Compare and contrast cloud computing with more traditional client-server computing? What is novel about cloud computing as a concept?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

In this chapter, cloud computing is defined in terms of: (1) supporting Internet-based services (whether application, storage or other computing-based services), where everything is a service; and (2) dispensing with local data storage or application software. (1) is completely consistent with client-server computing and indeed client-server concepts support the implementation of cloud computing. (2) highlights one of the key elements of cloud computing in moving to a world where you can dispense with local services. This level of ambition may or may not be there in client-server computing. As a final comment, cloud computing promotes a view of computing as a utility and this is linked to often novel business models whereby services can be rented rather than being owned, leading to a more flexible and elastic approach to service provision and acquisition. This is a key distinction in cloud computing and represents the key novelty in cloud computing.
To summarise, cloud computing is partially a technical innovation in terms of the level of ambition, but largely a business innovation in terms of viewing computing services as a utility.