Real Cloud

Sure it is. While you can find many attempts to define cloud computing (e.g. Wikipedia), actually there is no common definition of Cloud computing and every vendor tries to use it in marketing just because they think it sells. There are vendors who try to sell you the same stuff they've sold for the last decade just putting the cloud computing buzzword into their marketing slogans. 

We are different. Our vision is to offer Real Cloud computing delivered products and services that allow our customers to unleash their productivity and strengthen their IT security in ways never seen before.

So the question still holds - what is Real Cloud computing? We believe that Real Cloud (and any Real Cloud enabled product or service) has to satisfy all of the Eight Laws of the Real Cloud. 

Cloud computing and cloud based services/products should be available just like electricity - whenever you need them, just press the switch and it lights up! And the same is true in reverse - when you don't need it, just switch it off. No commitments mandated and no catches - pure availability on demand. This of course doesn't mean that prepaid and volume based pricing is not an option for the Real Cloud computing. What it means that you can choose if you want deeper commitments with this particular provider, but you should also have an option of pure consumption on demand with no strings attached in case if you want to withdraw.

Just like with law No.1 - you pay only for what you use and while you are using it. It's that simple - when you stop using the service or product, you stop paying. 

Actually we believe that Real Cloud computing is about nothing but OPEX - operational expenditure as in rule No.2. Cloud service should not ask to make capital expenditure to build significant assets just to use it. Sure, you most definitely will need to have an Internet connection to use that service (and most probably you will need some CAPEX to get one), but that's about it. You start using the service on demand and pay for what you use. If you decide to exit, you are free to choose so and don't have significant assets on hand.

This is actually more serious than it sounds. It means that you can launch new products and services of your own, backed with Cloud delivered services, with less risk. You don't need to buy this new IT system just to get started risking to have just another nice looking box on your shelf in case if your project doesn't run as smooth as expected. In this sense Cloud computing brings you more freedom to innovate with your own products even if it is only about more advanced customer relationship management service that you use in the Cloud.

We all know that security and availability costs. It costs a lot. It costs also for the Real Cloud computing, but a fraction of cost you are used to see in a classic IT environment. For the Real Cloud, security and availability should be built into the service and taken as inseparable part of the service delivered. 

It might not sound like a big deal first. But think from another perspective. Real Cloud computing gives you ability to launch your own products globally faster, less expensive and with less risk. 

It's great to offer some product (even it's about nothing IT related at all - let's assume you are selling the Carrots) for international audience but it usually also means that no longer you have a luxury of broad maintenance windows for your IT systems (because customers in a different timezone want to buy your product exactly at the time when you were used to do IT maintenance) and each second of down time is about a lost money and decreased customer satisfaction. Real Cloud computing solves this for you. It won't grow the Carrot for you, but it will deliver those IT services you need to sell the Carrot once Mother Nature has nurtured it for you.

And even if you sell Carrots, your prime asset is still your employees. Carrot won't sell itself. It won't get to the customer on it's own. Your employees will make it happen. The more productive they are, the more Carrots you will be able to push through the pipe (assuming you are in business just like most of us - if only you can find more customers and ensure proper logistics and administrative support, you can always find ways to increase your output - grow more Carrots or rebrand carrots from your neighbor). This means that Real Cloud computing should not only claim to increase productivity of your people, it should deliver on it.

Face it - when you start some project you never know how it will work out. You never start if you think it will fail, but anyway it's better to have a clear exit strategy with no residual CAPEX locked in assets and no exit fees whatsoever. 

If you are like us and agree with these 4 basic principles, try testing the next "cloud" offering and see if you can confirm all 4 laws for it. Actually, we would be glad to see your feedback - do you share our theory of the Cloud and how various "cloud" offerings stand the test of the 4 laws?