What is information technology today?  A printer, a Blackberry or iPhone, security, banking or stock market updates, social media, databases, data storage, video communication, marketing, recorded TV, shopping,…..

Any business that will survive has one essential requirement.  A connection to the public cloud (internet).  Despite marketing attempts to alter perceptions the internet is still just the open source cloud it always was. The term “cloud”, helps IT  people draw diagrams defining who has access to what. Many clouds pretend to be private, however they are merely encrypted tunnels.

It is a communication tool, it is a work tool, it is our best database and wealth of knowledge (indeed, it is an IT consultants best friend).  The trouble is at one point in time things will fail.  We must accept this fact.   There have been numerous cases in the past and there will be numerous cases in the future.  At any given time, in any given location the internet will go down.

We often make decisions based on money, and when things go wrong we understand the real value of an intangible product such as data, communication, and research.  The established worldly term in cloud computing is a perfect example which is essentially services on the internet.  Potentially, if the internet goes down…..no I am wrong here: expecting failure tells me the internet will go down, and when the internet goes down, we will be blind.

Buzz Lightyear

Mayday, mayday, come in Star Command. Send Reinforcements. Star Command… Do you copy?

Cloud Computing.  “Remote computing” has come a long way, from controlling computers to controlling apps.  Now we want apps on multiple devices.  Take email: we now want it on our computers, phones, tablets, lounge room tv’s.  We are extending this to social media, and this is defining business and the cloud.  Our usernames for social media require an email identity (internet passport).  It does not matter how we connect, we just need to be connected.  From multiple devices, from anywhere and at anytime.  247365.

For me, it is a given that to be competitive we “need to be on the cloud”.  When it fails, our dependency on the cloud will be ours alone.  Ask yourself the question: how long can I be completely offline for (working without data)?   What data do we need to store locally to function when disaster occurs?

Most people in developed countries can perform tasks such as sending an email and browsing data in the cloud.  This means everyone (in developed countries) is connected.  To be connected now is a thing in itself.  What are we connecting to?

What is the internet?  “It is ports and tunnels!” *-favorite quote – points to anyone that can assist!

What is a tunnel?  “A tunnel is an underground passageway, completely enclosed except for openings for ingress and egress, commonly at each end.” -Wiki

Data travels in a meaningful format through a tunnel. For example, email applications listen for email down a tunnel that email traffic travels on.  It is a virtual path that information can enter and travel down, and it carries a signature or information to exit through a particular port.

What is a port?  “A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land.” – Wiki

A port is an entry and an exit point for a tunnel, in which the tunnel represents a distinct pathway for which data becomes meaningful through direction of infrastructure in a network.

Picture a telephone network.  We have phones with phone numbers (or phone addresses), and extension numbers (which are similar from company to company – usually single or double digit).  Externally, we usually have one address for the terminating line.  This is the phone number.  From there software can direct the voice data.

Picture a computer network.  We have computers with internet addressess, and extension numbers (which are similar from company to company – usually  192,168.x.x).  Externally, we usually have one address for the terminating line.  This is the Wide Area Network (WAN) address.  From there software can direct the data.  Companies can have a static IP address meaning they can always find their location.  (Not touching dynamic addresses today).

If you want to understand the internet, we have to understand gateways.  A gateway is simply a modem.  This holds the connection.  We like to think that our homes are private, the internet is so big who knows.  The reality is that the internet is the best tracking mechanism since confessions at Church.  Privacy can be controlled to an extent, but make no mistake Big Brother is watching.  What happens on the internet…