PREFACE -- What is Cloud Computing? -- Shared service model -- Computing as a commodity service -- Simplicity versus complexity -- Data center efficiency -- The way ahead -- ABOUT THE AUTHOR -- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -- CONTENTS -- INTRODUCTION -- Virtualization -- Time slice -- Hypervisor -- Public, private, community and hybrid Clouds -- SaaS, IaaS and PaaS -- Disruptive technology -- Trusting the Cloud: stop, go or caution -- CHAPTER 1: SETTING COURSE TO THE CLOUDS -- Renting versus owning infrastructure -- Scalability -- The larger they are, the less likely they are to fall -- Going virtual -- Cloud platforms and rapid system prototyping -- Consolidating low-use applications -- Patch management services -- Cloud backup -- Cloud bursting: surge capacity -- Desktop office suites -- Symphony -- Zoho Office for SharePoint® -- Google™ Docs -- Crowdsourcing and social networking -- The operating system -- Green computing: power and the grid -- Major benefits of Cloud Computing -- Core competencies of the data center staff -- Increased utilization -- 24/7 watch centers -- Enhanced recovery through server and data replication -- Free staff time -- Capital expenses replaced with operational expenses -- External certification and quality of service -- CHAPTER 2: PREFLIGHT CHECK -- Computing as a utility -- Elasticity -- Capacity requirements -- Baseline service levels -- In-sourcing -- Targeting legacy systems -- Planning for staff transition -- Avoiding self-inflicted wounds -- Economies of scale -- Bigger pipes are better -- Moving big iron (mainframes) to the Clouds -- Storage in the Cloud -- Bandwidth and try it before you buy it -- Instant test beds -- Reduce the scope of the implementation -- Pod computing reduces configuration time -- Project management versus ad hoc -- Elasticity reduces need for capacity planning -- Calculating cost benefit.

CHAPTER 3: TAXI RUNWAY -- Start-up risks -- Choosing a service provider -- Types of Cloud services -- Risk assessment and gap analysis -- Certifications - caveat emptor, let the buyer beware! -- Measuring service levels -- Latency -- User expectations and response time -- Culture of compliance -- Early adoption techniques -- Human resources and background checks -- Infrastructure -- Multi-tenancy -- Avoiding miscommunication with the service provider -- Reduce the risk by converting only new applications -- Have an exit strategy -- One size does not fit all -- People again -- Disaster recovery and business continuity planning -- Depth on the bench -- Separation of duties and need to know -- Financial health of the service provider -- Financial risk -- CHAPTER 4: TOWER CLEARANCE -- Organizational impact: what would happen if? -- Mitigation strategies: what can we do to lessen impact? -- Continuity plans: keep going if the worst happens -- External versus internal hosting providers -- Strategies for managing change -- Break the project into smaller parts for pilot projects -- Progressive elaboration -- Testing -- Certification of data centers -- Pick on the little guy -- Continuity of operations planning -- Protecting data with encryption -- Unencrypted data protection -- Data loss prevention -- Stay in touch with the Cloud! -- People, process, and then technology -- Certifications matter -- CHAPTER 5: SECURING THE CABIN -- Recognize the risk in order to avoid the consequences -- Defense in depth strategies -- Cloud security operation centers -- User provisioning -- Security and authentication in the Cloud -- CHAPTER 6: TAKE OFF -- If it's on the Internet, it belongs in the Cloud -- E-mail in the Clouds -- Linking to expertise -- Case study: backup and recovery centers -- Case study: primary data centers -- Reducing the noise.

Attack surfaces multiply -- Security in the Cloud -- Server logs -- Linking systems dynamically -- Mashups -- Privacy versus security -- Organizing the Cloud environment -- The portal model -- Pilot projects -- Backing up the Cloud -- What value is added by the Cloud? -- Complexity equals inherent risk -- Reduce the complexity of the organization -- E-mail service and web hosting -- Cloud-based enterprise applications -- Using Web 2.0 to support internal clients -- Frameworks for process improvement -- Case study: voice in the Clouds -- Quality of service and net neutrality -- Case study: online storage in the Cloud -- Data loss prevention -- Case study: moving a webzine to the Cloud -- CHAPTER 7: ABOVE THE CLOUDS -- Transition -- Convergence -- The paradigm of the automated teller machine -- Trading functionality for security -- Staged conversion: parallel testing -- ITG RESOURCES.