Overview – State of the Art Cloud Platforms

As cloud computing evolves, there are new trends and patterns that begin to become interesting. In other words, why do we care about cloud computing?   Also, where do we think things are going? In this session we’ll address the forward looking view of cloud computing platforms. What to expect. How you can take advantage today.

Speaker: David Linthicum, CTO and Founder, Blue Mountain Labs

Emerging Cloud Patterns – Beyond the NIST Standards

The NIST cloud computing definition has emerged as the consensus choice throughout the industry. This session will look at the current state of NIST adoption, evaluate how well providers meet the definition today, and discuss potential developments beyond the NIST definition foundation. With so much cloud computing ferment and evolution, we must be ready to move beyond NIST -- or are we?

Topics addressed:
The NIST cloud computing definition and its implications
The current state of CSP offerings vis a vis the NIST definition
Are there services or offerings beyond NIST that we should look toward?
How end users should use the NIST definition in their cloud computing initiatives

Speaker: Bernard Golden, VP, Enterprise Solutions, enStratus

ROI and Business Case Update

Every technology platform shift has occurred because, at bottom, it improves IT economics dramatically. Cloud computing promises vastly cheaper IT -- but does it deliver? This session will discuss the current state of cloud computing economics and some of the constraints IT faces when evaluating cloud computing ROI.

Topics addressed:

• Why is cloud computing supposed to be less expensive?
• Are public CSPs naturally less expensive than private clouds?
• KPIs for achieving optimum cloud computing economics
• Key challenges IT faces in evaluating cloud computing economics

Speaker: Bernard Golden, VP, Enterprise Solutions, enStratus

Are Cloud Standards Real?

Those who promote cloud standards cite the ability to do the same everywhere, and thus provide portability for applications and data, and much more business value.  However, we’ve not had a good track record when it comes to standards, and cloud computing seems to be on the same path.  So, are cloud standards real? If so, which one should we pay attention to?  

In this panel we will debate the value of cloud computing standards. What works? What does not? And what may work in the future? More importantly, advice on how you can create a cloud standards strategy for your enterprise.

Moderator: David Linthicum, CTO and Founder, Blue Mountain Labs
Panelist: Bernard Golden, VP, Enterprise Solutions, enStratus
Panelist: Jason Bloomberg, President, ZapThink, A Dovel Technologies Company
Panelist: Christopher Dailey, SVP, Blue Mountain Labs

Coffee Break

Getting Cloud Platforms Right the First Time

What goes into designing, building and operating a cloud computing environment? The answer is highly-dependent upon the purpose for the cloud, consumer audience, deployment model, skills and facilities. Best practices are emerging for each of these phases that will satisfy a majority of cases, but requires adaption across your people, processes and technologies. This session will outline commonly used best practices for designing, building and operating cloud environments and provide a checklist of items for consideration.

Speaker: JP Morgenthal, Cloud Ranger, EMC Consulting

Not Dead Yet: Cloud Breathes New Life into SOA

Not too long ago, it seemed that Service-Oriented Architecture was yesterday's news. Vendors turned it into an excuse to sell more middleware. The Web Services standards overpromised and under delivered. And architects finally realized SOA success depended less on integration (difficult) and more on governance (even more difficult).

But today, SOA is seeing a surprising resurgence. The reason? Cloud Computing. Achieving ongoing business value with the Cloud requires architecture -- in particular, SOA.

But the SOA we need in the Cloud isn't the middleware-heavy, big iron SOA of the last decade. We need a lightweight, Web-centric approach. This session will connect the dots between SOA and Cloud, how REST  fits into the picture, and will explain why SOA is so important to Cloud Computing.

Speaker: Jason Bloomberg, President, ZapThink, A Dovel Technologies Company

Best Practices in Cloud Platform Deployment

Those who deploy applications and databases on cloud platforms find that some practices work, while others do not.  It’s understandable that some trial and error will occur, but at this point we should begin to understand the emerging best practices that will insure successful cloud platform deployments.  

During this panel our cloud platform experts will discuss the emerging best practices in cloud platform deployment, leveraging real world expertise rather than marketing hype.  We’ll share approaches that get deployment right the first time, as well as which approaches to avoid.

Moderator: David Linthicum, CTO and Founder, Blue Mountain Labs
Sponsor Panelist: Brian Jawalka, Enterprise Architect, Rackspace
Sponsor Panelist: David Kang, Cloud Practice Manager - Global Strategy Solutions, Red Hat
Sponsor Panelist: Peder Ulander, Vice President of Product Marketing, Citrix

Lunch

Killer Cloud Apps

So, what are the killer cloud computing applications these days? It’s clearly Big Data in the lead, with elastic cloud-based storage moving quickly as well. However, massive scale is also an irresistible attribute of this technology. In this session we’ll review the emerging “killer” applications for cloud computing, or the patterns of use that are becoming game changers.

Speaker: David Linthicum, CTO and Founder, Blue Mountain Labs

Next Wave of Killer Cloud Apps. How to Get On Board Early?

Killer applications for cloud computing have emerged, and we’re gathering value from them right now.  However, where should we place our best applications in the future?   What will be the next wave of killer cloud computing applications?    

In this panel our experts will provide their take on the emerging uses for cloud computing platforms, including what will be hot for years to come.  Come to this panel with your own ideas and concepts, and see if you agree with the experts’ take on the future of cloud computing.

Moderator: David Linthicum, CTO and Founder, Blue Mountain Labs
Panelist: JP Morgenthal, Cloud Ranger, EMC Consulting
Sponsor Panelist: Benjamin Wesson, VP, Product Management, SAP
Panelist: Christopher Dailey, SVP, Blue Mountain Labs

Coffee Break

The Future of Cloud Platforms: Multi-Cloud Management Patterns

The early days of cloud computing for most enterprises have been about building a model for deploying individual applications and services into platform and infrastructure services. However, the growing issue for those that begin to scale out their usage of cloud isn't each application, but the interconnectedness of those applications with each other. Find out how the management of application systems will force change in both cloud applications and cloud platforms.

Speaker: James Urquhart, VP of Product Strategy, enStratus Networks, Inc.

Next Generation IaaS, PaaS, and Database-as-a-Service

What does the future hold for cloud computing platforms? What will the next IaaS and PaaS clouds look like? What about the emerging use of databases that are now on-demand? In this session we take a forward look at what the  future holds for those that are leveraging cloud computing platforms, including emerging patterns and changing features of IaaS and PaaS clouds. Moreover, how IaaS and PaaS will be tightly coupled in the future, and the integration of database services as systemic to everything.

Speaker: David Linthicum, CTO and Founder, Blue Mountain Labs

What is the True Future of Cloud Computing?

So, what will be the future of cloud computing.  Will it be big and bigger data? Cloud-based platforms that are expandable to a scale as yet unknown? In this panel we’ll address those questions and more. We’ll look well beyond the hype at the true future of cloud computing. What you can expect. When you can expect it.  Come here to learn where to place your bets.

Moderator: David Linthicum, CTO and Founder, Blue Mountain Labs
Panelist: JP Morgenthal, Cloud Ranger, EMC Consulting
Panelist: Bernard Golden, VP, Enterprise Solutions, enStratus
Panelist: James Urquhart, VP of Product Strategy, enStratus Networks, Inc.

Closing Remarks – A Path Forward to the Cloud

Speaker: David Linthicum, CTO and Founder, Blue Mountain Labs

Workshop Attendee Reception

Join your fellow workshop attendees at this Monday night reception for hors d’oeuvres, drinks and the chance to mingle with the Interop workshop instructors.