To The Cloud

Cloud computing and big data are arguably the most significant forces in information technology today. In the wake of revelations about National Security Agency (NSA) activities, many of which occur "in the cloud", this book offers both enlightenment and a critical view. Vincent Mosco explores where the cloud originated, what it means, and how important it is for business, government and citizens. He describes the intense competition among cloud companies like Amazon and Google, the spread of the cloud to government agencies like the controversial NSA, and the astounding growth of entire cloud cities in China. Is the cloud the long-promised information utility that will solve many of the world's economic and social problems? Or is it just marketing hype? To the Cloud provides the first thorough analysis of the potential and the problems of a technology that may very well disrupt the world.

Cloud computing is the most significant technology development of our lifetimes. It has made countless new businesses possible and presents a massive opportunity for large enterprises to innovate like startups and retire decades of technical debt. But making the most of the cloud requires much more from enterprises than just a technology change. Stephen Orban led Dow Jones's journey toward digital agility as their CIO and now leads AWS's Enterprise Strategy function, where he helps leaders from the largest companies in the world transform their businesses. As he demonstrates in this book, enterprises must re-train their people, evolve their processes, and transform their cultures as they move to the cloud. By bringing together his experiences and those of a number of business leaders, Orban shines a light on what works, what doesn't, and how enterprises can transform themselves using the cloud.

What is the cloud? Discover the secrets of the cloud through simple explanations that use lots of pictures and lots of examples. Why learn about the cloud? It’s the future. The cloud is the future of software, the future of computing, and the future of business. If you’re not up on the cloud the future will move on without you. Don’t miss out. Not a geek? Don’t worry. I wrote this book for you! After reading Explain Cloud Like I'm 10, you will understand the cloud. That’s a promise. How do I deliver on that promise? I’ll let you in on a little secret: the cloud is not that hard to understand. It’s just that nobody has taken the time to explain it properly. take the time. I go slow. You’ll learn step-by-step; one idea at a time. You’ll learn something new no matter if you’re a beginner, someone who knows a little and wants to know more, or someone thinking about a career change. In Explain Cloud Like I'm 10, you’ll discover: •  How the cloud got its name. A more interesting story than you might think.An intuitive picture based definition of the cloud. •  What it means when someone says a service is in the cloud.If stormy weather affects cloud computing. •  How the internet really works. Most people don’t know. You will.The real genius of cloud computing. Hint: it’s not the technology. •  The good, the bad, and the ugly of cloud computing. •  How cloud computing changed how software is made—forever. •  Why Amazon AWS became so popular. Hint: it’s not the technology. •  What happens when you press play on Netflix. •  Why Kindle is the perfect example of a cloud service. •  The radically different approaches Apple and Google take to the cloud. •  How Google Maps and Facebook Messenger excel as cloud applications. •  Cloud providers are engaging in a winner-take-all war to addict you to their ecosystems. •  Key ideas like: VM, serverless, container, IaaS, PaaS, SaaS, virtualization, caching, ISP, OpEx, CapEx, network, AMI, EC2, S3, CDN, elastic computing, datacenter, and cloud-native.And so much more. Sound like gobbledygook? Don’t worry! It will all make sense. I’ve been a programmer and a writer for over 30 years. I’ve been in cloud computing since the beginning, and I’m here to help you on your journey to understand the cloud. Consider me your guide. I’ll be with you every step of the way. Sound fun? Buy Explain Cloud Like I'm 10 and let’s get started learning about the cloud today!

This invaluable guide addresses the Why, What, and How of enterprise cloud adoption, leveraging a clear framework and proven best practices from Microsoft's own experience. “Great book. What’s particularly impressive is the outline of steps Microsoft itself is taking in its move to the cloud. Do as I do is always more powerful than do as I say.”—Al Ries, Coauthor, War in the Boardroom “This book takes on enterprise cloud adoption to a level I’ve not seen before—made even more elegant with its structured framework and crisp approach.”—Anthony D. Christie, CMO, Level 3 Communications, Former CTO/CIO, Global Crossing “A practical and timely guide that covers the entire journey to the cloud from an enterprise perspective, including business, technology, and organizational impact.”—Bart Luijten, CIO Corporate Functions & Corporate Technology, Philips “The cloud powers business solutions for building tomorrow’s enterprise and this book offers a simple, well-structured, and high-level process map for cloud adoption.”—Kris Gopalakrishnan, Executive Co-Chairman, Infosys Limited Cloud computing is full of tremendous opportunity, but is also riddled with hype and confusion. Business and technology leaders know the cloud is essential, but lack clarity and experience. To the Cloud cuts through the noise and addresses the Why, What, and How of enterprise cloud adoption. The book lays out a four-step framework leveraging the experience and best practices of Microsoft's own IT group. It provides end-to-end business and technology guidance, including how to analyze application portfolios to identify good cloud candidates, choose the right cloud models, consider architecture and security, and understand how shifting operations to the cloud affects budgeting and staffing. The book is applicable to all cloud platforms and providers, and debunks myths in its clear and concise style (e.g., real clouds are more than just web hosting, virtualization, or the Internet itself rebranded). It takes a balanced approach, addressing concerns and hybrid adoption scenarios alike. Leveraging the authors' proven expertise working for Microsoft's CIO on cloud migration and with cloud platform development teams, the book is supported by clear frameworks, graphics, tables, summaries, and checklists to provide a true practitioner’s guide to the cloud. In this book, you will learn how to Explore cloud computing to understand its promise and challenges Envision how cloud computing can transform your organization Enable your organization with the necessary resources and skills Execute the design, development, and operation of cloud workloads To the Cloud is an essential guide for IT professionals seeking to lower total cost of ownership, improve the return on IT investment of existing services, or help the business bring new products to market more quickly.

How did salesforce.com grow from a start up in a rented apartment into the world's fastest growing software company in less than a decade? For the first time, Marc Benioff, the visionary founder, chairman and CEO of salesforce.com, tells how he and his team created and used new business, technology, and philanthropic models tailored to this time of extraordinary change. Showing how salesforce.com not only survived the dotcom implosion of 2001, but went on to define itself as the leader of the cloud computing revolution and spark a $46-billion dollar industry, Benioff's story will help business leaders and entrepreneurs stand out, innovate better, and grow faster in any economic climate. In Behind the Cloud, Benioff shares the strategies that have inspired employees, turned customers into evangelists, leveraged an ecosystem of partners, and allowed innovation to flourish.

This engaging text provides a solid introduction to mapmaking in the era of cloud computing. It takes students through both the concepts and technology of modern cartography, geographic information systems (GIS), and Web-based mapping. Conceptual chapters delve into the meaning of maps and how they are developed, covering such topics as map layers, GIS tools, mobile mapping, and map animation. Methods chapters take a learn-by-doing approach to help students master application programming interfaces and build other technical skills for creating maps and making them available on the Internet. The companion website offers invaluable supplementary materials for instructors and students.˜ ˜ Pedagogical features:˜ End-of-chapter summaries, review questions, and exercises.˜ Extensive graphics illustrating the concepts and procedures. Downloadable PowerPoints for each chapter. Downloadable code files (where applicable) for the exercises.

The latest textbook from best-selling author Provides a comprehensive introduction to cloud computing