The Risk of a Meltdown In the Cloud 154
zrbyte writes "A growing number of complexity theorists are beginning to recognize some potential problems with cloud computing. The growing consensus is that bizarre and unpredictable behavior often emerges in systems made up of 'networks of networks,' such as a business using the computational resources of a cloud provider. Bryan Ford at Yale University in New Haven says the full risks of the migration to the cloud have yet to be properly explored. He points out that complex systems can fail in many unexpected ways, and he outlines various simple scenarios in which a cloud could come unstuck."
Re:It has to happen (Score:5, Funny)
At some point, there is going to be a massive failure. Someone big is going to lose *all* of their data.
I just hope its my mortgage company and not my bank.
Obligatory XKCD (Score:2, Funny)
Re:It has to happen (Score:4, Funny)
Well, as the holodeck is tactile, I expect it will kill quite a few people before the kinks are worked out.
Re:Why not stick to real risks? (Score:5, Funny)
This. A million times this!
Our brass is also abuzz with "the cloud". Nobody has the foggiest (pun intended) idea what it is about, what it is or what the hell is going on, but it is the best thing since bread has been sliced. The cloud. It will help us safe millions. How? I dunno, I don't care, but it does! We hear it everywhere, we see it in our manager magazines, and there it is kinda-sorta explained but I didn't understa... I mean, I didn't read it throughly, I don't have the time, my time is valuable, ya know? But it will help us cut costs in a big way, we gotta push towards the cloud!
The risks? They are not aware of the risks. They don't even know they exist. Why would they exist, they didn't exist so far, right? Redundan..what? Backup... whazat? Now why the hell do we need that suddenly?
Re:It has to happen (Score:4, Funny)
But, but... you don't understand. You're money's not here. It's in Joe's house, and Jimmie's house and... it really is a wonderful life.