Business Cloud Integration Glossary.

Cloud computing and integration are the hottest topics in IT, with Amazon, Apple, Google, Mi-crosoft, and other key players providing application services. This glossary clarifies some of the terms bursting out of “the cloud.”

aaS – Stands for “as a service.” The phrase is usually preceded by a capital letter that indicates thecloud-based provision, as in Hardware (HaaS), Infrastructure (IaaS), Platform (PaaS), or Software (SaaS).

Advertising-based pricing model – The service provider and the ads are bundled with the ser-vices that are delivered to the consumer.

Amazon EC2 – Also known as Amazon’s Elastic Compute Cloud, a web service that provides re-sizable computing capacity in the cloud, so that developers can enjoy great scalability for building applications.

Amazon S3 – Amazon’s cloud storage service, also known as Amazon Simple Storage Services.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) – A set of services that create a reliable, scalable, and inexpensive computing platform “in the cloud”. For more information, visit aws.amazon.com/

Any-to-any connections – A platform that works across internal and external applications, pro-tocols, and systems, and integrates data and processes among business partners and communities. Any-to-any connections go beyond point-to-point or application-to-application connections.

B2B integration – Business-to-business connections among a company and its partners to inte-grate information and processes.

Billing and service usage metering – A pay-as-you-go model whereby the service provider charges for services that the consumer selected, rather than the entire package. For example, news outlets may let you read 8 articles for free, and then start charging you to read a certain amount of articles per week or month.

Content delivery network (CDN) – Content that exists on multiple computers and can be re-trieved by anyone with access to the network.

Cloud – A metaphor for a global network, from the telephone to the Internet. A cloud has five essential characteristics: on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and measured service. See also Cloud Computing.

Cloud application – A software application that is never installed on a local machine and is only accessed over the Internet. In the Cloud Pyramid, the Cloud Application is the top layer of a soft-ware application that is only accessible on the web. The application is controlled by the service provider, such as Gmail or SalesForce.com.

Cloud arcs – Cloud architectures are designs for software applications that can be accessed and used over the Internet.

Cloud-based integration solutions – A cloud architecture that integrates data, applications, and business (B2B) processes.

Cloud bridge – Running an application so that its components are integrated within a multiple cloud environment, including any combination of internal/private and external/public clouds.

Cloud broker – An entity that creates and maintains relationships with multiple cloud service customers and cloud service providers. It acts as a liaison by selecting the best provider for each customer and monitoring the services.

Cloudburst – An outage or security breach that occurs in a cloud and makes its services unavail-able. Cloudbursts can have negative or positive consequences. A negative cloudburst occurs when a cloud-computing environment cannot a handle a spike in demand. A positive cloudburst ad-dresses a spike in demand by rapidly deploying a software application that enables increased usage and prevents a communications breakdown.

Cloudburst (negative) – A negative cloudburst occurs when a cloud-computing environment cannot handle a spike in demand.

Cloudburst (positive) – A positive cloudburst addresses a spike in demand by rapidly deploying a software application that enables increased usage and prevents a communications breakdown.

Cloud center – A cloud architecture that comprises a data center that rents components of its in-frastructure. Renting store space that is accessible on amazon.com is a good example.

Cloud client – A computing device for cloud computing.

Cloud computing – Cloud computing differs from the classic client-server model, which requires an application to be installed on the client’s computer. Instead, cloud-computing applications are executed and managed by a client’s web browser from its underlying technical architecture (e.g., servers, storage, and networks) with minimal management effort or service provider interac-tion. Centralization allows cloud service providers to control browser-based applications, version upgrades, and updated end user license agreements. Clouds have five essential characteristics: on-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, and measured service. One requests a service (resource), not a specific server (machine). Infrastructure, applica-tions, and business processes can be delivered to you as a service, over the Internet (or your own network). “The Cloud” enables Hardware (HaaS), Infrastructure (IaaS), Platform (PaaS), or Ser-vice (SaaS) that are installed on the client’s web-based device(s).

Cloud enabler – Organizations (typically vendors) that make cloud-computing technologies, such as cloudware, available to clients so they can engage in cloud computing.

Cloud Computing Manifesto – A document with a “public declaration of principles and inten-tions” for cloud computing providers and vendors. It is annotated as a “call to action for the world-wide cloud community” and the “dedicated belief that the cloud should be open.” It is based on the Cloud Computing Bill of Rights. Companies known to have rejected the document by declining to be signatories include Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and salesforce.com.

Cloud envy – A phrase applied to a vendor who jumps on the cloud computing bandwagon by rebranding existing services.

Cloud governance and compliance – Policies and procedures about the cloud infrastructure for individuals and groups to follow.

Cloud hosting – A type of Internet hosting in which the client leases scalable infrastructure on an as-needed basis. Typically, clients can select the operating system and other infrastructure com-ponents. Cloud hosting is usually offered as a self-service. Billing is controlled via a Web interface or API, usually hourly or monthly.

