Q: What is cloud or utility computing?
A: The buzzword now seems to be cloud computing. Basically it's where you get any computing resource or service from outside of your organisation, including infrastructure and applications. Often, you only pay for what you use.
Q: What’s the difference between cloud computing and outsourcing?
A: Very typically outsourcing is a case of: "I've got this mess in my data centre, can you go and run it for less?" Outsourcing is largely about taking what you've got inside, taking it and somebody else running it, but running it largely as-is. It's your stuff and usually it's your customised applications.
Cloud computing, on the other hand, is a black box service. It's pre-defined and you subscribe to it with a very limited set of customisation.
About the author: Dr Kevin McIsaac has more than 20 years of experience in IT. He is an expert in infrastructure, operations and vendor management. Now at IBRS, he has held senior positions at META Group, Computer Associates and Functional Software.