Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Video
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Cloud
    • Cloud

    Cloud Computing Means Vendor Lock-In, but It’s Not All Bad

    Written by

    David Needle
    Published July 10, 2015
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.

      MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.—The allure of cloud systems, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, is unmistakable. Companies can stop investing in expensive, hard-to-maintain data centers and move to the cloud where they only pay for the resources (compute power and storage) they need, and the vendor maintains the infrastructure.

      The value proposition is unmistakable and a growing number of cloud vendors are cashing in. But panelists here July 9 at the wrap-up of the two-day AlwaysOn Silicon Valley Innovation Summit said customers shouldn’t have any illusions that by moving online to the cloud they are freer to move between competitive offerings—from AWS to Azure, for example.

      “From hardware to just about the application layer, I would submit the cloud introduces a level of vendor lock-in we’ve never seen before,” said Abe Kleinfeld, CEO of GridGain, which specializes in in-memory data fabric. “Before you could choose the hardware, the network layer and more, and now it’s all abstracted. Is that bad? That’s up for discussion.”

      There is a level of portability. Rajeev Madhavan, CEO of big data specialist Robin Systems, said there is a fair amount of application portability between cloud systems with containers. “But unless you get data portability, vendor lock-in is inevitable.”

      The reason, Madhavan said, is that it’s not in cloud vendors’ interest to make it easy for customers to move from one cloud system to another. “If you put 60 petabytes of data into a cloud system, you are locked in. It’s not going to be easy to move, and it will be expensive. It’s a great opportunity for a great solution. CIOs want this,” he added, noting that his own company is focused on this area.

      In the case of AWS, James Liao, CEO of Pica8, a software-defined networking vendor, said he thinks the company will develop better ways for companies to move their data off AWS when they want to, but it won’t be a total solution. “I think they will supply 90 percent capability to move your data; the rest will be vendor lock-in,” he said. “But there’s going to be interoperability.”

      Vendor lock-in is less about systems that restrict portability, and more about the cost of switching, Liao said. “A vendor can’t prevent you from switching; it’s just a matter of cost,” he said.

      To what extent and at what cost interoperability will come remains to be seen. Gaurav Tewari, managing director of Citigroup Ventures, said it’s not a question of yes or no. “It’s going to depend on the type of company.” He also said vendor lock-in isn’t a bad thing if the company is giving the customer what it wants. For example, he noted that security is a big issue, and being able to show the ability to recover from a breach or other disaster—natural or otherwise—is a very big deal. “AWS has a great story there,” said Tewari.

      He also talked up cloud services as a great way for companies to experiment without making a large infrastructure investment.

      Kleinfeld of GridGain said the question of interoperability gets confused by different interpretations or references to what constitutes a cloud. “Everyone defines cloud differently, whether it’s AWS, or the Google Compute Engine. We hear about the ‘open cloud,’ but I don’t think it’s here yet,” he said.

      David Needle
      David Needle
      Based in Silicon Valley, veteran technology reporter David Needle covers mobile, bi g data, and social media among other topics. He was formerly News Editor at Infoworld, Editor of Computer Currents and TabTimes and West Coast Bureau Chief for both InformationWeek and Internet.com.

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      Get the Free Newsletter!

      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Artificial Intelligence

      9 Best AI 3D Generators You Need...

      Sam Rinko - June 25, 2024 0
      AI 3D Generators are powerful tools for many different industries. Discover the best AI 3D Generators, and learn which is best for your specific use case.
      Read more
      Cloud

      RingCentral Expands Its Collaboration Platform

      Zeus Kerravala - November 22, 2023 0
      RingCentral adds AI-enabled contact center and hybrid event products to its suite of collaboration services.
      Read more
      Artificial Intelligence

      8 Best AI Data Analytics Software &...

      Aminu Abdullahi - January 18, 2024 0
      Learn the top AI data analytics software to use. Compare AI data analytics solutions & features to make the best choice for your business.
      Read more
      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Video

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2024 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×