Starting out in the Cloud

People love acronyms, and it’s all too apparent with cloud computing software.
Maybe it’s the novelty of the industry (people love writing stories about how everything is ‘going to the cloud’). Or maybe it’s the long names.

It is very evident that cloud computing providers are going to be huge in the near future. For many companies, moving computing to the cloud will offer a cost competitive advantage to traditional computing methods as noted in Ben’s recent post.

Before jumping straight to SaaS, it is important to understand the basics of the cloud.  Between the server and the client there are three levels of cloud computing software. Each level acts similar to the levels of traditional computing, from storage space and hardware to platform and software.

At the lowest level is Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), which provides storage and a base on which platforms and applications function. Above that, the next layer of cloud computing is where the computing platform runs, or the PaaS layer. The top layer is Software as a Service (SaaS) or the actual programs that manage, scale, and utilize the data on the cloud.

These lines are often blurred and many companies offer products that span multiple layers, but regardless, it can be important to understand the most fundamental layer: IaaS.

While Amazon and Rackspace are big names in the industry, here are some excellent solutions that may not be quite as well known:

1. Cirrhus9: This provider takes the top spot on the list because of its versatile user controls. Operated through an API, command line, graphical interface or a web-based control panel, this service offers more options than other cloud computing providers.
2. Savvis: Founded in 1995, Savvis is a veteran of the industry. With flexible month-to-month payment plans and a free file hosting service, this service is a safe bet for your money. Savvis is operated through an API, graphic user interface or a web-based control panel. Although it does offer backup storage, it does not offer a firewall for those users who rank protection as a top concern.
3. Appcore: Appcore is the most secure of this list of three cloud computing service providers. It offers a range of free features, from firewall to data encryption and intrusion detection. Plus, as a paid feature, users can get backup storage. Users operate Appcore through a web-based control panel and have a very wide range of protection and OS options and services available.

These three companies all offer great foundations to any cloud computing setup.  If you do not plan on managing the data on the cloud yourself, make sure to first ensure that your management company supports the infrastructure that you choose, because changing between infrastructures can be a huge hassle.

For more objective and data-driven comparisons, be sure to visit FindTheBest, where you can compare anything from cloud backup software to antivirus to tablets.
By FindTheBest Editorial
Tags: findthebesteditorial, SaaS beginnings