Doubtless by now you’ve seen Microsoft’s new commercials advertising Cloud Computing. The commercials raise the question, “what exactly is the Cloud?” I personally feel that Microsoft is engaging in “Cloud-washing”. Although there’s no doubt that the services they’re promoting can and in a lot of cases do have Cloud aspects, they’re being purposely ambiguous. Here’s the good news and the bad news.
Good News: Further adoption of the Cloud. Microsoft is good at bringing new technology mainstream. If anyone can bring the Cloud to everyday consumers it’s Microsoft.
Bad News: The Cloud continues to be ambiguous. Consumers are very uneducated when it comes to the Cloud and will remain so. I think that this time next year everything will be labeled “the Cloud” in some way shape or form.
What are your thoughts on Cloud washing? Is it pervasive? Have you seen it yourself?