Cloud computing is on everyone’s lips: as an innovative technology, as the next
generation of the Internet, as a fundamental transformation of the entire IT landscape,
and as an auspicious opportunity to introduce new business ideas. But what is
actually at the heart of this notion?
As a result of the multi-faceted viewpoints and the interests expressed by the
various stakeholders, cloud computing is perceived as a rather fuzzy concept. It is
our ambition to try and clear some of the haze surrounding the cloud computing
concept and thus pave the way both for its successful application and for advanced
research work and innovation.
In only a few months, we were able to compile the available material on cloud
computing – which has become quite comprehensive in the meantime – and to
condense it to fit into a smart book. But this could only succeed with the help of
many colleagues from research organizations, but especially from the industry.
They contributed a never-ending stream of new input and helped us in numerous
discussions to develop a more differentiated picture of this exciting topic.
As is common with most disruptive technologies, the opinions on cloud computing
diverge strongly in terms of acceptance and risk assessment. There are companies
that cannot relate yet to the concept of using and deploying dynamic IT services,
while others are at the cutting edge of this technology, some of them writing success
stories that make headlines. This book will help our readers to study cloud computing
rather unemotionally in the first place before they can enthusiastically take up its
challenges and opportunities.
Due the fact that the discussion about cloud computing always has to consider
both its technological and economic aspects, this book will be of major interest
to a broad audience. It is equally intended for the students of our courses at the
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and at other universities, for interested
software engineers, and for future-oriented decision-makers. We trust that the
technical information compiled here is rich and coherent. But this book should
also be an interesting read for top executives and managers.