Cloud computing has gained significant importance in research computing. There are research computing projects that are well served when cloud resources are used and those that are not well served if cloud resources are adopted. Deciding on when to use cloud resources comes with experience or knowledge of the various cloud resources available and how to quickly evaluate these resources for adoption on a given project.
Furthermore, the growth in cloud adoption is related to the ubiquity of research instruments that has led to the generation of large volumes of data. This has resulted in a significant change in approach on how to design and deploy research computing cyberinfrastructure. Solutions architects must find a balance between designing, building and deploying efficient and effective infrastructure and staying within the confinement of budgetary constraints. As such, solutions architect takes a global approach when deciding the cyberinfrastructure resource to adopt. Public cloud, private cloud and other traditional research computing resources are available to the solutions architect. Adopting or not adopting any of the resources available depends on several factors as well as experience.
This engagement aims to bring together research computing professionals with different levels of experience in the use of cloud resources and will focus on the following:
- Sharing experience on the adoption of cloud cyberinfrastructure.
- Identifying research computing activities that are more likely to benefit from the use of cloud cyberinfrastructure.
- Congregating ideas and writing white papers to help disseminate lessons learned
- Hopefully, use this engagement as a launch path for an affinity group for cloud computing.