Cloud Computing

The MIT Press Essential Knowledge Series

By: Nayan B. Ruparelia

Narrated by: Walter Dixon

Most of the information available on cloud computing is either highly technical, with details that are irrelevant to nontechnologists, or pure marketing hype, in which the cloud is simply a selling point. This book, however, explains the cloud from the user's viewpoint - the business user's in particular. Nayan Ruparelia explains what the cloud is, when to use it (and when not to), how to select a cloud service, how to integrate it with other technologies, and what the best practices are for using cloud computing.

Cutting through the hype, Ruparelia cites the simple and basic definition of cloud computing from the National Institute of Science and Technology: a model enabling ubiquitous, convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources. Thus with cloud computing, businesses can harness information technology resources usually available only to large enterprises. And this, Ruparelia demonstrates, represents a paradigm shift for business. It will ease funding for start-ups, alter business plans, and allow big businesses greater agility.

Ruparelia discusses the key issues for any organization considering cloud computing: service level agreements, business service delivery and consumption, finance, legal jurisdiction, security, and social responsibility. He introduces novel concepts made possible by cloud computing: cloud cells, or specialist clouds for specific uses; the personal cloud; the cloud of things; and cloud service exchanges. He examines use case patterns in terms of infrastructure and platform, software information, and business process; and he explains how to transition to a cloud service. Current and future users will find this book an indispensable guide to the cloud.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2016 Nayan B. Ruparelia (P)2016 Gildan Media LLC

Amazing book!

It's good book for beginners who want to have a full picture of cloud computing. Especially, from IT business and management perspective.
I highly recommend this to IT managers, CIOs, and any IT engineers.

A beginner impressed

For someone absolutely new to tech and computer cloud technology, this book does a great job in simplifying and explaining a big topic so a layman can understand . The narrator isn’t bad neither . U actually learned a whole lot

This is so complete and throrough

This should be required learning and foundational textbook at 100 / intro to cloud computing AND OR can facilitate a HISTORy of CLOUD COMPUTING because it has aged well.

Technical Executives this is a "must have" on your LinkedIn.

sales/relationship managers and marketing people = you ABSOLUTELY need to listen to this until it makes sense. You sound so stupid and full of crap when you drop buzzwords without the understanding.

More informative than I though it would be

What did you love best about Cloud Computing?

The author does a good job of building your knowledge about cloud terms and effectively uses them to reinforce them

What did you like best about this story?

The many aspects of cloud computing. From what is cloud computing to how to effectively evaluate whether or not it is a correct decision for you.

What does Walter Dixon bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The story telling kept me engaged

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

N/A

Good information for those new to cloud computing.

Narrator was monotone which, at times, made it difficult to focus on what I was hearing. Perhaps that is what is desired though as all of the technical books I have purchased on audible have monotone narrators, albeit some better than others. (Some monotone is better than others?? Never thought I'd say that.)

In some parts the information seemed very basic and 101 which was ok as it provided a refresher and in a couple cases, an aspect that differed from what I had previously known and have heard.

VERY VERY BASIC even though from MIT

If you have ever used a computer before then you know everything in this book.

Horribly narrated - poorest performance yet.

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

Any voice inflection, emphasis, or even the a hint of conviction. Sounds like computer software generated the narration.

Would you ever listen to anything by Nayan B. Ruparelia again?

Zero chance.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Dry as toast.

Any additional comments?

Look elsewhere to learn about cloud.

No meaningful technical details

This book is more like a wishlist of features from “cloud computing “. It lacks basic technical details explaining how this list of wishful thinking can be implemented. Therefore, boring is what you feel after finishing the book.

Stale on all fronts

This book is written with as much character as a math text book and read by what I can only assume is a robot.

A college outline read by an academic

What could have made this a 4 or 5-star listening experience for you?

I like the narrator but this was the wrong book for him. With respect to the author who I assume is a young, bright academic, this book is not suitable for an audiobook

What do you think your next listen will be?

A book on cloud computing better suited for audio book format.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Pros: seemingly comprehensive coverage.

1) book organization -- like an outline for a school assignment;
2) despite the herculean attempt to differentiate between IAAS, SAAS, PAAS etc, I was rendered completely confused near the end of the book.
3) The narrator, who is actually one of my favorites, was the wrong choice; only made the automaton writing all the more robotic.
4) Use cases seemed based more on theory than actual practice.

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

Seemingly thorough coverage and a good effort to illustrate use cases. Few books on the subject at this price point written for the layperson.

Any additional comments?

Too much filler that only obfuscated the information. The book could have been cut to half the words.

Sorry for the negative review, but I don't feel I got value for $ spent.