Cloud Computing - Not a Substitute for Proper Planning

"How Should Companies Prepare for When the Cloud Goes Down?" was the topic of discussion on ebizQ's Cloud Computing forum today. As this SearchCIO article, Time to lay down the cloud computing law for uptime, points out, it's when -- not if -- the cloud goes down. So how should you prepare for the inevitably of the cloud going down?

I agree... with the following clarification:

The technology might be new but the problem is NOT.

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BC/DR) have always been risk management considerations... they were considerations before clouds, are still consdierations with clouds, and will remain considerations even after clouds.

Wikipedia defines DR as "the process, policies and procedures related to preparing for recovery or continuation of technology infrastructure critical to an organization after a natural or human-induced disaster."

DR is a subset of business continuity as BC involves planning for keeping all aspects of a business functioning in the midst of disruptive events, while DR focuses on the IT or technology systems that support business functions.

So, in short, Clouds DO NOT eliminate the need for proper BC/DR planning and testing. Don't make the mistake of confusing or blurring the lines between a technology (cloud) and legitimate business issues (survival and profitability).

* Originally posted on the ebizQ Cloud Computing Forum in August 2010.

CISM Results are in... and I PASSED

After waiting for 61 grueling days, I finally received the results for the CISM exam I took on June 12, 2010.

All that matters now is that I PASSED! :)

I feel even better because I have accomplished what I had mentioned in my post on January 29, 2010 where I had shared the news of my passing the CISA exam.

No more resolutions though for I'm all exam'ed out... for now!

It's a bird, it's a plane.... no, it's a CLOUD

Will Cloud Computing save the day or rather the economy was the question that recently came up on the ebizQ Cloud Computing forum.

As I understand it the primary reasons behind our current economic conditions are:

1. The burst of the housing bubble.
2. Questionable ethical practices of lenders with rampant subprime loans coupled with Mortgage Backed Securities and Collateralized debt objects of such loans.
3. Fiscal irresponsibility of borrowers.

Can anyone say "Cloud Computing" to the above?

I certainly CAN NOT. :)

Well, Cloud Computing fans need not despair for even Superman is powerless in front of Kryptonite!

* Originally posted on the ebizQ Cloud Computing Forum in July 2010.

My Podcast - What the Government Has Learned From Cloud Computing: Talking with Tarak Modi

Listen to my latest podcast What the Government Has Learned From Cloud Computing: Talking with Tarak Modi.

Feel free to send comments. I look forward to your feedback and suggestions for future podcasts

Enterprise Architecture - What's in a name?

"What is the Key to Effective Enterprise Architecture?", asks Peter Schooff, an editor at ebizQ. His question comes in conjunction with an article on the CIO Dashboard titled "16 Enterprise Architecture Strategies Learned the Hard Way" as well as Adrian Grigoriu's entry in his blog "Enterprise Architecture Matters".

The question generated quite a bit of interest on the forum. Answers varied from the keys being executive sponsorship to defining what "enterprise" means to convincing the "non technical guys" the value of EA.

All valid points.

So, what's my take on this?

The key to success - Don't call it Enterprise Architecture!

Seriously, the term "Enterprise Architecture" has become so overloaded, over used, and convoluted that I have actually been in places where the term EA was banned from usage and using the term resulted in instant loss of credibility!

* Originally posted on the ebizQ SOA Forum on July 15, 2010