How Startups can adopt

Cloud Computing

Praveen WicliffFebruary 12th, 2011

OverviewA Little Background

Cloud Computing Basics

Service Layers in Cloud Computing

Challenges for Startups

Startup Scenarios

Checklist & Basic Process

About Icicle

About IcicleA Cloud Services and SaaS software development

company

Create captive teams for scaling businesses on Cloud

Consult, design, develop and maintain softwares on these platforms

Clients

Enterprises - Sony, ABN AMRO, ICICI, Refco Sify, KPMG

Startups – Cleartrip.com, Meru Cabs, Mobile2Win, Caratlane, Cartisian etc.

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud Computing Definition

Availability and consumption of computing resources like

software, bandwidth,

processing power, storage etc,

over standard IT protocols and networks

Cloud Computing – Core Features- Agility - Turn around time is in minutes

- Scalability - Scale as per requirement and quickly

- Usage Metering - Pay per use, rather than pay per plan

- Multi-Tenanted - More number of users and the costs are shared

- Standard Protocols - Use of existing technologies and drivers to deliver significantly different value

Understanding Cloud Computing

Cloud Computing is closely associated with Utility Computing

Cloud Computing is NOT Software-as-a-Service, SaaS

Service Layers in Cloud

Service Layers in Cloud

Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS)

Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS)

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)As the name suggests, it is basically consuming

core computing infrastructure like processing power, data storage, bandwidth etc as a Service

• Amazon Web Services

• Rackspace Cloud

• GoGrid

Platform as a Service (PaaS)Application infrastructure and Development platforms

which enable companies to develop, deploy, host and maintain Software

Deployment Platforms

Google App Engine

Microsoft Azure

Heroku

Application Platforms

Force.com

Rollbase.com

Wolfframeworks.com

Software as a Service (SaaS)Providing and consuming Software as a service.

Primarily subscription based, with no license fees or lengthy contracts and typcially delivered over the Web

Google Apps (Google docs, Gmail, Google Calendar etc.)

Zoho Apps

Basecamp Project Management

Saleforce.com

Mailchimp

Challenges for Startups

Too many!

Primary Challenges

- People

- Execution / Velocity of Business

- Growth / Scalability

- Cash

Two kind of Startups

- Build Business supported by Cloudeg.

Leather products design & manufacturing company - DM limited.

- Build Business on Cloud

eg.E-commerce/Coupon site selling only Leather

products - lpcoupons.com

Supported by Cloud – DM Limited- Focus on the core business rather than IT

- Less technical background or interest

- Need industry standard applications and software

- Investments are needed in manufacturing

Supported by Cloud – SaaS World- Productivity Applictions - Google Apps (Google Docs, Gmail, Google Calendar)

- Zoho Docs (Zoho Writer, Sheet, Show)

- Business Applications - Project Management - Basecamp, Zoho Projects

- Basic Accounting - Xero, Zoho

- CRM - Zoho CRM, Salesforce.com, Highrise

- Payroll - Xero, Salaree.com

- HR - Employwise.com, Adrenalin

- Enterprise Applications - ERP - Ramco, erpnext.com

- Custom Applications - Rollbase, Wolfframeworks

Built on Cloud - lpcoupons.com- Need to get proof of concept quickly out

- Scarce technical resources or resources are focussed more on development

- Cashflows

- Can't make upfront investment upfront in technology

- Does not want to build operational team/costs

- Scalability

Built on Cloud – lpcoupons.com- Proof of Concept - Rollbase, Wolfframeworks

- No operational team or costs - Heroku, Azure, Rackspace Cloudsites

- Custom deployment requirements - Amazon EC2, Rackspace

- Load Balancing & Redundency - Amazon ELB

- Scalability - Amazon Autoscale, GoGrid F5

- Distribute Content (videos, images) - Amazon Cloudfront, Rackspace Cloudfiles

- Monitor Performance - Amazon Cloudwatch, ScoutApp

- Pay per Use - Amazon, Rackspace, Heroku

- Get funding

- Revolutionary Cloud based distributed, virtualized, scalable couponing platform. Put stickers. 100 million atleast.

Cloud Guide – Checklist

Checklist- Will the your target market adopt the concept?

- Do you really need unlimited space, processing power, bandwidth?

- Does your startup need to follow any specific industry or government standards - PCI/DSS, privacy rules etc?

- Is there any vendor lockin for the platforms which you are choosing?

- Evaluation of vendors across different parameters - Background, reliability, openness etc.

- Do you have a strategy and process for Backup & Disaster recovery if things crash?

Way Forward

Way ForwardStep 1: Learn about Opportunities and Risks of

Cloud

Easy to do, lot of information on the Internet

Discuss and arrive at your own conclusions

Step 2: Assess your own requirements

Assess whether you really require Cloud

Do not do it because everyone is doing

Way ForwardStep 3: Integrate Cloud Strategy

Integrate Cloud option in your business strategy and execution plan

Step 4: Develop Cloud Skill sets

Develop Cloud specific skills in your Development team

Develop Cloud specific understanding in your management team

Step 5: Redundancy & Recovery

Build Redundancy, Backups and Restoration in your infrastructure plan

Way ForwardStep 6: Integrate Cloud into your Architecture

- Develop Code using Cloud & SaaS API for easier deployment

Step 7: Deploy & Monitor

- Deploy and Monitor - Both Costs and IT Performance

Done.

Good luck, Egypt.