Jason Stamper's Blog

I don’t know if Gartner coined the term ‘cloud computing’, but they are certainly staking their claim for having some thought-leadership in the space (and who can blame them).

According to a press release that just wafted in off such a cloud and landed in my in-box, “Gartner defines cloud computing as a style of computing where massively scalable IT-related capabilities are provided “as a service” using Internet technologies to multiple external customers.”

Which, as far as I’m concerned, is what Software as a Service (SaaS) does, too. Indeed it’s what application service providers (ASPs) did, as well, but let’s not even go there.

Even better, Gartner says in its release: “Gartner maintains that the very confusion and contradiction that surrounds the term "cloud computing" signifies its potential to change the status quo in the IT market.” Now if that isn’t confusing, I don’t know what is.

Gartner is saying that ‘cloud computing’ has huge amounts of potential because it’s such a ‘confusing’ term full of ‘contradiction’. Not despite those attributes, but because of them.

Cloud computing: smoke and mirrors (99% probability). Pic source: rcktManIL on Flickr, CC licence.

So the more confusing and contradictory, the more profound the potential influence on the market? They could have at least added one of their trademark (80% probability) parentheses thingies.

Apparently, more details of Gartner’s thinking is available in the report, aptly titled, "Cloud Computing Confusion Leads to Opportunity." The report is available on Gartner’s website here .

As a vendor I wouldn't read it myself: by increasing your understanding you are going to reduce the potential of cloud computing. End users who read it will do the same, but you can't do much about them, can you? Or perhaps you can: who was it who sang, "Hey, you, get off of my cloud!"

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