Portability and flexibility have been major requirements in the development of computer technology over the last decade. Users want to be more portable and are becoming increasingly willing to trust external groups to manage their data. A number of organisations including Google, Zoho, Microsoft and others provide various “Cloud Computing” services as one way to address this.
In the Cloud Computing model, a user's data sits somewhere on the Internet, secured by a Data Provider. The user can access their data from almost any Internet-connected location usually through a browser by providing valid account credentials. Data backup would normally be handled by the Data Provider.
Fig. 1 - The "Cloud Computing" Model
Examples of Cloud Computing implementations include Google Docs, Zoho, and Microsoft Windows Azure.
While Cloud Computing is a great solution for many purposes, there are times when an offline option is preferable.
Examples of this include situations where:
- An Internet connection is not reliable or is too slow, making the cloud software unusable
- The user does not want data to be given or trusted to an external organisation
- The software required to use data is specialised or requires advanced, client based features
- Data is to be exchanged with another organisation using formatting that is incompatible with the cloud service
- A corporate policy or firewall/proxy prevents access to certain cloud computing sites or compatible client software
- An Internet connection is too expensive to be appropriate for the level of usage required by cloud applications
- The users just prefer to use client software for whatever reason
The “Reverse Cloud Computing” model, addresses portability with these issues in mind. Reverse Cloud computing involves users keeping their data with them on a portable medium, and backing it up on a regular basis.
Fig. 2 - The "Reverse Cloud Computing" Model
Whilst this model seems almost too simplistic to even be considered a model, the complexity comes in at user level. The model is totally dependent on the user keeping the data backed up on a regular basis. This is where BackupMyPocket is useful. BackupMyPocket makes it quick and easy for a user to back their data up. The Windows version combines this simplicity with a gentle reminder through the use of AutoRun.
It's important to note that the Reverse Cloud Computing model is by no means a replacement for the Cloud Computing model, but rather a more appropriate option when the examples above are prevalent.
Regular Cloud Computing may be preferable in situations where:
- Client software or resources are limited to little more than a browser
- Live collaboration with networked users is required
- The applications are network based and the local network environment prevents access to services other than internet browsing
- The user would like more specifically targeted advertising ;-)
For corporate/enterprise applications, the “Secure Reverse Cloud Computing” model below could be adopted. This model is similar to the Reverse Cloud Computing model, except that:
- Only data with a low security classification is allowed to be stored on the portable device
- The data along with BackupMyPocket reside in an encrypted file container
- Backups are performed only to secured locations say, on a corporate network or possibly to an encrypted, local disk
This model improves on the regular Reverse Cloud Computing model by minimising the likelihood that sensitive information will fall into the wrong hands, should a portable device be lost or stolen. It is important that the strength of the encryption appropriately protects the sensitivity of the data. An example implementation of the Secure Reverse Cloud Computing Model is available below.
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