For many, it will be hard to fathom the connection between a leading microprocessor manufacturer and the cloud. But Intel is taking its manageability lessons and reference architectures from the chip design world and applying these to the office and enterprise areas. Intel works with vendors and solution providers through institutions like the Open Data Center Alliance (ODC) and others, to create standards that make it easier for everyone to access applications on the cloud. In fact, it’s own IT department, dubbed Intel @ IT, successfully transitioned the organization from a phase of server consolidation to a virtualized infrastructure and then to an internal cloud. As a result, Intel enjoyed savings of USD 9 million through its internal cloud efforts. Intel India recently conducted The Cloud Summit 2011 in Mumbai to highlight the importance of Cloud and Intel Cloud Builder(s) Program, the IntelOpen Data Center Initiative and Intel Cloud 2015 vision.

Commenting on the opportunity and the way forward on cloud computing, Kimberly S. Stevenson, VP IT, GM IT Global Operations and Services, Intel said, “Cloud Computing is a key area of innovation for Intel and one of Intel IT’s top objectives for the year 2012. Having realized the immense potential of cloud, it is essential for companies to come together and enable collaborative innovation to address both India and global market needs.”

Stevenson said the key focus should now be on developing the ecosystem, which should also include developing talent for cloud development. The other focus areas are connecting startup ISVs with large system integrators, enabling startups on the cloud market places, and influencing government policies to become cloud friendly in the near future.

Speaking to InformationWeek on the sidelines of the Summit, R Ravichandran, Director, Sales, Intel South Asia said, “There are three focus areas for Intel in 2012: Client aware, Federated cloud, and Automated. Intel wants to create new standards like Client aware wherein websites will sense the device on which they are being viewed and reformat their appearance on the fly for that screen. This will improve the user’s surfing experience, irrespective of what device he uses.”

In a Federated cloud one would be able to share data securely across public and private clouds. Client aware means optimizing services based on device capability. And once provisioning of resources and services are automated, IT can focus more on innovation and less on management.

The Summit also focused on how the industry is working towards creating benefits of cloud computing to enterprises across the region. The event showcased Intel Cloud Builder(s) reference architecture and had various demonstrations from partners such as Microsoft, Dell and Fujitsu.

The lack of standards has been an inhibitor to the adoption of cloud computing. So Intel helped create the Open Data Center Alliance in October 2010. The ODC has a membership of 300 plus IT leaders from user organizations that work with vendors for the developments of standards for cloud computing. Approximately 100 companies (which account for more than USD 50 bn in annual IT spending) have joined the Alliance, including BMW, Royal Dutch Shell and Marriott Hotels. The Alliance's Cloud 2015 vision is aimed at creating a federated cloud where common standards will be laid down for those in the hardware and software arena.

“Accelerated adoption and usage of cloud solutions across large enterprises, SMBs and Government has led to the development of a strong robust Cloud Tail end in India,” said Ravichandran. “To balance the play many managed services providers, Telcos, data center hosting companies and the local solution providers are actively building up ‘Cloud’ based solution delivery capabilities.”

The Summit also focused on Intel’s Cloud 2015 Vision and how Intel is bringing the cloud to reality by developing a cohesive set of open, well-defined cloud computing solutions across IT infrastructures.

Intel Cloud Builders is a cross-industry initiative aimed at making it easier to build, enhance, and operate cloud infrastructure. It is is relevant to enterprises, hosters, telcos, and service providers looking for transformational guidance  that will yield more simplified, secure, and efficient cloud infrastructures.