The future of cloud integration: Cloud Middleware?

As we know cloud computing can be defined in many ways, but in simple terms "the cloud" can be called as a metaphor for the Internet, which is quite familiar cliche, but when it combined with "computing," the meaning gets bigger and fuzzier. Several analyst and service vendors define cloud computing as an updated version of Service oriented computing with virtualization: basically virtual servers available over the Internet. In this regard Charles Babcock definition of Cloud Computing serves very well which says, "one of the secrets of cloud computing is that cloud software reflects a new architecture that best exploits the clustered resources around it. It exploits them in such a way that one instance of the software potentially can serve hundreds or thousands of users, and a handful of instances can serve hundreds of thousands." Cloud Computing is needed to address the dynamic, exponentially growing demands for real-time, reliable data processing of 'Internet of Things' . The future of cloud computing services is heading towards offerings of flexible development and deployment environments. The cloud, with its vast elasticity and democratization of software access to end users, has created challenging software delivery problems like cost efficiency delivery, scalability, and the need for codification of critical operating workflows. If we remember middleware/infrastructure software has provided a common layer that acts as a single point of interest shared by IT network level operators and software developers. For example IIS, WebSphere, database servers, etc. typically provide a wealth of tooling to network folks in support of applications. Here cloud middleware system integrators may determine the future adoption of cloud computing. These systems normally support open platform stacks, provide generic interfaces between components, support infrastructure abstraction, and utilize standard communication frameworks. There are several proposed solution available which are known as Cloud Middleware such as Carbon 3.0, WS02, SaaSGrid, Sky Computing, Altocumulus etc. In this tutorial we would like to explore the future of cloud middleware and will discuss about what are the challenges ahead in cloud computing as well as cloud Integration. We will also take a look on some existing cloud middleware and see how they are helpful in cloud computing as well what are the future scopes for middleware in cloud computing.