“Computing” (apart from the Cloud) can mean different things. In terms of the stack, there are infrastructure, platform, application, and client layers, which all represent varied aspects of computing. “Cloud” also has varied meanings, but the theme most agree on is the abstraction or virtualization of lower level infrastructure.

When each of the different computing layers are moved to the Cloud, there are naturally different types of clouds. The article http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_computing seems to do justice to this complexity.

So, I don’t think it is accurate to say that the Infrastructure/Platform Cloud (Azure) IS Cloud computing, and Multitennant SaaS is not. They simply represent different types of computing at different layers of the stack. Each one virtualizes the layers below them, so that users have less to worry about. Multitennant SaaS is at the application level of the stack, while Azure and other similar Platforms are at the lower levels. Each one has their advantages, and I’m sure they are both going to grow in the future.

Regards,
Vijay

The true essence of cloud is about scalability, and utilizing resources as needed. You can argue that a per-user licensed concept like CRM is anathema to what the cloud promises. What I mean is – the cloud is a delivery platform for either computing resources or applications. The apps themselves are NOT clouds or cloud computing. There is nothing you can do with Salesforce.com (or any other SaaS CRM) that you cannot do in any other environment – actually you have less power in a monolithic multi-tenant cloud environment because you are fixed to the vendor’s resources, SLA and terms of service. The cloud is a limiter, not an enabler here.

Now, if you take a product built for the open cloud such as SugarCRM – now you have choice. Choice in deployment options (public cloud, private cloud, vendor-hosted, partner-hosted etc.) – and you have various access levels therein. And, when needs change, you can move from one cloud environment to another. That limits risk, and opens up options for greater (or less) access, control, costs, as needed. None of the old multi-tenant SaaS products can do this – as they are tethered to that singular, limited environment. It is not a “bad” thing necessarily – but it is simply a limitation and NOT indicative of the openness and portability I associate in my definition of true cloud computing.

How does Microsoft fit in? They are creating an environment that is well suited for application deployment, development, or both. Instead of taking a Salesforce.com lock-in approach and saying “only Microsoft apps are going on Azure!” they realize the value of true, open clouds and are saying “come one, come all!” because it is the flexible, scalable environment (not the lock-in app strategy) that will enable the cloud concept to thrive among businesses of all sizes.

To put it more shortly: Clouds are operating environments that enable users to either scale compute power or deploy applications without having any infrastructure in-house.

Multi-tenant SaaS is NOT cloud computing, it is just a delivery model for static, traditional applications.

What is your definition of cloud computing?

Vijay