Cloud Computing has gained a lot of attention in the last two years. It has mostly been used for non-Business applications like email or for those applications that could be outsourced to a vendor that offers large Business applications in a Software as a Service (SaaS) model. However, it is apparent that the reach of the Cloud is expanding, and many companies are wondering how to plan for more substantial use of cloud capabilities, such that they won't fall behind their competition.
This seminar will provide an overview of the key Cloud characteristics and capabilities, differentiating between Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). We will then discuss how the development of Business applications for the cCoud is different from traditional application development. The seminar will also address the major challenges for exploiting the Cloud, including the integration of the cloud with on-premise applications. The discussion will be illustrated with examples including Microsoft Azure, force.com, Google, Amazon, and WaveMaker.

Main Topics
- Key characteristics of the Cloud
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
- Platform as a Service (PaaS)
- Software as a Service (SaaS)
- Developing applications specifically for the Cloud
- The synergy of SOA and Cloud Computing
- The main challenges
- Integration of the Cloud with on-premise systems
- Overview of the major players and their technologies