Dec 2009
Managing the Cloud: Automation

Like large-scale virtual infrastructure before it, the true cloud will need automation to manage the complexity and scale of the configuration and deployment work required. It’s widely recognized that active automation, well beyond mere passive management, is what takes ordinary virtual infrastructure and makes it a candidate for true, elastic cloud-based service delivery. This widespread acknowledgement of the importance of automation to the cloud has sparked a gold rush. Public and private vendors are all jockeying to be the sellers of picks and shovels to the managed services firms and enterprises that will presumably be building out the cloud.

The proliferation of cloud automation offerings has created considerable market confusion. A closer look at the significant sample of vendors already covered by The 451 Group starts to reveal some striking patterns. Automation technology can be classified into a dozen or so types – by technology, approach or the kind of problem being addressed. This report offers a preliminary taxonomy of these types, and the associated vendors. It examines the automation ecosystem, from configuration tools to physical and virtualization automation frameworks. It also covers sector M&A activity and adjacent markets.

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The 451 Group is an independent technology industry analyst company focused on the business of enterprise IT innovation. The company’s analysts provide critical and timely insight into the market and competitive dynamics of innovation in emerging technology segments. Clients of the company – at vendor, investor, service- provider and end-user organizations – rely on 451 insight to support both strategic and tactical decision-making for competitive advantage.

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