41 new Google+ features announced at Google I/O
http://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/41-new-google-features-announced-at-google-io/#ixzz2TWf8J9JM

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125 : World’s Finance Investment and Banking Sectors, Geared-Up and Good to Go.

126 : World’s Finance Investment and Banking Sectors, Struggling to Disguise Group Grifter’s Graft Graph, Gauging Global Gelt’s Goring.

Your article brings to light some of the concerning issues facing cloud computing which have given me, and I am certain countless other online consumers, pause when considering what content to upload to cloud servers. This dilemma has become more and more relevant as the cloud services available to consumers are constantly expanding. I too shudder at the idea of government agencies scouring over my documents and other data, which at this point seems like it must be floating somewhere out in the massive expanse that is the Internet. Just a few days before you posted this article, the guardian ran a story on the US government’s ability to snoop on any data that a foreign national uploaded to Google or Apple’s cloud servers, which causes me to wonder where the line of personal privacy really lies (both from the government and from the companies that host users’ data). I can also relate to your point that, at least today, cloud based web programs such as Google Docs, while useful, are vastly underpowered compared to their desktop based counterparts. You presented the example of the Cromebook, a device which others also feel is doomed due in part to its underwhelming cloud based OS. In my own world, I tend to back up all of my files locally to an external hard drive (a technology which has become remarkably cheap, as you describe).

One issue which you mentioned, yet I feel might be a larger concern than you presented, is the potential for cloud outages. While these may sometimes be benign, as in the case of the recent Netflix / AWS crash, as more and more individual users and corporations place their data and operations in the cloud, we may see some serious negative consequences if the servers are overloaded or infrastructure is damaged. This risk is compounded as cloud computing constantly gains new users. In fact, as far back as two years ago, over half of multinational firms reported using cloud services of some sort. Combine this with the information from a recent study by Symantec in which they determined that 43% of companies studied had lost data in the cloud. When cloud computing services are implemented properly (taking adequate encryption and security measures) the technology boasts many productive applications for consumers and businesses alike, particularly as a safeguard against risks such as hardware failure, natural disasters, or theft. However, I personally agree with your cautionary note and call for the use of discretion when choosing what cloud services to utilize and what data to store on cloud servers, as well as the use of local backups to supplement data stored in the cloud.

Jason Kerns

People really seem to respect this and it helps me with getting everyone bought in and on side. Slightly off topic but an interesting concept.