Cloud computing - and corporate control and privacy - 2

Cloud computing really everywhere at present, as a news story, as an issue, as a debate. Coming to some sort of stage of development or maturity. It’s seen as an opportunity and the way of the future, and growing fast. But I reckon there’s lots of different definitions and variations on the theme and elements of the core concept.

Also, where are the debates about security and information assurance? What security and information usage assurances ought we to expect from cloud computing service providers?

Cloud computing - and corporate control and privacy

Google’s one step nearer taking over the world:

“Google plans to make PCs history - Industry critics warn of danger in giving internet leader more power” at http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/jan/25/google-drive-gdrive-internet

They do seem well on the way to being the next MS, an object of hate because of their dominance. And the libertarians are getting nervous about quite how much data Google could get their hands on.

I use Gmail – do they, could they use the information (some of it really quite personal) for their own ends. Ditto Blogger. Ditto all those searches (dozens a day). GoogelApps. And now this, GDrive storage. And so on. And it’s all good stuff.

They are free services, and there is no such thing as a free lunch (I believe that). So there’s got to be some payback, and does the advertising provide them with sufficient payback? And will it continue to do so? Because, despite the marginal cost of providing these services, they do cost something to provide and support and power.

It’s a question of trust. But based on what? Why should I trust them?