resources and direct them where most needed, the organization still has purchased or acquired all the resources, creating a strong likelihood of underused resources. This means that any resources not currently used are an expense without benefit to the organization. On the positive side, the customer knows where all data is stored, and tighter organizational control could be implemented if needed. • Community: A community cloud leverages the best features of public and private clouds. Resources are shared but among organizations with a common function. Multiple customers provide for more effective use of resources, and the common focus allows for a greater level of control and security. Furthermore, the community cloud gives a greater level of specialization and control while still sharing resources and costs. “GovCloud” is often used in reference to a public cloud setting exclusively for the use of government organizations and can be considered a type of community cloud. • Hybrid: A hybrid cloud is any combination of the above models that allows sharing resources between local sites and a community-based cloud. This model recognizes the need for greater availability and access to resources in a shorter timeframe. For peak usage, customers could augment local resources by tapping into another cloud. Community Cloud Data Center An example of a community cloud exists as the Northwest Regional
Data Center (NWRDC) at Florida State University (FSU). Established in 1972 as one of four regional data centers for the State University System of Florida, NWRDC initially offered mainframe services to universities across the state. Today, NWRDC provides a wide range of services to public sector entities across the State of Florida. A common concern over cloud computing – especially community cloud technology – is loss of control. To address this concern, NWRDC and FSU adopted a shared governance model to give all participants a sense of ownership. This move has essentially alleviated the trust issue and has been key to the community cloud service's success. By working together, the member-customers have access to enterprise-level services and facilities that would be difficult and expensive to implement individually. As a self-funded auxiliary of FSU, NWRDC receives no funding from the university or the State of Florida – it is 100 percent funded by its charges for services to its customers. As a nonprofit state entity, NWRDC cannot charge more for a service than what it actually costs to
provide. Each service or cost center must be self-supporting and operate within the guidelines of the Charter of Operation. For its Community Cloud, NWRDC provides a resource-on- demand model. The core component of NWRDC's General Computer cluster (vCB-G), allowing customers to subscribe to dedicated resource pools and run multiple virtual machines as needed. This flexibility empowers customers to dynamically allocate resources based on their current needs and prioritize them within the dedicated environment. NWRDC’s hybrid cloud architecture collaborates with its partners in the public and GovCloud space, including Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure to provide customers with extensive support and a variety of options. Leveraging the purchasing power of its entire user base, customers benefit from competitive pricing, discounts, and streamlined purchasing directly through us. Its holistic cloud computing solutions are designed to enhance compliance with the State of Florida’s Cloud First Initiative.
Florida Technology Magazine – 2024 Fall Edition – 5
Powered by FlippingBook