Abstract

Traditionally if you need to run an application, you buy a server. If you want to store data, you buy disk drives. To house these, you build a data centre with appropriate power, cooling, and security, and you run systems to monitor the performance of your equipment and facilities. Researchers have often operated this infrastructure themselves but are increasingly relying upon centralised infrastructure operated by their institution or by a state or regional centre. In addition, programs set up under Australia’s National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) are looking to coordinate research infrastructure services across Australia, and international Grid projects have attempted to provide some of this functionality for specific purposes. However, a new model is emerging where infrastructure elements are integrated into a single service, hosted in a cloud and delivered over a network connection. In this session, a panel of experts will address the following questions regarding Cloud Infrastructure Services.

• How ready is the Cloud Infrastructure Services model? Is it just hype, or genuinely a disruptive technology?
• What are the implications for eResearch? Are the needs of scientists too specialised to be met by Cloud Infrastructure Services provided by major vendors?
• What are the legal and privacy implications of entrusting your data to the Cloud?
• What are the implications for CIOs and infrastructure planners at universities and research institutions?
• What are the implications for NCRIS, and for state and national research infrastructure services in Australia and New Zealand?

Following a short presentation by each panelist, the chair will coordinate discussion between the audience and the panel.

Chaired by Nick Tate, Director ITS and AusCERT, The University of Queensland.

Panelists:

• Tony Hey, Corporate Vice President of External Research, Microsoft Research
• Peter Elford, Public Sector Solutions Architect, Cisco Systems
• Anne Fitzgerald, Professor of Law, Queensland University of Technology
• Kevin Mayo, Chief Technologist, Education and Research, Sun Microsystems ANZ