically separated from the servers that are using it.'

..But what does this all mean exactly? Let's break it down.

• Pay-per-use model - As its name implies, cloud storage models are often built upon similar premises as other types of service models offered by cloud providers. One of the most recognizable and prominent among these models is the pay per use model. In this model, clients actually pay for the amount(s) of data stored and/or transferred. This allows for a 'sliding scale' to be placed into effect; companies can basically save a lot of money because they're only paying for what they use.
• Software agnostic - This term implies that the storage database will accept, integrate and function with any type of operating system, application or runtime software that the client seeks to use with it. To put it simply, most cloud storage scenarios offer extreme versatility to its users. We're talking about top of the line cross platform capabilities here.
• Reservation-less provisioning - By now most are aware of the seemingly endless void of storage and resources that can be requisitioned via cloud computing; it certainly gives off the impression that there's nothing that can't be done. Reservation-less provisioning simply implies that there is no finite limit defined to prevent a client from requisitioning new resources or provisioning new storage space. Obviously, whenever a client signs up with a cloud storage provider, their particular needs and contingencies will be calculated. This allows the provider to offer the client a more than adequate range of storage space in terms of both the low and high end of the data use spectrum.
• Provider owned - This is a fairly straight forward term here; it implies that those companies that are providing cloud computing services are the ones that actually own and lease the cloud storage space. Most cloud storage is simply another set of resources that have been added to an existing SaaS or PaaS model.

In addition to these characteristics, it is also worth mentioning that most cloud storage scenarios involve keeping the hardware used for storage completely separated (geographically) from the other cloud resources that interact with it. So it's entirely plausible that the central hardware stack for a cloud computing network could be located in the US, with the data storage hardware being located in let's say, Canada for example. Not only is this a great concept in terms of safety and security, but the technology itself also allows cloud computing providers to leverage potential resources from virtually anywhere on Earth!

How cloud storage functions; now and in the future

Currently, cloud storage is frequently implemented as a security redundancy, or perhaps used to handle non critical processes and assets. The simple fact that cloud computing is still more or less in its infancy is preventing components like cloud storage from being adapted and used more widely, in a variety of ways. Right now, most businesses are attracted to cloud storage because it offers them virtually limitless and cheap storage that is also secure and encrypted.

In the future, there may very well be a more comprehensive set of standards that will define the parameters of cloud storage. Using the current or existing models as a reference point; it is unclear how well suited most cloud storage is to adaptation to increasingly complex and varied cloud applications, operating systems and/or runtime components. Current vendors in the cloud storage market are seeking or employing ways of allowing clients to accurately calculate their proposed data usages so that even more competitive and affordable cloud storage can be experienced.

Once (or perhaps if) cloud computing makes the transition from fringe to mainstream, the clearly outlined benefits of cloud storage will become extremely obvious to everyone. The current limitation(s) regarding widespread usage of cloud storage is more a reflection of everyone's viewpoint of cloud computing itself. Most people have yet to grasp a true understanding of what's even possible in the world of cloud computing, and the same can definitely be said about cloud storage as well.