9 27 11 The challenges of cloud security below 10,000 feet
8 10 11 a more sophisticated set of thoughts on business in the cloud. The real guts of this discussion is in the comments. This is an unuaually good blog for tech issues and you can see social mood dynamics expressed readily.
7 29 11this great read was forwarded more than a week ago and about half way through addresses cloud issues in a larger context. You can easily see how social mood will impact the challenges discussed in this New Scientist article.
Are you living, working, or spending any time in the cloud these days? Not many months ago most people would have been confused by that question but new technology is quickly accepted these days.
Let's consider social mood relative to this emergent trend for a few thoughts.
The cloud is a potential means for everyone to use inexpensive processor chips in their gadgets and not be weighed down by bulky and expensive memory needs. This, in theory should free us all up to be more connected for more tasks in more ways to improve life. And if this cloud trend holds social traction, then the possibilities in developing economies is beyond beyond because many do not have a choice now (like Americans) between local storage devices, large screens, lap tops etc. or, the cloud. All this requires is connectivity and a low priced gadget for great results. I see this trend and I see two critical aspects. First there's productivity expanding for almost everyone using this new universal storage. I also see, as time passes, more uncertainty and changing attitudes toward the keepers of our data and the overall utility of using the cloud.
Here's the social mood component:
What happens with our data? Our pics, our notes to people in all of our circles?...Our ideas, our actions, and our plans? The first thing we've seen cloud businesses address was security and, the first news stories about cloud services we're seeing are data security related. As an observer I try not to stir the pot of negative opinion on such matters ...especially since the utility of cloud services is understated when called incredible.
however...
In an always uncertain world the certainty of a professional cloud server farm being there for me is a great thought. But what about big brother and all the data starved web businesses out there without a clear sense of right and wrong until they are slapped? (aka: "ask for forgiveness not...") Ok, that sounds paranoid just reading it back but the headlines this week alone justifies some of the concern. The question worth considering: Is your disposition biased toward comfort using the cloud for all manner of data? (business or personal)? or is it somewhat contained by 'let's wait and see'? Is it more negative than that? What are your various social groups feeding back to you on issues like this? It is very early yet but many people in business have already experienced the utility.
Social mood is a giant moving average of attitudes that are directionally predictive and it is like a dip stick of broad social action at any one moment. That's how I visualize it in order not to get stuck in the concerns of individuals and think in the realm of larger groups (and markets).
The uncertainty associated with a social shift to the cloud is a perfect opportunity to assess mood in one specific social dynamic right now and in the months ahead too.
As discussed here many times; there are (right now) conflicting examples of mood out in all societies that represent some degree of the emergent pattern in aggregate (societal) mood. My guess is that adoption and use of the cloud will reflect shorter cycles in mood as opposed to the cycles represented by longer social trends talked about here. The very appearance of the cloud is a result of a longer term social trend. My guess is that cloud services will be impacted by changing social mood and manifest shorter swings (even reverses) in participation and momentum as a concurrent indication of mood. Why do I think this? Because in the social correction of late 2008 & early 2009 the types of everyday concerns and complaints that manifested were rooted in seemingly practical matters affected by a rapidly changing social environment. I am not suggesting the demise of the cloud but momentum could be reversed so much that it seems inevitable. The cloud is just getting started but it seems to have begun with very little clear market dictated definitions. Social affirmation of expectations using the cloud is the next step and that will be more complicated as it will most likely happen in the context of a deepening social correction. For now, the benefit to to industry of mass adoption of the cloud is incremental purchases of many more small processors and services. To anyone who appreciates technology the cloud is not a surprise but to most consumers, it was a fresh use of digital ecosystems to make many tasks easier. In a nutshell, the cloud trend is reflective of a larger positive social trend. It is building something new and expanding digital markets.
My main point now is how I will be watching and (somewhat) expecting to see multiple examples of how negative social mood is expressed toward cloud services in a concurrent expression of mood as it corrects in the years directly ahead. Like all great new ideas and tools,(think: search engines) this will serve to define what and how the cloud should be used & managed. Obvious and almost expected stories will emerge that instruct us about considered use of cloud services and related responsibility of cloud enterprises. Some uses are a natural and some uses will be sharply questioned. The first link below should begin to shape thinking on what kind of data should not be stored in the cloud. The second highlights ambiguous societal borders in the digital ecosystem and get us to think about how mood has the potential to crash through those gateways.
Let's watch together. Based on headlines this week, we ought to consider how data security is bumping into information needs of competitive interests and how social boundaries are not fully established even if we think they should be. So, how can any one cloud customer be sure that they are not being bumped down some priority list of our cloud operator? If phones can be hacked so too can cloud accounts. Are cloud companies going to be as responsible as credit card companies to their customers? The ongoing digital aggregation of our various data has produced an alternate potential that can be accessed by many technologically savvy outside interests. The cloud is a fantastic idea and a great example of a lagging expression of a long term peak in mood at the largest degree of trend. It is, however, a sharp tool that can and will cut both ways. In the meantime we will see rules and norms be developed by noisy users, especially if overall mood expressions turn negative in the months ahead. The social development of the cloud will be governed by short term mood. I expect the cloud to survive but if the definition of utility includes security, does that suggest positive potential or negative longer term potential? Social mood will play a role in how we see, use, and value the cloud in both the short term and the medium term. (These links are both quick and worthy reads)
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