As I mentioned in my last post, CGI was featured in a special advertising section of Fortune on cloud computing called "The New Technology Paradigm." In the section, the journalist writes that "…the best cloud service providers know that cloud systems themselves can't be treated as commodities." He quotes me talking about how cloud companies like CGI understand that cloud systems must be enterprise strength.

What did I mean by "enterprise strength"? I'm referring to the basic tenants that account for quality infrastructure services management no matter the deployment strategy. When you ask for infrastructure as a service, you should continue to demand all of the elements of robustness, security, redundancy and so on that you expect from traditional infrastructure services.

Here are some questions to ask your cloud provider to ensure they are enterprise strong.

• Are there appropriate security and disaster recovery measures in place?
• Are the facilities accredited and audited by the appropriate third parties?
• Does the vendor follow an integrated ITIL®-based approach?
• Is there an "accountability framework" (defined roles, processes, reporting) for your cloud services agreement?
• What types of service levels do they provide?
• Will you have access to other high-end services related to your cloud needs, such as access to specialized back-up and encryption services?

The list can go on and on, but you get the point.

While the cloud may be new, the principles of robust infrastructure services should remain. In the end, clients should be vigilant in ensuring their cloud vendors have figured out how to deliver enterprise strength IaaS.

ITIL® is a registered trade mark of the Cabinet Office