Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information

are provided to computers and other devices as a utility (like the electricity grid) over a network (typically the Internet).[1] Cloud computing provides computation, software applications, data access,data management and storage resources without requiring cloud users to know the location and other details of the computing infrastructure. End users access cloud based applications through a web browser or a light weight desktop or mobile app while the business software and data are stored on servers at a remote location. Cloud application providers strive to give the same or better service and performance than if the software programs were installed locally on end-user computers. At the foundation of cloud computing is the broader concept of infrastructure convergence (or Converged Infrastructure) and shared services.[2] This type of data centre environment allows enterprises to get their applications up and running faster, with easier manageability and less maintenance, and enables IT to more rapidly adjust IT resources (such as servers, storage, and networking) to meet fluctuating and unpredictable business demand.[3][4]
Characteristics

Cost is claimed to be reduced and in a public cloud delivery model capital expenditure is converted to operational expenditure.[10] This is purported to lower barriers to entry, as infrastructure is typically provided by a third-party and does not need to be purchased for onetime or infrequent intensive computing tasks. Pricing on a utility computing basis is fine-grained with usage-based options and fewer IT skills are required for implementation (in-house).[11] Device and location independence[12] enable users to access systems using a web browser regardless of their location or what device they are using (e.g., PC, mobile phone). As infrastructure is off-site (typically provided by a third-party) and accessed via the Internet, users can connect from anywhere.[11] Virtualization technology allows servers and storage devices to be shared and utilization be increased. Applications can be easily migrated from one physical server to another. Multi-tenancy enables sharing of resources and costs across a large pool of users thus allowing for:

Centralization of infrastructure in locations with lower costs (such as real estate, electricity, etc.) Peak-load capacity increases (users need not engineer for highest possible load-levels) Utilisation and efficiency improvements for systems that are often only 1020% utilised.[13]

Reliability is improved if multiple redundant sites are used, which makes well-designed cloud computing suitable for business continuity and disaster recovery.[14] Scalability and Elasticity via dynamic ("on-demand") provisioning of resources on a finegrained, self-service basis near real-time, without users having to engineer for peak loads.[15][16]

 Performance is monitored, and consistent and loosely coupled architectures are constructed using web services as the system interface.[11] Security could improve due to centralization of data,.

history

The actual term "cloud" borrows from telephony in that telecommunications companies, who until the 1990s offered primarily dedicated point-to-point data circuits, began offering Virtual Private Network (VPN) services with comparable quality of service but at a much lower cost. By switching traffic to balance utilisation as they saw fit, they were able to utilise their overall network bandwidth more effectively. The cloud symbol was used to denote the demarcation point between that which was the responsibility of the provider and that which was the responsibility of the user. Cloud computing extends this boundary to cover servers as well as the network infrastructure.[25] After the dot-com bubble, Amazon played a key role in the development of cloud computing by modernising their data centers, which, like most computer networks, were using as little as 10% of their capacity at any one time, just to leave room for occasional spikes.

Cloud Computing Services

Cloud Computing represents the biggest disruptive trend in computing this decade. HCL is well poised to become a transformation partner for large enterprises and SMB's who are envisaging their journey in the cloud computing space by virtue of unparallel competencies and capabilities with rich customer experience in Cloud engagements. HCL has always been a disruptive force in technology adoption and has many 'firsts' to its credit for creating industry leading propositions. HCL was the first to talk Application and Infrastructure integration,the first to think and create utility models like Business Ready Infrastructure (BRI), and the first to partner with ISV's and technology companies to create Cloud-based Services, delivery platforms and service operating models. HCL is a formidable Cloud Service Partner for global organizations with coherent thinking and strategy in place. Today, we work with

8 out of Top 10 ISV's in their Cloud Initiatives 35 Global Organizations in offering Private Cloud Based Enterprise Management Platform

Cloud Computing is poised to change the way computing resources are being utilized. HCL ISD has been providing its customers a range of Cloud Computing services, to deliver the benefits of this disruptive technology. HCL ISD as a Cloud Partner: Being a remarkably experienced IT infrastructure management and transformational services provider, HCL ISD is not only considered as a Cloud Computing service provider but also is a preferred Cloud partner. Our Cloud Computing services (competency-based services) portfolio includes services such as Cloud Assessment, Implementation, Migration and Cloud Service Management for Private, Public or Hybrid Cloud. We help our customers adopt Cloud by conducting assessment services on workloads and moving them to suitable Cloud environments (Private / Public / Hybrid). HCL ISD as a Cloud Computing Service Provider: As a Cloud Computing services provider, HCL ISD enables Enterprise Platform as a Service (EPaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) for its existing and potential enterprise customers. We provide computing and storage capacity for consumption, Enterprise Platform for Development and Testing environments and SaaS enablement services.

HCL Cloud Services Portfolio

HCL ISD has a worldwide partner ecosystem, which includes OEMs, ISVs and Public Cloud vendors. These partnerships help customers realize the best possible value and return on Cloud investments. Moreover, HCL ISD partnerships help us enable Hybrid Cloud environments for our customers, making maximum reuse of existing investments and provide seamless management of Cloud and legacy infrastructure as well.

