IT@Intel Client Blog

Does Thin = Cloud? Not necessarily

catherine.spence@intel.com — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:33:03 GMT

In a recent TechRepublic article, Jason Hiner asks: Are Netbooks quietly driving us to Thin Clients and Cloud Computing?

Of course, the article is primarily about netbooks and how wonderful they are. No argument here. But the question of thin versus cloud has popped up in an interesting way. Thin is important because of the nature of the netbook but what does that have to do with cloud computing? Not all cloud applications are thin.

Perhaps the logic is as follows:

If cloud then we are delivering services over the internet
If internet then we must be using a browser
If browser then the computing must be taking place in the backend with only the UI distributed to the client device
Therefore all cloud devices must be thin

So what about rich clients? We happen to think that they are perfectly suited to cloud computing. Maybe our latest whitepaper on Better Together: Rich Clients and Cloud Computing can help set the record straight – or at least prompt some alternate thinking.

Cloud & Consumerization

catherine.spence@intel.com — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 16:57:07 GMT

As we abstract IT services and increase the use of SaaS and Cloud Computing, we contend with the force of consumerization. We are seeing a fundamental shift from enterprise focus to internet; and a shift from standardized offerings to user selection and personalization in choice of applications and client devices.

How can we improve agility and manage emerging complexity while balancing quality of service with innovation for different types of applications? For some, large scale abstraction leads to efficiencies for commoditized functions, whether they are hosted in house or outsourced. Other applications benefit from a more ad-hoc approach and might be more easily sourced from the cloud. IT will not be successful if we too tightly control services. Instead we must create a framework for our users to make smart choices.

Great Debate: Security versus Productivity

catherine.spence@intel.com — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 14:17:33 GMT

Background

Traditional corporate information is stored in highly secure repositories within enterprise boundaries. New forms of data are being created in emerging mediums such as blogs and wikis. Cloud computing and network-based systems offer new venues for processing and storage.

The Big Question

What are good ways to balance the potential productivity advantages of open collaborative computing versus the data security needs of the organization? Consider several examples:

Does having access to social media make you more productive? Is it secure?
Is having access to raw corporate data more productive than secure, specialized tools?
Does IT need more control or less? What new tools and/or methods are required, supporting a more open environment?

These questions may never see wide consensus and the decision is crucial to every CIO. We will use your feedback for IT analysis.

Make Your Opinion Heard

Become one of the first to test MIT's new collective intelligence tool called Deliberatorium. Join the fun in two simple steps:

1. Create your account and log in to the MIT Deliberatorium

2. Add your perspective to the discussion

View, rate or comment other author's posts using pros & cons
Add your own ideas for new solutions and issues

This discussion topic will be available until September 29, 2008, and then results will be shared on Intel.com. Feel free to forward this invite to any interested parties.

It's Cool to Argue

Research shows that a large group of diverse individuals tends to get the right answer because they bring different perspectives into the discussion. Help Intel and MIT learn more by participating in this web-based argument.

For More Information

Watch the ten minute video clip for a concise overview.