The Feds, not Forrester, Are Developing Better Definitions for Cloud Computing

Written by Alex Williams / October 13, 2009 11:57 PM / 9 Comments

Several months ago, the federal government drafted definitions for cloud computing. It was generally recognized as doing some excellent work.

The definitions are a work in progress. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) last updated the definitions on October 7. The latest version is available for download. It's free.

Forrester Research says we need better definitions for cloud computing services. Principal analyst James Staten maintains that vendors are "cloudwashing," providing their own sets of definitions that are just confusing customers.

He outlines 11 cloud computing services that he places in three categories:

Rented software
Application services that allow developers to build platform
Infrastructure services

The problem is that analyst groups like Forrester just make it more confusing when they make up their own definitions that really are only meant for paying customers. It just turns into a circus. We guess Forrester believes that they are helping the process but it feels more like they are looking for a way to put their stamp on how we all define cloud computing.

We do not have access to the Forrester report that has more about these three categories and eleven services. It is available for download. The cost is $1749.

NIST is not super-aggressive about promoting its definitions. And the comment system is pretty archaic. You can subscribe to an email list to provide feedback. If there was a more public face to the process, the definition game would be a bit less confusing for everyone.

In the meantime, for all of our benefit, we'd like to share some of the latest definitions that have been drafted by NIST:

Definition of Cloud Computing:

Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. This cloud model promotes availability and is composed of five essential characteristics, three service models, and four deployment models.

Service Models:
Cloud Software as a Service (SaaS). The capability provided to the consumer is to use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure. The applications are accessible from various client devices through a thin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based email). The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage, or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exception of limited user-specific application configuration settings.

Cloud Platform as a Service (PaaS). The capability provided to the consumer is to deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquired applications created using programming languages and tools supported by the provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, or storage, but has control over the deployed applications and possibly application hosting environment configurations.

Cloud Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). The capability provided to the consumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and other fundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy and run arbitrary software, which can include operating systems and applications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage, deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networking components (e.g., host firewalls).

Deployment Models:

Private cloud. The cloud infrastructure is operated solely for an organization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party and may exist on premise or off premise.

Community cloud. The cloud infrastructure is shared by several organizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns (e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and compliance considerations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third party and may exist on premise or off premise.

Public cloud. The cloud infrastructure is made available to the general public or a large industry group and is owned by an organization selling cloud services.

Hybrid cloud. The cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or more clouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities but are bound together by standardized or proprietary technology that enables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting for load-balancing between clouds).

Comments

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Simply said NIST took the defintions from Forrester Research and as far as I am concerned. James Staten last year in May at the Forrester Event predicted that Cloud Competing would be the next ( r)evolution. Why because you can do more with less, as simple as IT is.

Posted by: Tom Verkerk | October 14, 2009 1:27 AM

I agree with Tom. I don't see anything different in NIST's definitions. I happened to figure this out through Wikipedia and through interactions with on-demand service providers.
The bigger question that seemed to emerge from the cloud architecture was more about who owned how much of that infrastructure, what should remain on site and what can go off site, and how one makes that decision.

Posted by: Ashutosh D | October 14, 2009 2:40 AM

Quite clear definition and classification. Briefly and clearly.
I think they work well, because their terms should be clear to all, they are for people from different industries.

Posted by: Iflexion | October 14, 2009 6:34 AM

Thanks for the shout out Alex and for bringing more attention to the contentious issue of cloud computing definitions. While Forrester research reports are created exclusively for our clients, our definition is freely available:

A standardized IT capability (services, software, or infrastructure) delivered via Internet technologies in a pay-per-use, self-service way.

We first published this definition back in March 2008 in the report, “Is Cloud Computing Ready for the Enterprise,” and have held to that published definition ever since (in fact it has been leveraged in multiple Forrester reports, speeches at industry events, news articles, blog posts and tweets since that original publication). Our definition was also used by NIST and several other Federal government agencies as a resource used to create their definition.

One of the key values Forrester Research provides to its clients is helping them navigate the technology trends and delineate what is a new type of technology and what is simply last year’s technology in new clothing (what I call “cloud-washing”). Thus it was imperative for us to publish our definition early and we have since been striving to provide clear taxonomy and categorization of cloud services, as shown in our latest Forrester Tech Radar.

In this Tech Radar we lauded NIST for their definition and contrary to your statement do not believe we need the “circus” of more or better definitions at this stage. Rather we believe we need broader recognition of what is and what isn’t cloud computing to get past the marketing hype and make it easier for customers to identify and then consume these valuable new service offerings. That’s why we’ve stuck with our definition since 2008 and are glad to see NIST sticking to theirs.

James Staten, Principal Analyst, Forrester Research
IT Infrastructure & Operations

Posted by: James Staten | October 14, 2009 10:54 AM

The NIST definition (which apparently may have been influenced by Forrester...or others) is quite good. It definitely has provided a level of clarity for federal agencies and departments that had not, prior to the arrival of the new administration, ventured onto the cloud for technology solutions.

Posted by: Nitin Badjatia | October 14, 2009 11:00 AM

WOW! What a great topic. I agree that Cloud Computing has an element of marketecture spin on it which any technology story is prone to have. However, the simple and elegant capability...and actually the commercial viability of the capability...to deliver complex business apps without building out a server farm, without complex load-balancing devices and software, and with a focus on business value and not on the technology stack upon which the solution is based is really the secret sauce of the Cloud.

Posted by: passport holder | October 14, 2009 10:08 PM

It's great to see the lines being drawn between the different kinds of service models so clearly. In the past, SaaS, PaaS and IaaS have all been buzz-words themselves, so debunking some of the cloud confusion by explaining how cloud services materialize in distinct forms is important for providers and customers alike ... It's important to start speaking the same language when we talking about "the cloud."

Posted by: The Planet - Kevin | October 15, 2009 8:18 AM

If you want to see a cloud (as in word cloud, generated by Wordle) of the cloud definition, see:
http://changingway.org/2009/10/15/ive-looked-at-cloud-those-ways/

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