Microsoft Sidekick Data Loss Not a Blow to Cloud
Stemming from the Microsoft Sidekick Data Loss event, some are highlighting the dangers of cloud computing. Of course there is also the contrarian view too. But the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
Is cloud computing dangerous? As with many things, it depends on how you approach it. If you take a measured approach to gauge the opportunities and risks, then no. If you haphazardly march straight into it, then yes, it is dangerous. But that is nothing new…or it shouldn’t be.
The Wall Street Journal article (with details) outlined the mess that has been plaguing Sidekick users for a week now. Is this a case of failure in the cloud? No. Let’s ensure that the focus is on the right problem.
While the gory details are not well known, the details we do know point to poor choices on the operational front. It appears that a similar failure could have happened in any data center. This event is not an example of failure in the cloud, but support for ensuring that good DR/ BC processes are in place…and tested regularly.
Let this event not be a call to lynch the cloud supporters, but rather a call to dust off the DR/ BC plan and run through it.
UPDATE: (10/15/2009)
Microsoft Sidekick Data Restore in process:
http://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2009/10/15/sidekick-data-restoration-in-progress-microsoft-says/