Cloud Infrastructure – The bottom layer (or foundation) of the Cloud Pyramid delivers the com-puter infrastructure. It includes servers, networks, and other hardware appliances that are deliv-ered as Infrastructure Web Services or “cloud centers.” Examples include GoGrid and Amazon Web Services.

Cloud integration platform – Multi-tenant architecture provided by Hubspan.

Cloud manageability – Managing asset provisions and quality of service (QOS) consistently in on-site and cloud-based environments.

Cloud network – This occurs when multiple cloud computing environments are connecting. Also called Cloud storm.

Cloud operating system – A computer operating system that is specially designed to run in a pro-vider’s data center and to be delivered to the user over the Internet or another network. Windows Azure is an example of a cloud operating system or “cloud layer” that runs on Windows Server 2008. The term also applies to cloud-based client operating systems, including Google Chrome OS.

Cloud-Oriented Architecture (COA) – A term coined by Jeff Barr at Amazon Web Services to describe an architecture or IT infrastructure where software applications act as services in the cloud and serve other applications in the cloud environment.

Cloud platform – The middle layer of the Cloud Pyramid. It provides a computing platform or framework. Examples include .NET, Ruby on Rails, Python, Google AppEngine, and Microsoft Azure.

Cloud portability – The ability to move applications (and often associated data) across cloud computing environments, cloud providers, and public/external and private/internal clouds. Also known as cloud standards.

Cloud providers – Cloud computing service providers whose product/platform is based on vir-tualization of computing resources and a utility-based payment model. A company that provides cloud-based platform, infrastructure, application, or storage services to clients, usually for a fee.

Cloud Pyramid – A visual representation of the layers of cloud computing that are differentiated by functionality. The most basic cloud pyramid includes infrastructure, platform, and application layers.

Cloud servers – Virtual servers running a Windows or Linux operating system through a web interface or API.

Cloud service – Applications or application components that act as services in the cloud and are provided to clients.

Cloud Service Architecture (CSA) – Architecture with applications and application components

that act as services in the cloud and serve other applications in the same cloud environment. Jeff Barr, chief evangelist at Amazon Web Services coined the phrase.

Cloud sourcing – Replacing traditional IT services with cloud services.

Cloud standards – See also Cloud portability.

Cloud storage – A service that allows customers to save data by transferring it over the Internet or another network to an off-site storage system maintained by a third party. The customer can access the data on any device with a web connection.

Cloud storm – This occurs when multiple cloud computing environments are connecting. Also called cloud network.

Cloud storming – See Cloud storm.

Cloudware – The software that enables a cloud-computing environment to build, deploy, run, or manage applications.

Cloud washing – Applying the word “cloud” to products and services you already have.

Cluster – A group of linked computers that function as a single computer, for high availability and/or load balancing.

Community cloud – See Hybrid cloud.

Consumption-based pricing model – The service provider charges its customers for the amount of service consumed, rather than a time-based fee. A good example is charging per gigabyte of information stored. See also Subscription-based pricing model.

Customer self-service – A feature that allows customers to provision, manage, and terminate ser-vices through a Web interface or API, without involving the service provider.

Data in the cloud – Managing data in the cloud requires data security and privacy, including controls for moving data from point A to point B and managing data storage and resources for large-scale data processing.

Disruptive technology – A term used to describe innovations that improve products or services in unexpected ways and cause dramatic change the way things are done. Cloud computing is often referred to as a disruptive technology because it changes the way IT services are procured,

deployed, and maintained.

Elasticity and scalability – The cloud is elastic and scalable because resource allocations and the scale of the cloud can increase or decrease depending on rising and falling demand for use. Cloud applications can also be scaled to adapt to changes in features and functionality.

Elastic computing – The ability to automatically provision and de-provision cloud services ac-cording to rising and falling demands for use.

Encryption – Coding in a way that protects your information assets.

External cloud – Public or private cloud services are provided by a third party.

Funnel cloud – A discussion about cloud computing that swirls around but falls through.

Google App Engine – A service that enables developers to create and run Web applications on Google’s infrastructure and share their applications. Google offers a pay-as-you-go, consumption-based plan, with no setup costs or recurring fees.

Google Apps – Google’s SaaS offering includes an office productivity suite that includes Gmail, Google Talk for instant messaging, Google Calendar, and Google Docs (word processor, spread-sheet, and slide presentation software) that can be accessed and shared in the cloud. Google also offers Google Cloud Connect for Microsoft Office.

Hardware as a service (HaaS) –. Cloud hardware services delivered by the provider via the Web. See also IaaS.

Hosted application – An Internet-based or Web-based application software program that runs on a remote server and can be accessed via an Internet-connected PC or device. See also IaaS.

Hubspan integration platform – An any-to-any platform that creates collaboration across inter-nal and external applications, protocols, and systems. It goes beyond point-to-point or applica-tion-to-application connections and integrates data and processes across supply chain, demand chain, e-commerce, logistics, and financial entities.

Hybrid cloud – A network composed of two or more clouds (public, private, or community) that offer the benefits of multiple deployment models.

