We’re exploring new frontiers at the Enterprise Cloud Summit, as cloud deckhands try to haul up the sails and ship owners look for value. Overall the mood is good; people are receptive, especially since the order of the day for cloud evangelists is “saving money” and they have examples to prove it.
Probably the biggest news of the day was from Amazon, which announced a new set of AWS services that address performance and monitoring. It’s worth noting that that’s something many cloud management services (e.g., RightScale) are also offering.
Amazon CTO Werner Vogels also point-blank ducked a question on how Amazon makes decisions on how to bring new AWS products to market. This is obviously of interest to cottage industries springing up around AWS.
Other highlights have included a snappy “Dark Side” talk by Forrester Analyst James Staten, providing welcome relief after other sugar-coated morning sessions.
Then, a panel featuring an honest-to-goodness risk analyst and an insurance wonk outlined the meaning of their pet neologism, “intellectual malpractice,” that is, losing/misusing the citizenry’s personal identity materials. Their opinion is that adding cloud providers into the insurance mix may add hitherto unknown risks, since victims may be able to sue anybody involved in the chain.
Technology has outpaced the law, and it’s a breakout world for litigators, argued Bob Parisi, from the risk advisory firm The Marsh Group. That may prove to be a roadbloack for enterprise adopters, he said. Drew Bartkiewicz from The Hartford was unequivocal, however. “Cloud insurance exists,” he said. It’s just going to cost you an unspecified amount of money.