"There is a move to build more cloud-like capabilities into virtual environments, such as standard instance sizes and software stacks," noted Andrew Hillier, CTO and co-founder of CiRBA, Inc., in this exclusive Q&A with Cloud Expo Conference Chair Jeremy Geelan. "This is a step toward cloud," Hillier continued, "and is typically very effective, as it provides many of the benefits without the need to go to a full self-service model."

Cloud Computing Journal: How fast will the last remaining barriers to enterprise-wide cloud adoption melt away - are secure public clouds feasible, for example, or only private ones?

Andrew Hillier: Secure public clouds are feasible from a technical perspective, but the question is whether they are feasible from a legal, risk management and general "control" perspective. For example, it is possible to structure legal contracts that guarantee that no customer data will be exposed, but such agreements are almost worthless if such data actually ends up being exposed. In such situations there may be financial penalties, but no amount of money can undo what was done, and there may simply be no remedies for the damages incurred. Arguments such as this are very compelling to those charged with managing the risk, reputation and even brands of large organizations, and may prove to be the biggest impediment to public cloud adoption.

Of course, this concern is also a strong motivation for building private clouds. Many organizations are pursuing this strategy in order to gain cloud-like efficiency and agility, while at the same time honoring all necessary corporate policies and constraints. There is also a move to build more cloud-like capabilities into virtual environments, such as standard instance sizes and software stacks. This is a step toward cloud, and is typically very effective, as it provides many of the benefits without the need to go to a full self-service model. Fortunately there are very few barriers to leveraging these approaches, and they are a likely and necessary first step on the journey to full cloud adoption.

Cloud Computing Journal: How much of an influence on cloud adoption is the U.S. Government's continuing support of cloud strategies for all government agencies?

Hillier: It is clearly a substantial endorsement of cloud computing, but its overall effect on the market remains to be seen. On the one hand, it sends the message that cloud is ready for prime time, but this needs to be proven by actually showing a consistent track record of success. If it turns out in the end that these strategies only succeed if private or internal clouds are used, then it will be a qualified success for cloud on the whole. Worse, if there are any missteps or high-profile failures along the way, then it could potentially set back the cause of cloud computing. This risk can be mitigated by ensuring that the policies governing cloud migrations are clearly spelled out and agreed upon across the agencies, so every group isn't left to re-invent the wheel with respect to dealing with security, data sensitivity, SLAs, etc..

Cloud Computing Journal: What impact does the arrival of Microsoft, Oracle, Dell, IBM, Cisco and the other giants have on the smaller cloud players?

Hillier: The arrival of the big organizations will likely force the smaller players to differentiate themselves in some way, as they won't have the economies of scale to compete on price alone. Unfortunately, this is not a good dynamic for the industry, as it runs counter to the principle of commoditization, which is a hallmark of cloud computing. By having fragmented pools of capacity that are tailored to specific niche requirements, transparency and mobility are reduced, and the market will more resemble a modified form of outsourcing than a true cloud ecosystem. In other words, if all the smaller players duck for cover by offering specialized private cloud services, then at some point they cease to be true cloud providers.

Cloud Computing Journal: What can Cloud Expo attendees expect to see from you in Santa Clara?

Hillier: We are excited to share CiRBA DCI-Control Version 7.0 with the attendees of Cloud Expo. Version 7.0 provides unprecedented control over risks and efficiency through a single, intuitive view of all levels of server infrastructure including VMs, hosts, clusters and environments. Our intuitive new user interface, the CiRBA Control Console, enables infrastructure managers to determine in a single glance which resources are appropriately placed, configured and provisioned and which are at risk at the VM, host, cluster and environment level. Through the new Action System, CiRBA also automates the execution of recommended actions required to address identified risks and inefficiencies, with integrations to third-party management systems such as VMware vCenter and VMware vCloud Director. Together, CiRBA's new Control Console and Action System greatly simplify and streamline infrastructure management processes by quickly communicating status and detailing precise actions required to optimize IT infrastructure and mitigate risk in accordance with an organization's operational policies.

For a preview, check out a few videos on our website including some commentary on our new product (from me), a demo, and a short video explaining how organizations can benefit from the solution.