IBM Smart Business – The suite of IBM cloud solutions, which include IBM Smart Business Test Cloud, IBM Smart Analytics Cloud, IBM Smart Business Storage Cloud, IBM Information Ar-

chive, IBM Lotus Live, and IBM Lotus Live iNotes.

iCloud – Apple’s cloud computing service (formerly iTools, .Mac, and Mobile Me) allows users to store data on Apple servers for downloading to Apple’s multiple devices (iPhones, iPads, iPods) and on personal computers with Mac OS X or Microsoft Windows. The iCloud acts as a data-syncing center for Mac services and replaces MobileMe.

Identity management – Managing personal identity information so that access to computer re-sources, applications, data, and services is secure.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) – Cloud infrastructure services (servers, network equipment, and software) that are delivered by the service provider from the Web. Iaas evolved from web host-ing and virtual private server offerings. Instead of buying servers, software, data center space, or network equipment, a client pays for an outsourced service.

Intercloud – The Intercloud is a global “cloud of clouds,” a concept similar to the Internet’s “net-work of networks.” In 2007, Kevin Kelly coined the term. In 2009, the term became popular and is often used to describe the data center of the future. According to the Intercloud scenario, each individual cloud does not have infinite physical resources and its infrastructure could burst by over-saturated demand from users. In theory, each cloud can use the infrastructure resources of other clouds. However, that possibility poses significant challenges, including federation, security, interoperability, vendor lock-ins, legal issues, QoS, monitoring, and billing. But, in practice, infra-structure sharing could inspire new business models and opportunities.

Internal cloud – A type of private cloud with services provided internally by an IT department.

Managed file transfer (MFT) – The transfer of data or files from one computer to another through a network (e.g. the Internet). MFT typically refers to software solutions, either on-premise or cloud-based.

Mashup – A Web-based application that combines data and/or functionality from multiple sourc-es.

Microsoft Azure – A Platform as a Service (PaaS) that allows developers to create cloud applica-tions and services.

Middleware – A set of software services that exist between applications and operating systems. Middleware enables interoperability by supporting the passing of data between applications on distributed architectures. Thus, data in one database can be accessed through another database.

Multi-tenancy – Sharing of resources by multiple companies over a cloud.

On-demand service – A model by which a client can purchase cloud services as needed.

Pay as you go – A cost model for cloud services that encompasses both subscription-based and consumption-based models, rather than pay-in-advance methods for purchasing hardware and software.

Personal cloud – A personal wireless router that takes a mobile wireless signal and translates it to Wi-Fi. It is synonymous with MiFi, but often pronounced “ME-fi,” as in “the personal cloud belongs to me — but if you’re nice I’ll let you connect.”

Platform as a Service (PaaS) – Cloud platform services that are delivered by the provider via the Web. The PaaS layer offers black-box services so developers can build applications on top of the platform.

Private clouds – A private/internal cloud behind a company’s firewall or private space dedicated to a company in a cloud provider’s data center.

Public cloud – Services offered over the Internet and available to anyone who wants to purchase the service.

Roaming workloads – The backend product of cloud centers.Software as a Service (SaaS) – Cloud application services delivered by the provider via the Web. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) services is a good example. Also known as Applica-tion Service Providers (ASP).

Salesforce.com – An online SaaS company, it is best known for delivering customer relationship management (CRM) software to companies over the Internet

Self-service provisioning – Cloud customers can purchase application services to use and depro-vision according to their business requirements.

Service migration – The act of moving from one cloud service or vendor to another.

Service provider – The company or organization that provides a public or private cloud service.

Service level agreement (SLA) – A contractual agreement by which a service provider defines the level of service, responsibilities, priorities, and guarantees regarding availability, performance, and other aspects of the service.

Standardized interfaces – Cloud services should have standardized APIs that provide instruc-tions for two applications or data sources to communicate with each other. A standardized inter-face lets the customer link cloud services together.

Subscription-based pricing model – A pricing model that lets customers pay a fee to use the ser-vice for a particular time period, often used for SaaS services.

Utility computing – Online computing or storage sold as a metered commercial service in a way similar to a public utility.

Vendor lock-in – Lack of standardized protocols, APIs, data structures (schemas), and service models make it difficult to move from one cloud to another. This can result in being dependent on a particular cloud vendor for service provisions.

Vertical cloud – A cloud-computing environment that is optimized for use in a particular indus-try, such as health care or financial services.

Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) – A concept that is derived from Virtual Private Network (VPN) and applied to cloud computing. —–It involves turning a public cloud into a secure VPC, across internal and external components. Reuven Cohen, CEO and founder of Enomaly, coined the term.

Virtual private data center – Resources grouped according to specific business objectives.

Windows Live Services – Microsoft’s cloud-based consumer applications, which include Win-dows Live Mail, Windows Live Photo Gallery, Windows Live Calendar, Windows Live Events, Windows Live Skydrive, Windows Live Spaces, Windows Live Messenger, Windows Live Writer, and Windows Live for Mobile.