Success Case
The leading Australian financial-services firm with operations across the globe The U.S., the U.K and Asia Pacific, needed a service provider to study and recommend a Cloud Management solution based on its IT infrastructure requirements. The company appointed HCL ISD to provide Cloud Consulting & Assessment services for scalability and adherence to current ITILbased processes as well as analysis of monitoring and management tools in adopting Cloud environment.
Area of Engagement Key Business Objectives Solution Benefits

A leading Australian bank provides a wide range of financial services to its customers worldwide.

The company wanted to assess its existing IT infrastructure for scalability and migration to Cloud as well as adhere to current ITIL based processes.

Analysis and exploration of current IT environment Alignment of IT infrastructure with changing business requirements

Developed insights about filtration of IT resources Capability to move into Cloud environment

To meet the customers expectations, HCL ISD followed a phase-based approach:

Phase 1:
Assessment of the customers IT environment: During this phase, HCL ISD categorized requirements as:

Necessary for Now, Will be required in future Can wait or are good to have.

Evaluation of Various Cloud Management solutions: In this phase, HCL ISD did analysis of the tools from various aspects such as functionality, compliance, process adherence, total cost of ownership among others. On the basis of these parameters, the study presented independent and unbiased recommendations on choice of Cloud management solution that best suited our customers requirements.

Phase 2:
Assessment of technology landscape and operating model: In this phase, HCL ISD did analysis of critical business and support processes, in addition to monitoring and management tool operations that were required as the company was moving forward in Cloud environment. To match the scalability to Cloud model, HCL ISD analyzed and compared various processes and tools on the basis of its best practices. Post-analysis, and based on recommendations for existing processes and tools, customer was able to understand the scalability of current set-up into a Cloud environment.

Benefits Driven:

The customer was imparted with the requisite information about its current preparedness to migrate into Cloud environment. The study also made the customer aware of all requirements and challenges that he would be facing during this transformation.

HCL ISDs robust Private Cloud architecture takes multi-fold views into account to build up a Private Cloud while ensuring various aspects such as Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC), Infrastructure and Service Management are taken care of. Thus, the customers are assured of the true benefits of Cloud without compromising on security, compliance and service-management aspects.

Private Cloud - Reference Architecture

HCL ISDs Private Cloud architecture includes both virtualized and physical environments, which enable risk and compliance controls, ensures identity and access management, and implements encryption and data classification rules and policies. Our Private Cloud architecture is capable of delivering services such as IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service), PaaS (Platform as a Service) to name a few. The architecture is scalable, flexible and ready to integrate with various external tools and data sources. In addition, it enables effective Cloud Service Management that provides visibility into virtual and physical infrastructure through integrated modules and real-time dashboard, which churn out pre-built and customized reports.

Cloud Implementation & Migration

It is a set of specialized IT services that help customers adopt Cloud seamlessly. HCL ISDs Cloud Implementation & Migration services are driven through industry best practices to reduce risk and maximize benefits. This is a four step process, which includes:1. 2. 3. 4. Identification and filtering of information regarding current IT assets, processes and such Consolidation of assets, process streamlining and elimination of non-value adding activities Increased virtualization to gain maximum utilization Cloud Computing enablement

HCL Cloud Implementation & Migration services include:

Creation of Private Cloud : This line of service enables Private Cloud for customers. It involves services including infrastructure virtualization, data center hosting, on-demand storage and data redundancy to name a few. As per the customers need, Private Cloud can be built in the customer / HCL or the partner data center. Migration to Public Cloud : HCL ISD has developed a global partner ecosystem along with the migration framework that helps the customers plan, prepare and migrate to Public Cloud.

Cloud Consulting & Assessment

HCL ISDs Cloud Consulting & Assessment services help customers successfully adopt Private Cloud or migrate to Public Cloud. These services encapsulate key aspects related to Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) in Cloud environment, IT infrastructure (including data center, network, security and such) and Cloud Management and Applications.

HCL Cloud Assessment Methodology

HCL ISDs Cloud Consulting & Assessment services include:

Phase 1: Exploration and Discovery: This phase involves understanding and collecting information regarding current environment and workloads. The environment understanding and the collated data allows to conduct an analysis of the current workloads for migration to Cloud environment. Phase 2: Analysis and Modeling: The information collected in Phase 1 is analyzed and modeled using predefined frameworks for assessment. The analysis is based on various parameters like governance, risk, compliance, technical application feasibility, cost and such. It helps in taking decisions on various workloads for their migration to Cloud. Phase 3: Suggestions, Recommendations and Roadmap: Phase 2 provides the customers with the much required output that highlights key suggestions and recommendations on aspects such as application migration, Cloud design and architecture, governance and compliance among others. This phase also provides a roadmap for Cloud adoption, which details the customers on how to approach Cloud implementation with respect to their current environment.