Connecting in the Cloud

Consider these questions as you review the examples below. Try the quiz from the left menu: What Have You Learned? after you’ve spent some time with this section.

The video below explains what cloud computing is all about. Cloud computing is the result of several converging trends that have changed how we use and pay for software applications. Review the Think Before You Ink section to learn how to protect your data in the cloud.

Video created by rPath courtesy of Pentasoft

What is cloud computing?

If you have ever used Gmail, Google Docs or Dropbox, then you have encountered the cloud. Applications like these are not installed on your computer. Rather, they are available remotely on virtual servers that you access through your web browser.

Advantages of the cloud:

• Independence: Files, photos, music and data become available to you anywhere where you have an Internet connection and access to a web browser. This means you don’t have to be on your computer, in one location, to access your stuff.
• Maintenance: Updating and improving the software is easy and it’s not your problem. It’s done by the software provider and takes effect immediately once completed.
• Cost: You pay only for the computing power or applications that you use, when you use them. Very often, they are free.

Disadvantages of the cloud:

• Risk: Software and infrastructure on the web are not error free. Servers can fail.
• Privacy: Many social media companies and software as service providers operate in the United States. Provisions of the Patriot Act apply to these companies and their (read: your) data regardless of where it originates. The Patriot Act, when invoked, permits the U.S. government to access the social media content and personally identifying information without the end users’ knowledge or consent.

• Privacy: Remember that Canadian law does not protect data stored by US software companies. No matter where the servers hosting your data are located, if the company operating them is based in the US (think Google, Microsoft, Facebook, Amazon, et al.), it is subject to the Patriot Act.
• Reliability and Security: Whether the server storing your data is down the hall or in another country, all are at risk to downtime. Relying exclusively on Google Docs to store your presentation or thesis could mean it’s not available at a critical moment. Having a backup never hurts.