Cloud Computing: Threat, or Menace? March 3, 2009

Cloud computing promises significant computing power with high efficiency at low cost, but there are potential hazards in moving to the cloud. You're depending on remote third parties for potentially mission-critical operations, data storage, and data security, and you're facing a diminished expectation of privacy. No business should take "moving to the cloud" lightly.

Join local Austin experts in a discussion of potential cloud computing risks and issues. Admission is free.

Presented by EFF-Austin, http://effaustin.org
When: 7pm, March 3, 2009
Where: Ventana del Soul Cafe and Cultural Center, Texas Espresso Ballroom, 1834 E. Oltorf St., Austin. http://www.ventanadelsoul.org/map-and-directions/
Speakers:
W. Scott McCollough, Telecommunications and ISP Law Specialist, McCollough|Henry, PC
Chris Boyd, Midas Networks
whurley, BMC Software, Inc.
Andrew Donoho, Strategist
Don Jarrell, Digital Thinking, Inc.

Moderator: Jon Lebkowsky, EFF-Austin, Social Web Strategies

If you're not familiar with the subject, here's more:

Cloud computing is a kind of computing that through which functional real-time resources and tools are provided over the Internet. Users of these services don't have to manage the technology infrastructure that supports them - it's server based, generally provided through a web browser acting as a "thin client." Google Apps and Google Docs are well-known examples. Google offers word processing, spreadsheets, presentation development, and email over the web. The software runs on Google's servers, and the data is stored there. Users only need Internet connectivity and a browser to access Google's applications.

Another example is Amazon, which found real efficiency in cloud architectures, and started providing access to their systems via web services in 2002.

The "cloud" is the Internet - that's how it's shown in network diagrams. This suggests that the complex infrastructure is not visible to users, it's "in a cloud." Some believe that many business IT services will move to the cloud because per-use services offer greater efficiency.

Official Website: http://effaustin.org