Cloud Computing: Implementation, Management, and Security [Hardcover]

John Rittinghouse (Author), James Ransome (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 17, 2009 | ISBN-10: 1439806802 | ISBN-13: 978-1439806807 | Edition: 1

Cloud Computing: Implementation, Management, and Security provides an understanding of what cloud computing really means, explores how disruptive it may become in the future, and examines its advantages and disadvantages. It gives business executives the knowledge necessary to make informed, educated decisions regarding cloud initiatives.

The authors first discuss the evolution of computing from a historical perspective, focusing primarily on advances that led to the development of cloud computing. They then survey some of the critical components that are necessary to make the cloud computing paradigm feasible. They also present various standards based on the use and implementation issues surrounding cloud computing and describe the infrastructure management that is maintained by cloud computing service providers. After addressing significant legal and philosophical issues, the book concludes with a hard look at successful cloud computing vendors.

Helping to overcome the lack of understanding currently preventing even faster adoption of cloud computing, this book arms readers with guidance essential to make smart, strategic decisions on cloud initiatives.

Editorial Reviews

Review

… This book is a compact and readable primer on the vocabulary and concepts behind the cloud computing phenomenon. … For those readers unfamiliar with basic virtualization software, the authors provide a brief tutorial using the popular (and free) VirtualBox product. … the book can serve as a brief but adequate introduction to cloud computing for those new to the topic …
—Computing Reviews, November 2009

About the Author

John W. Rittinghouse is Chief Software Architect and Co-founder of Hypersecurity LLC in Houston, Texas. He holds a Ph.D. in Psychology with emphasis in Natural Language Processing.

James F. Ransome is a Senior Director and the Chief Security Officer for the Cisco Collaborative Software Group (WebEx). He holds a Ph.D. in Information Systems specializing in Information Security.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 340 pages
• Publisher: CRC Press; 1 edition (August 17, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439806802
• ISBN-13: 978-1439806807
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #929,893 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. John W. Rittinghouse is a senior security and management executive with over 25 years of experience. As the Chief Software Architect of the Hypersecurity DataVault, he has sought to bring sensibility and ease of use to data security. Dr. Rittinghouse was a former Chair of both the Cybersecurity Group and the Network Computing Technologies Group with the Network Reliability and Interoperability Council for the Federal Communications Commission and currently sits on several corporate boards. His areas of expertise include all facets of Information Technology and Information Security and Assurance. He is a globally recognized expert in information security. Some of the organizations Dr. Rittinghouse has worked with include Compaq Computer, Bowne Global Solutions, Cable and Wireless, Exodus Communications, Boeing, Allstate, AIG, the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Commerce, DataWatch, etc. in determining risk and establishing policies for mitigation of potential threats. John has many books on information security, programming and IT program management to his credit.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Profoundly Useless..., November 4, 2010

By 

Redmond Geek - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cloud Computing: Implementation, Management, and Security (Hardcover)

Even for an "executive overview," this volume is exceptionally light on useful content. To make up for the book's lack of substance, the authors apparently felt compelled to include tons of filler. For example, the first thirty pages are an overview of the development of computing -- including a bunch of fuzzy, low-res B&W photos of the Eniac, the Harvard Mark I computer, an Intel 4004 chip, Tim Berners-Lee's first web server, etc. (Most of these images are either quarter- or half-page size, so they serve primarily to take up space.) Later in the book, there's a 28-page chapter explaining how to download and install Sun virtualization components; this includes step-by-step instructions and more grainy images of each panel in the installation wizard. Mixed in with all this fluff, there are a few shallow discussions of network architecture, IPV6, cloud vendors and technologies, and security. The book finishes off with a chapter on mobile computing that consists primarily of a discussion of what smartphones are (perhaps targeted at people who've been in a coma for the last decade), and the now-familiar grainy, low-res half-page images of several vendors' phones.

There are much better overview books available (Rhoton's book on cloud computing comes to mind). The real question about this book is, why was it ever published? What editor at CRC Press read the authors' draft and thought it was worth printing in quantity?

I weep for the trees that died to produce this thing...

1 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comments to RedmondGeek, November 8, 2010

By 

JR - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cloud Computing: Implementation, Management, and Security (Hardcover)

While I am not inclined to agree with the comments made by RedmondGeek, I certainly respect his right to make those very hurtful and inaccurate statements. Given the fact that this book has been in several prints and is published in many languages, it is obvious that not everyone agrees with his opinion. As the author, I wanted to see why RedmondGeek felt the way he did so i took a look at his profile and discovered that there are very few positive things said at all by this reviewer about any material he has reviewed. Furthermore, the parts of the book he mentioned liking the least in his review are the very parts most often praised by others when this topic and book have been discussed by my co-author or myself at dozens of trade shows, symposiums, and conferences. Given an abject misunderstanding of the both purpose and the evolution of the computing platform and the practice of security altogether, I would hope he takes the time to re-read and make constructive comment or learn that because something is not written as he felt it should be, trashing it accomplishes very little and serves no purpose. I cannot wait to review his book at some point in the future and promise to be more objective than his treatment of (many) others.