Is there a clear definition of Cloud Computing?

While I don’t have all the answers on cloud computing, basically I know what it is. But one can never be too sure. So as an exercise I poke around for a few good definitions and what do I find? Even the experts can’t put something together that a regular person would appreciate.

You’d think for a service industry that’s purportedly going to grow from $16.2 billion this year to $42 billion by 2012 (according to IDC) there would be a reasonable consensus.

Here’s one definition: "Cloud Computing is the simplification of the data center by leveraging virtualization technologies to reduce complexity through homogenizing environments."

That’s wonderful. Thanks for clearing it up. Next.

Good ol’ Wikipedia will have something more useful, I figure. Here’s how it starts: "Cloud computing is Internet-based ("cloud") development and use of computer technology ("computing"). The cloud is a metaphor for the Internet (based on how it is depicted in computer network diagrams) and is an abstraction for the complex infrastructure it conceals."

You like that one? It doesn't do it for me.

Here’s one of 21 from a field of experts. "In order to discuss some of the issues surrounding The Cloud concept, I think it is important to place it in historical context. Looking at the Cloud's forerunners, and the problems they encountered, gives us the reference points to guide us through the challenges it needs to overcome before it is adopted." That comes from Paul Wallis.

It’s really not my place to definition bash. So let’s cut to the chase and give you something that works (for me anyway).

"Cloud computing is beyond being the new IT buzzword. It is a computing paradigm where business applications are allocated to a combination of connections, and software and services are accessed through a web browser over a network, known as “The Cloud”.

That comes to us from marketing literature for a Cloud Computing Conference (http://itcloudconference.com) being held at the Metro Toronto Conference Centre on February 9th, 2009. Perhaps this is the opportunity we need to get a clear outlook of the Cloud Computing horizon.