By Pavel Despot
Distributed cloud computing is the practice of decentralizing cloud resources and services to be physically closer to the data source or user while still being centrally managed.
A cloud provider can’t simply declare itself “distributed” because it has data centers scattered around the globe. Instead, it must have a distributed network of computing regions that place processing power closer to end users and developers. The provider must also work in concert with storage and delivery and run workloads and applications within those regions. Finally, it must ensure low-latency, highly redundant connectivity among all those workloads. Only then is that provider enabling you to take a distributed cloud approach.
So, why should you care? Distributed cloud computing addresses the challenges that the design of a legacy, centralized model of cloud computing doesn’t address. Distributed cloud provides data localization, lower latency, increased performance, decreased cost, and a better overall user experience for a world moving farther away from a centralized data center.
Since the chances are that distributed cloud computing is already in use to some degree within your organization, it’s time you understand all its advantages.
What distributed cloud looks like in practice
What does a cloud provider that supports the distributed approach look like? Key differentiators are how resources are deployed, such as:
- Decentralized cloud compute regions with redundant, low-latency connectivity — not just data centers — place processing power in locations that are close to your developers and end users.
- Tools based on open source or open standards allow developers to build and deploy VMs, containers, and storage across multiple clouds.
- Customer support, comprehensive documentation, and access to professional services help you with migrations, find the right documentation, and support your needs.
Developers are already adopting distributed cloud
Whether or not your company ever made a conscious decision to use a distributed cloud computing provider, your developers are likely using one right now. As they look for ways to increase performance and boost efficiency, they’re registering for trial runs with providers that offer processing capacity in the regions where your customers live and work and supply the tools they need to build and deploy apps in those regions. And, once those trial runs are over, they’re probably allocating part of their budget to continue using a distributed cloud provider.
This claim is bolstered by the results of a recent global study by SlashData, which found that 55% of global developers are already using distributed cloud in some form for their work. Among North American developers, that figure was 61%. Why do developers like the distributed cloud approach?
- 38% cited improved user experience with lower latency
- 34% cited flexibility of scaling at different geographies
- 33% cited greater capacity for handling data-intensive applications
But the study also found that while there’s a high level of interest and excitement among developers about the distributed cloud approach, they aren’t necessarily prepared to take full advantage of it.
In particular, the executive summary from SlashData notes: “Many observations throughout this study suggest that developers may still be viewing the distributed cloud through a platform-centric lens, which is impacting their imagination about how distributed clouds operate differently from the current cloud legacy framework.”
Distributed cloud computing has staying power
Recent analyst surveys of IT leaders and developers support this trend away from the legacy, centralized approach to cloud computing and toward a distributed model. For example, a Forrester Consulting study found that among global IT leaders:
- 86% have six or more workloads that need to run in multiple regions
- 76% say the right workload must be aligned with the right cloud
- 66% have six or more workloads that need to run in multiple jurisdictions
- Benefits of placing workloads in the right clouds include increased revenue (68%), improved performance (68%), cost optimization (65%), and improved user experience (64%)
The shortcomings of legacy cloud platforms are only becoming more evident as the driving forces behind the distribution of cloud computing maintain or increase momentum. Getting your cloud workloads strategically positioned worldwide and closer to your customers is the new, modern standard for cloud computing.
(The author is Senior Product Marketing for Cloud Computing Services at Akamai, and the views expressed in this article are his own)
