Cloud Computing gets its first technical standard – SOCCI from The Open Group

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Written by: E.G.Nadhan, Distinguished Technologist, HP

Cloud computing standards, like other standards go through a series of evolutionary phases similar to the ones I outlined in the Top 5 phases of IaaS standards evolution. IaaS standards in particular take longer than their SaaS and PaaS counterparts because a balance is required between the service-orientation of the core infrastructure components in cloud computing.

This balance is why today’s announcement of the release of the industry’s first technical standard, Service Oriented Cloud Computing Infrastructure (SOCCI) is significant.

As one of the co-chairs of this project, here is some insight into the manner in which The Open Group went about creating the definition of this standard:

• Step One: Identify the key characteristics of service orientation, as well as those for the cloud as defined by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).  Analyze these characteristics and the resulting synergies through the application of service orientation in the cloud. Compare and contrast their evolution from the traditional environment through service orientation to the cloud.
• Step Two: Identify the key architectural building blocks that enable the Operational Systems Layer of the SOA Reference Architecture (released today) and the Cloud Reference Architecture that is in progress.
• Step Three: Map these building blocks across the architectural layers while representing the multi-faceted perspectives of various viewpoints including those of the consumer, provider and developer.
• Step Four: Define a Motor Cars in the Cloud business scenario: You, the consumer  are downloading auto-racing videos through an environment managed by a Service Integrator which requires the use of services for software, platform and infrastructure along with  traditional technologies. Provide a behind-the-curtains perspective on the business scenario where the SOCCI building blocks slowly but steadily come to life.
• Step Five: Identify the key connection points with the other Open Group projects in the areas of architecture, business use cases, governance and security. 

The real test of a standard is in its breadth of adoption. This standard can be used in multiple ways by the industry at large in order to ensure that the architectural nuances are comprehensively addressed. It could be used to map existing cloud-based deployments to a standard architectural template. It can also serve as an excellent set of cloud-based building blocks that can be used to build out a new architecture.

"Service Oriented Cloud Computing Infrastructure (SOCCI) is a classic intersection of multiple paradigms in the industry – infrastructure virtualization, service-orientation and the cloud – an inevitable convergence," said Tom Hall, Global Product Marketing Manager, Cloud and SOA Applications, HP Enterprise Services. "HP welcomes the release of the industry's first cloud computing standard by The Open Group. This standard provides a strong foundation for HP and The Open Group to work together to evolve additional standards in the SOA and Cloud domains."

Have you taken a look at this standard? If not, please do so. If so, where and how do you think this standard could be adopted? Are there ways that the standard can be improved in future releases to make it better suited for broader adoption? Please let me know your thoughts.