The Problem with Cloud-Computing Standards

Cloud computing is pursuing a proprietary approach to promote its offerings. Firms do not offer readily portability or cloud solutions from one vendor to another. The current tendency is to offer as little interoperability as possible. Cloud computing, especially IaaS and PaaS, can be compared to a hotel where guests can check it but find it difficult to ever check out.
However, some progress is getting made in view of several organizations that have now established cloud standardization as an objective.

The Distributed Management Task Force (DMTF) so far has made greatest progress.  It has created an Open Virtualization Format (OVF). OVF provides a way for moving virtual computers from one hosted platform to another. ANSI recognizes the OVF as a standard. It is also under consideration by ISO. IBM, Microsoft, Citrix and VMware lead the DMTF. It has a large number of global supporters.

The IEEE has in place two working groups. Each has so far published only Draft Guides.  Work will not be completed for at least two years.

The Open Grid Forum is attempting to create an Open Cloud Computing Interface, which is work in process.

The Organization for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards (OASIS) has two technical committees working on cloud standards, with no results so far.

SUMMARY
With the exception of DMTF, with limited applicability, the progress made so far on cloud standardization has not resulted in interoperability across diverse cloud offerings.
What matters now is the “eco structure” that surrounds various cloud vendors which includes software firms and cloud providers. The rapidly expanding cloud provider industry (software plus service offerings) supports primarily dominant vendors. Service providers continue to be dispersed, but the concentration in cloud software clearly identifies VMware (with 70% market share) and Microsoft (with 23% market share) as the leaders.

From the standpoint of DoD support of VMware as the de facto standards appears to be the safest approach to pursue for the time being.