Cloud Computing Explained: Implementation Handbook for Enterprises [Kindle Edition]

The book provides systematic treatment of all aspects of a Cloud Computing implementation starting from a definition of what it actually means and assessment of whether it is suitable for a given company to the strategy alignment, implementation and operation of a working solution.

It covers some of the main concerns around cloud computing including risk assessments, governance models, compliance concerns, interoperability with existing and heterogeneous environments. While these are legitimate issues there are ways to address them which are explored extensively in the book.

It provides a very wide treatment of cloud computing that covers Infrastructure-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service, Software-as-a-Service as the many integration and management components that are necessary to make these work together to fulfill business requirements.

It is not focused on any particular vendor or service offering. While there is considerable treatment of Amazon, Google and Microsoft the text references several dozen other players and demonstrates how the whole ecosystem works together to solve the main objectives of cost reduction, business flexibility and strategic focus.

What I liked most was that as an IT manager the book leads you through your whole cloud computing project. It provides methods and background information on how to tackle each project step best. It is a perfectly comprehensive implementation guide covering everything you need to be aware of.

John Rhoton's book "Cloud Computing Explained" is the best cloud computing book I've been able to find. Written in an easy-to-read format, which I like, it adopts Rhoton's proven approach at implementing emerging technologies in Fortune 500 corporations. The book is divided into ten logical sections that provide a thorough picture of cloud computing:

1. Define: explores the meaning of the term and its context; consider the different manifestations of private, public and partner clouds delivered as Software-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service and Infrastructure-as-a-Service

2. Assess: provides a sober means to evaluate when and where it is applicable, considering financial, strategic and risk implications

3. Design: establish a high-level approach and methodology for evaluating, planning and implementing cloud computing

4. Select: how to select the optimal suite of applications and services to solve a business problem, how to target the best user groups and identify the best offerings to meet the business needs

5. Integrate: what it takes to put together all the different components and connect them with the legacy infrastructure; considers end-to-end design, connectivity, resilience and security.

6. Implement: how to make the design actually work, including technical migration and organisational changes

7. Operate: considers the day-to-day service management, administration, monitoring and support implications of cloud solutions

8. Control: tackles the core problems of compliance, risk and governance as they manifest themselves in cloud computing

9. Adapt: how to continuously refine a cloud-based solution in order to optimize it in a dynamic environment

10. Evolve: technological changes on the horizon for cloud computing and their potential effect on cloud services

The unique systematic book structure is very useful for all IT professionals architects and executives since it serves as a roadmap for embarking on a course in any new technology and is enriched with solid cloud-based guidance for every step of the way.

This books provides the most comprehensive picture of Cloud Computing that you will find in print today. The author covers all you need to know about Cloud Computing in ten very logically sequenced parts: Define, Assess, Design, Select, Integrate, Implement, Operate, Control, Adapt, Evolve.

Within these 10 parts, the author makes very practical and detailed explanations of areas related to Cloud Computing not typically found in other books, like management layers, ecosystem, infrastructure stack, platform as a service, how to assess benefits and challenges (strategic, risk and financial impacts), security architecture and design, employee changes, monitoring, governance and compliance, and even a list a Cloud Vendors.

With this book the author presents a document that is extremely practical and useful for consultants, architects, technologists, CIOs, CTO's, technology managers, and strategists who are actually involved with the planning and implementation of information technology - or for those who are just interested in Cloud Computing.

You would expect no less from someone who is known to have been one of the technology thought leaders at Hewlett-Packard for so many years - especially if you have read any of his other books. He has brought his considerable experience on Cloud Computing to bear here - and it shows when you see that what you learn from this book can put to immediate use.