OpenStack security analysis: Pros and cons of open source cloud software
20.05.12
OpenStack is an Infrastructure
as a Service cloud computing initiative with the goal of being an easy-to-implement, feature-rich, yet very scalable, cloud
computing platform. Launched in July 2010 by hosting provider Rackspace Inc. and NASA, it consists
of a series of interrelated projects building various components for a cloud infrastructure
solution. All of the code is freely available under the Apache 2.0 license, and there are over 100
companies, including Cisco Systems Inc., Citrix Systems Inc., Dell Inc., Intel Corp. and Microsoft,
contributing to its development.
Opting for open
source cloud software means avoiding the potential dilemma that is proprietary vendor
technology lock-in, and OpenStack’s modular design means it can integrate with legacy or
third-party technologies. OpenStack also aims to establish cloud
computing standards , which are certainly lacking at the moment. Standards will make it easier
to have compatible tools and services that work across cloud providers, thereby easing the process
of moving data and applications between clouds, particularly when migrating from private to public.
Open source Linux solved the problems caused by the emergence of proprietary flavors of Unix, and
open cloud standards could provide the same benefits for large-scale cloud computing.
Source: SearchSecurity.com