Cloud Computing and Its Impact on Business

Cloud computing is something that few businesses and companies can now ignore. As more and more business is now done either via the Internet, or with the help of certain Internet based applications, it is becoming a vital part of business if not a new business model. Many experts in the IT industry have stated that cloud computing is the most important advancement in the industry for decades, and the most revolutionary.

Cloud computing is not something just restrained to a small number of industries, like large mainframe systems were in the early days. It doesn't matter what industry you are in, cloud computing has something to offer you as it changes the model of business from paying for a service based on its cost to paying based on value received. This is what is meant by revolutionary.

Some of the biggest and most well known companies in the world have embraced this technology, to the point they use the metaphor in their advertising. While the product sold has nothing to do with cloud computing, advertising is riding the wave.

As a quick example, you simply need to look to Amazon, Google and Microsoft for verification. More and more companies are developing streams of products that use cloud computing as their foundation. Such examples included office applications from Google, SkyDrive from Microsoft as well as a host of other applications that are in development (or beta mode).

Benefits to All Sizes of Businesses

The reason that this technology is being embraced so quickly is that businesses can pay for capacity when they need it and then pay less when they need less – this is called elasticity. Businesses can use the capabilities of platforms, software and applications on an as-need basis via the Internet. This is a huge advantage that could not be forecast just a few years ago.

This type of platform availability is known as PaaS (platform as a service). Trends suggest it is going to keep growing. With this type of service in place, it seems that more and more businesses have opted to move their transactions online. However with this move there are certain issues that arise.

Issues Connected with the Cloud

Security issues are something that many companies are worried about. This goes beyond SSIDs and SHTTP. When sensitive information such as personal health records are being handled on the cloud, how does a company identify when security has been breached?

Another issue revolves around the need to keep all applications and software available 24/7 and performing at a high level. How does IT manage transactions in the cloud? How does IT identify if problems are developing, or have already occurred?

These two issues alone make it important that any business that wants to use the cloud include as part of the IT system design a business transaction management component that will also manage the performance of the applications running on the cloud and in the datacenter. It is the only way to embrace the cloud safely, migrate there in phases and experience the necessary reliability to keep the business moving forward.

The most effective solutions are those designed to work with both the cloud and non-cloud IT structures used by the business. When every aspect of the IT environment is embraced by the BTM solution it means all business transactions are visible at all times and on all levels of the IT environment. It is also imperative that the business transaction management solution handles such issues as deep-dive transaction tracking, message tracking, application performance management, operational monitors, and capacity planning.

Nastel's AutoPilot Business Transaction Management

Nastel's AutoPilot business transaction management solution meets these requirements and more. AutoPilot enables a 360° situational awareness of both operational and transactional data across all tiers of IT infrastructure. It does this by integrating a complex event processing (CEP) engine into its design. This means that inference to prevent cascading problems is a core component.

The predictive capabilities of AutoPilot's CEP design empowers improved business transaction performance. It also guarantees that events that occur on the cloud are as traceable as those within a traditional IT setting. Transaction tracing, automated root-cause isolation, performance analysis and determination of business impact are all there to improve business process efficiencies and service levels, while reducing cost and managing risk.

With AutoPilot in place, a business can rest assured that it is maintaining optimum service levels while eliminating hidden costs, or "stealth waste," in business processes whether embracing cloud computing of not. A business can also scale AutoPilot to fit its specific needs so adding business transaction management truly helps the bottom line.