Microsoft thinks cloud is bad … and they would know!

To be honest, this is an “angry” piece of writing. A rant … a diatribe … whatever you might like to call it. But I just couldn’t let this go!

Microsoft (yep, the same company that recently demonstrated that they are unable to manage other people’s data) have come out with a “white paper” outlining their concerns about cloud computing. Here’s an article about that release from a leading Australian Newspaper. Take a few moments to read it, and I DEFY you not to be flabbergasted at the astounding combination of arrogance and ignorance they they are displaying.

… just breathe … in and out … in and out … ok …

The funny thing is – the point they were making about security is a good one – they were just the wrong company to make it, on so many levels! Its like a lion lecturing a herd of gazelles on the virtues of not becoming food. Let me count the ways:

1. Microsoft themselves are notoriously bad at looking after other people’s data
2. The cloud model is in direct competition with the current MSFT business model (no matter how much they talk about their half-hearted efforts in this direction)
3. Let’s remember that this is the company that used to tell us that the internet was a passing fad (until they realized how much money Netscape were making and engaged in some dodgy behaviour to force consumers to use their own product)
4. Their spokesman makes no sense. What does this mean –> “We want to take the initiative in regard to our position on privacy in the cloud” <– that’s a nonsense statement. It means nothing at all!
5. Oh, and what about “Companies should know where their data is sitting in the cloud”? Huh? The whole IDEA of the cloud is that applications and/or data could run anywhere. How would it be beneficial to a company to know where its data is residing? Wouldn’t that actually negate one of the major security benefits of the cloud?

Hard as it may be to believe, I’m NOT a Microsoft-hater … at all! They have been a revolutionary company in the history of computing, and have been almost solely responsible for bringing computing to the masses. But you see, that’s what upsets me most of all – here is a company that many consumers look to for leadership – and it’s disturbing that they see fit to abuse that position by spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt about a market where it just hasn’t tried hard enough.

Sure, you have to watch who has access to your data – there’s nothing new there – just don’t paint the cloud as the bogeyman!